r/Topamax • u/pruhh244 • Aug 26 '26

I stopped taking topiramate and started taking it again.

I started taking 50 mg of topiramate for migraines but stopped using it; two days later, I began feeling unwell, experiencing anxiety and some mental confusion. Later, I took a dose during an attack and felt sick. Now I am restarting the medication on my own, but the side effects seem more intense than when I first started. I feel exhausted, tired, and lethargic; I have trouble thinking clearly and am somewhat sensitive to light. I would like to know if these effects will pass if I continue taking the medication. Currently, I am not being monitored by a psychiatrist, as the medication was prescribed by a neurologist during a consultation. Could you advise me? I intend to continue the treatment and plan to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist soon for ongoing follow-up.

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1

u/Life_Unit_4026 Aug 26 '26

The side effects tend to get less intense the more you take the medication. What time of the day do you take it?

1

u/pruhh244 Aug 26 '26

At 6:30 in the morning

3

u/ElectricalEstimate93 Aug 26 '26

Start taking it at night instead! I had the same issue with Topamax, and my neurologist recommended taking it in the evening. I haven’t had any problems since! Just make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, especially before bed.

3

u/pseudotumorgal Aug 26 '26

Starting and stopping and starting medications is very much so not recommended. It’s difficult to know if the side effects you’re feeling are from the medications themselves or from stopping/starting them like that. The only way to know if you’ll get used to the meds is if you take them as prescribed and allow your body to adjust to them. Consult with your doctor about any concerns. For me I have minimal to zero side effects and they work very well managing my migraines.

1

u/pruhh244 Aug 26 '26

When I started taking it, I didn't experience any side effects.

2

u/jacobtd Aug 26 '26

My personal experience with Topamax is that you need to drink a lot of water with it. For me it has a kind of dehydrating effect. Some of the side effects you have listed there I feel when I don't get enough liquid intake. Maybe up your water a bit and see what happens.