Topiramate

Wanting to know if anyone has had break though seizures on the generic after using Topomax? I would love to try generic, but am afraid. Any one out there?

I take it for migraine prevention and not seizures, so I can't help there...but I switched exactly one month ago and have only suffered one mild migraine. So far, so good. No other side effects to speak of either.

I have taken Topamax for about six months for migraines and it was working wonderfully for me. I have just switched to the generic and have had moderate to severe migraines daily for about three weeks now- exactly as I was before I began treating my headaches at all.

I have been an epileptic for over 20 years. Have been on Topamax for many years before moving on to the generic Topiramate. Rare breakthroughs here and there throughout the years on both meds. On April 27, 2009 I was switched by the pharmacy and my ins. carrier to ZyGenerics version of Topiamate. The pill looked different, and when questioned I was told the meds were exactly the same and asked to sign an acknowledgment. I complied.

Within the next 30 days I had 4 or more seizures. I dislocated my shoulder possibly 3 times and broke my ankle. It took me almost 2 weeks to comprehend what had happened, another 2 weeks to figure out it was the change in generics that had caused all the damage, and now during research TODAY to realize that this happens all the time all over America.
I am deflated.

What avenues are there in which to protect yourself? I have been going to this pharmacy for 13 years, I know these people... nobody gave me the slightest hint that there could be a potential problem with the change in meds.

Generics are not all made exactly like to original. Some are different.
For epileptics it can be life threatening.

I have taken topamax for severe migraines (around 12 per month during the cluster period) with light sensitivity, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizzy spells, and aura, for five years. The topamax took care of my cluster headaches almost entirely with only a few migraines per year during times of extreme stress.

Four months ago when the generic was released I began taking it as my insurance would not pay for the brand name. Within a week I began getting migraines again with increased dizzy spells. My doctor increased my topmirate dosage to 150 mg per day- the highest dosage for migraine suffers and my migraines eased up a bit about as successfully as 50 mg of Topamax had been.

After keeping a food diary and examining all of the possible outcomes I realized that more than likely it was the generic that was causing the migraines and since have gotten my doctor to write the prescription as dispense as written. Topamirate is not successful for migraines for me.

I am now on generic Topiramate after being on Topomax for migraines and I have to say the Brand WORKS. I am all of a sudden having headaches and mild migraines but I guess that is what I get for trying to save a buck or two in this economy.

I have been on topamax for about 8 years now to help with the prevention of migraines. I switched to the generic as soon as it became available back in June 2009. I can't even recall the last time I've had a migraine. Hmm...maybe only 1 since I've been on the generic. Which is equal or less to the frequency when I was on the Brand. I'm on 300 mg per day. I don't want to laugh at the comments at everyone "claiming" that the generic is directly causing their decline but I sometimes think its all psychological...

After 30 plus years with epilepsy my doctor put me on topamax and solved a lifetime of problems. About 7-8 months ago pharmacy changed to a generic, it took me a while to make the connection. So many small things began again,after years of freedom. Even thinking and holding a thought is getting hard, ambition gone, many small things that were not a bother are now a big deal. Must find a way to get back on topamax.

I've been an epileptic for over 20 years. First I was on topamax, which was working, then was changed to Topiramate when it came out as the less expensive alternative. I lost my memory and could not answer questions - it was as if I lost a connection to my mouth. I have switched to generic lamictol - lamtorigine, which is working better. I hate topiramate, the cost issue that brought all of this on, and that it took me weeks to figure it out. What about others who suffer?

I'm not taking Topiramate for life-threatening purposes, thankfully --- simply for a combination of things, at the advice of my trusty physician's assistant. Perhaps there's someone out there who can empathize with me, nevertheless. I'm 40, and I can no longer handle my "monthly" mood swings; the irritability and depression are driving me and my family crazy. I'm also getting more migraines, as time goes by, and I've put on about 30 pounds over the past year, so she recommended the medicine, which she's been on for about three years. She absolutely loves it.

It helped with her headaches, leveled her mood swings, and lowered her weight by about 20 pounds in six months. At any rate, she wrote me a prescription and recommended that I start off by cutting the 50 mg pill in half the first couple of days, so I did, but I'm up to full strength now, and I don't know if it's "all in my head" or what---perhaps it'll wear off--- but I cannot think. I'm in such a mind fog! I cannot do mental math, and I even gave someone the wrong e-mail address yesterday. I've had to correct several typos on this entry thus far. I did a search on Topomax prior to coming here, and several of the bloggers said it was a definite "IQ dropper"; I'm starting to believe it.

For the first time in my life, I've had to ask myself if taking a prescription is worth impairing my cognitive ability?

I took topiramate for 6 months originally for glossopharangia but it also greatly affected my epilepy, neuralgia, and jumpy legs. It was my magic bullet, it started to change my life. After 25 years of pain and discomfort I was almost normal.

Then I started to get pain in lower right stomach, this pain increased and I had xrays and other tests and I cannot remember its name but its a camera up the bum. But all the tests came back negative. By this time I was crippled with the pain and xmas 2009 I thought was my last despite all the medicals telling me there was nothing sinister.

Then my wife said stop taking the topiramate she just felt that was the problem. I consulted my doctor who did not see a strong connection but it was my choice. So after a year of taking Topiramate I stopped, within 3 weeks I could walk by 6 weeks I was back to normal with just a reminder now and again. It took 3/4 months before All the symptoms it affected returned. I am 67 and fairly active who does most of the maintenance in my very old house. If you are thinking of taking this drug I would grab it with both hands I was just unlucky. All the best.