• Effectiveness

  None (for Fibromyalgia)
• Effectiveness

  None (for Nerve pain (neuralgia))
• Effectiveness

  Slight (for Migraine headaches)
• Side effects

  Moderate (Sleepiness, Hands tingling, Feet tingling, Brain fog, Tremor in hands, Nausea)
• Adherence

  Usually
• Burden

  Very hard to take

Dosage: 75 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I will ask to quit this because for me it hasn't prevented the migraines enough....ended up at doctor's office yesterday for a shot for one.....and the side effects lost me a month of activity.

Cost: $25-49 monthly

Side effects: Feet tingling, Hands tingling, Tremor in hands, Nausea, Brain fog, Sleepiness

• Effectiveness

  None (for Fibromyalgia)
• Side effects

  Severe
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 200 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Made me very tired and gave me diarrhea.

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for Epilepsy)
• Side effects

  Severe (Unexplained itching, Hearing problems, Blurry vision, Weight loss)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 400 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Hearing loss is becoming more obvious, vision problems are rapidly becoming a problem also. itching of my larger skin areas is an unusual and new problem that could maybe be due to Topamax or the antidepressant Prozac, unsure about this. I have had terrible crying jags and depression over inappropriate issues in the last year or so that was assumed to be due to my aging process, but was recently debunked by a hormonal test. I therefore believe that the Topamax is a more likely suspect.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: Weight loss, Blurry vision, Hearing problems, Unexplained itching, Unexplained itching

• Effectiveness

  Major (for Epilepsy)
• Side effects

  Moderate (Hearing problems, Blurry vision, Weight loss)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 400 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: The side effects of Topamax are really tough, but not as tough as others, and certainly not as tough as beating the heck out of yourself and frying your brain during a seizure. I never miss a dose, if I do, I could really end up hurting myself. I take it as exactly to the minute as I can, I do the same with all my meds, and for the last several years since I have been doing this, my seizures have been much less invasive into my life. I also NEVER NEVER take generic epilepsy medication. It must be brand always! Generic is NOT the same, no matter who insists that it is. I can take generic on other medication, but generic Topamax allowed me to have 3 months of severe cluster seizures last year.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: Weight loss, Blurry vision, Hearing problems, Unexplained itching, Unexplained itching

• Effectiveness

  Major (for Fibromyalgia)
• Side effects

  Mild (Hands tingling, Feet tingling, Word fishing)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 100 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Its a good medications with not many bad side effects. It is easily tolerated. One benefit I have noticed is it makes my skin tingle which I love. It also elevates my mood. It also controls my appetite, now that doesn't happen with everyone, but it does happen with me. What I mean when "controls appetite" I don't get hungry. I forget to eat!

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: Feet tingling, Hands tingling, Word fishing

• Effectiveness

  Major (for Epilepsy)
• Side effects

  Moderate (Memory Loss)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  A little hard to take

Dosage: 200 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I have been taking Topamax since 2007 and I noticed many side effects that I was told about by my Neurologist. First was the tingling in my hands, feet and face. These symptoms went away after I took the medication for over a year. I also noticed a decrease in my number of seizures a year. I also had a decrease in tiredness. With this med you need to get proper sleep, and watch your diet. You can not over exert yourself. Especially in warm weather.. I have had a lot of success on this med and am very happy. I will continue to stay on it as long as I can..

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: Memory Loss

• Effectiveness

  Major (for Treat my mood condition(s))
• Side effects

  Severe
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 100 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Topamax was a good new stabilizer for me for about 10 years. In the last two years the side effects were too burdensome for me to continue taking it. I looked and felt drugged on this medication. Other people reported that I had a flat effect in my face looked blank with no expression. I am now taking Zyprexa for my mood stabilizer and for sleep aid.

• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for Treat my mood condition(s))
• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for Bipolar Disorder)
• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for Migraine headaches)
• Side effects

  Severe
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 200 mg Daily

• Effectiveness

  Slight (for Fibromyalgia)
• Side effects

  Moderate (Fingers Tingling, Numbness in knee, Nightmares, Numbness in feet, Brain fog, Balance problems, Nausea)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 50 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I did a lot of research before starting this medication, so none of the side effects came as as suprise. They are not pleasant, but I am already noting a slight decrese in pain on day 3 and it is my understanding that the side effects will subiside.

Cost: $200+ monthly

Side effects: Nightmares, Fingers Tingling, Numbness in feet, Nausea, Numbness in knee, Balance problems, Brain fog

• Effectiveness

  Major (for Epilepsy)
• Side effects

  None
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 200 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I am sleeping so much better than I have ever slept in my life ! I workout better getting better muscle tone, am happier!

Cost: $200+ monthly

• Effectiveness

  Slight (for Fibromyalgia)
• Effectiveness

  Slight (for Depressed mood)
• Side effects

  Severe
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 25 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: it caused severe dry mouth, I now have a hard time making my own saliva. And it ruined my teeth because of the dry mouth.