Anyone having problems with generic topamax

[topamax junkie]

I know that when I first started topamax it was my little miracle pill. I couldn't drink carbonated drinks, so I was expecting a caffeine headache. I didn't even have one of them. I had 1 migraine the first month. And every month after that a really bad one the first day of my period and that was all. For the last 3 months since I started taking the generic I am back up to 4-6 a month. Is anyone else having these problems with this?

[Sharon Armstrong]

Yes! I thought it was just me but I know that I am not crazy. When I switched to generic I had the worst migraine. Then they switched me to another generic and I started having numbness in my fingers, stomach, legs, and feet. I am not pleased with this generic at all. I have stopped taking it. I will just have to deal with the migraines for now.

[Pam]

I think I'm seeing some effects of the generic drug for Topamax that I take for bipolar. I've now been taking it long enough for it to take affect and I'm beginning to feel like I'm on a roller coaster again. I didn't get it at first - trying to come up with all the answers until I realized how long I had been taking this generic. Meanwhile I have a little of the brand left to go back to and an appointment with my Phsy. next week.

[Marlene Montrose CO]

I started having a continuous headache and migraines are coming back. Feel like I am in a fog most days and have trouble concentrating. Have been researching about generics in general and have found that the active ingredient may be the same but not all of the process of the drug may be there! Talk with your doctor to see if they know of any side effects of the generics. They can re-issue your prescription stating no substitutions and go back to the original!!

[Megan-KS]

I'm about to switch to the generic and i'm very concerned about the potential problems they have listed for Topiramate. Has anyone done the blood testing that they mention to monitor your level of serum bicarbonate. Seems like a lot of work for a generic.

[AJS]

YES!!! I feel like I may as well not even be taking it! I am glad to know it is not just me, and that my doctor can tell the pharmacy not to give me the generic next time. I'm so tired of migraines, they had been almost non-existant for over a year, and now back to 1-2 a week...:(

[Megan-KS]

Topamax junkie- Did you find that Carbonated drinks were causing migraines for you? Just curious.

[iknwurpain]

hey i was taking it also...the drink thing,,numbness..i had ever drawback...even lost weight...then next thing i know i sleep and have no energy what so ever...i finally stopped taking it myself...and i had bad headaches...which i never really had...this stuff is really crap...i was on it for mood swings...not good...i wouldnt recommend it to anyone

[Migrainer2005]

I've been taking Topamax for at least 2 years. About 2 months ago, I was given Generic Topamax and now have many many side effects including some chest pain. Had my heart checked out. All is well. Then it finally dawned on me that all my symptoms came on when they switched me to the Generic JUNK!! This stuff is POISON. I think I'd rather risk the migraine. I'm very upset b/c I don't think the MD will believe that my symptoms are related to the Generic.

[pittsburgh_Craig]

My daughter just started on the generic, after using the brand-name for the last few years for successful control of her epilepsy. It was only a few days before she started having seizures again. We talked to my brother-in-law, who is a neurologist in Michigan, and said the problems are really showing up in his practice and it is a hassle as some insurance providers (medicare being the main one) won't pay for non-generics. He also said that the study showed that it was not as effective and the FDA knows it.

[msays]

I had been successfully migraine free while on Topomax 50mg for the past 6 years. For the first four years I took one pill twice a day and over the past two was able to reduce it to only one in the morning. During the entire time I was on this medication I might have experienced 4 or 5 migraines (none of which came close to the intensity I had experienced previous.)
In late July my new Health Insurance provider refused to cover/renew my prescription unless I switched to the generic. I have been on it now for 6 weeks and have had a constant and dull ache stemming from the base of my neck through my skull that refuses to subside.
I am fairly convinced that this new medication is inferior and am planning on discussing it with my physician immediately. The problem is that my provider will not cover it even with a DNS and the cost per month is in excess of $300.00.

[Jenny]

I have a constant headache with the Topiramat, something I never had with Topomax. Unfortunately, my insurance carrier is unconcerned about this issue and will not cover Topomax, "a generic is available." I can't afford the several hundred dollars a month that Topomax costs and now the migraines have started again. Very depressing.

[Linda]

Sharon Armstrong wrote:

Yes! I thought it was just me but I know that I am not crazy. When I switched to generic I had the worst migraine. Then they switched me to another generic and I started having numbness in my fingers, stomach, legs, and feet. I am not pleased with this generic at all. I have stopped taking it. I will just have to deal with the migraines for now.

