The first month that I took topamax I felt very strange. I had no appetite and didn't want to drink anything. Not eating or staying hydrated made me feel cruddy. Then I got used to those side effects or they wore off. I started noticing different side effects after maybe 6 months on the drug. Those were much more emotional side effects than physical but I did have a few minor panic attacks. How are you feeling so far?

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.  I am sure not everyone's experiences will be the same, but some may be.  I just started on Tuesday and by Thursday I had the tingling in my left hand and arm.  Which kinda got my attention because my migraines are on my left side.  (But I also understand the left side of the brain controls the right side and vice versa...)  I have noticed that I am not hungry, and Lord knows I could afford to drop a few pounds  so I am just making sure I am eating healthier snacks instead of full meals.  Coke and Diet Coke just taste awful to me now.  I thought the pop had gone bad, but then I realized it must have been a side effect as well.  As far as my taste buds, that is the only thing I have noticed that taste different to me.

I am still having headaches, just not as severe.  I am able to help my children with homework by using BOTH eyes now - which helps! ha ha =)  So hopefully I am on the road to recovery with migraine-free filled days...

Thanks again everyone for sharing.  I really appreciate it.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Cara

I have started feeling side effects immediately, the very first day after I took the first tablet of Topamax (25 mg) at bed time. I could not sleep that night and two more nights (I was taking for three times, and then quit). In the day time I felt nausea (so was not able to eat anything), and could not concentrate at all at my work (which is mathematical modeling), so that was the most frustrating for me. So, probably, I was not patient enough to continue taking Topamax - it looks that my migraines cause less harm to my work and my general existence than side effects of Topamax. Anyway, I know that Frova helps me when I have strong migraine attacks. When my headache is not severe or just starting, two tablets of Excedrin-migraine help. Hot shower and strong massage of my top back-shoulder-neck area always is very helpful. Hot sweet tea (any - black or green) with lemon also is good, especially when I feel nausea of migraine attack. So I decided not to poison myself with Topamax. However, all people are different, all migraines are different, so what does not work for me may be very helpful for you. Just try and look what happens. Don't expect too much of Topamax - it may not necessarily work... Frankly, I do not believe that there is a universal medicine from a migraine. My friend, for example, is very happy that an ordinary over-the-counter medicine Aleve relieves her migraines, and she cures her headaches with sleep. As for me, I cannot sleep with a migraine at all: pain does not let me fall asleep. But lack of sleep might trigger my migraine - I know this definitely. Unfortunately, I do not have always possibility of good quality and sufficient for my body sleep, since I must work very hard in deadline stressful pressure.