When I have a real bad migraine I take 1 Excedrine Migraine w/2 Motrin and the migraine is usally gone with in a half hour or so! It works better than the perscription that my Dr. prescribed to me! Just thought I would pass this on! Hope it helps !! Good luck and God Bless

[DizzyLiz]

I take Topamax for severe pain. It was one of the only drugs I could take for a nerve injury in my pelvis that actually worked. Since the generic came out, I have been in severe pain, now I am wondering if it could be the TopamaX!

[public option]

msays wrote:

I had been successfully migraine free while on Topomax 50mg for the past 6 years. For the first four years I took one pill twice a day and over the past two was able to reduce it to only one in the morning. During the entire time I was on this medication I might have experienced 4 or 5 migraines (none of which came close to the intensity I had experienced previous.)
In late July my new Health Insurance provider refused to cover/renew my prescription unless I switched to the generic. I have been on it now for 6 weeks and have had a constant and dull ache stemming from the base of my neck through my skull that refuses to subside.
I am fairly convinced that this new medication is inferior and am planning on discussing it with my physician immediately. The problem is that my provider will not cover it even with a DNS and the cost per month is in excess of $300.00.

This is almost exactly my story, I could have written this....except I had been on brand Topomax for 7 years, and only had occassional break-thru migraines in all those years. On the generic Topiramate I had constant and consistent migraines...mine also have originated at the base of my skull, and the pain radiates over my head and down my shoulders, bringing nausea and diarreah and days of feeling like I've been hit by a truck. I know for certain the generic Topiramate not only does not keep the migraines at bay, but am convinced it causes them. I never before had continuous migraines day after day after day, as I did when I was on the generic. My vision has become blurry since taking the Topiramate also, and now that I've had occassion to study this generic I see that is a serious side effect. Hurray....they finally saved us money....at what expense?

[kellavy]

I have been taking Topamax for mood swings and alcohol abuse for nearly 3 years, this worked great. Even if I decided to try and drink over the pill it would block all effects of the alcohol and just give me a severe headache. Then around 6 months ago I go to pick my meds up and I get generic, they are a joke I can take the pill with a drink and nothing happens I know I have to use control but it helped to know I had that back up there for me. I wonder if these were even tested or just threw at us due to the price slash!Does someone need to die before the check it out!

[Bert]

I have been taking Topamax for ten months to prevent seizures which were occurring frequently before. While on Topamax I have had NO seizures. Guess what? My insurance company switched me to Topiramate. I experienced constant headaches, dizziness, cold sweats, abdominal cramping etc. I had my doctor prescribe Topamax as "medically necessary" at considerable cost to me whereas the Topiramate was without any co-pay however I cannot take the side affects!

[No more Topiramate]

Began taking 25 mg of the generic in August for migraine. Didn't feel great, but figured it would take time for my body to adjust. When the headaches continued in September, the amount was upped to 50 mg by doctor. Within a week I had excruciating pains down my leg and waist. A trip to the ER, CT scans, MRIs, blood work - and no one could explain the sudden pains. It was my idea to go off drug and gradually the pains seem to be subsiding. Have missed weeks of work in the meantime. In addition to pains, have also experienced lack of taste, appetite, and stomach upset. My son who has taken Topamax for Tourettes for years, also had felt poorly (but without the pain) and we have switched him back to the brand name.

[Leah TX]

I've taken topamax for the last 5 yrs and have been completely controlled/migraine free for the past 2 years until I was switched to generic. I have now taken the generic for 1 1/2 weeks and it has been the worst 10 days of my life. I've had a constant headache mixed along with a few migraines. When I first started the branded medicine I had a some side effects: aphasia, insomnia, weight loss, but they all stopped after a while. Now I have the headaches (I take the med to prevent them), numbness, and cognitive slowing. I feel like I am in a fog all the time. Instead of trying my luck with another generic I am going to spend the money and buy the branded product again. By the way my generic was from mylan.

[Sandy]

[when they switched me to Topiramate, after 6 months my hair started falling, in less than a month I could see my scalp and I got so scared and since Kaiser does not cover the brand name, I had to stop taking it a month ago. Im still loosing my hair a month after I stopped taking it.....and I wonder how long will it take for this med to clear out of my system and if ever my hair would grow back? anybody had the same side effect?