I experienced stomach pains within weeks of taking Topiramax, which was to help my migraines. I was unaware this was the cause at first. However, after a colonoscopy, a colonography and an MRI scan showed to be normal, I had to diagnose the problem myself and by means of elimination and it proved to be Topiramate which was the cause.
A further colonoscopy proved again to be normal and it was subsequently confirmed that Topiramate had damaged the nerves in the lining of my bowel and left the nerve endings hypersensitive.
Please contact me if you have stomach pains and are taking Topiramate.
Ronnie
I had terrible stomach problems and underwent investigations for a few years. Lost 30lbs through not eating (not a bad thing!) but also nearly lost my mind. My speech was affected and I seemed to be suffering from depression - totally lethargic and unable to function normally. I worked out for myself that it must be side effects from the drug and agreed with my Dr. that I should stop taking it. That was a year ago and I'm like a different person now.
Your story sounds so similar to mine, only it took me much longer to figure out it was the Topamax. I had stomach pains, loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea. Colonoscopy showed I had gastritis, upper GI was fine, I even went to the ER one night when the pain became unbearable. Eventually my vision became blurry and my hair has fallen out so much. The only good thing is I finally lost the weight I wanted to lose and that's not even why I was on it, now it sounds like as soon as you go off of it you gain it right back. I'm hoping with proper nutrition that won't happen! Tapering off and still having awful stomach pains! Ugh!
Yes I had been on a low dose but then I started getting extremly dizzy , so they upped 50 x 2 then 100 mg. x 2 a day, I have been in a panic . I am sick every day stomach pain and sometimes diarrhea. I am thinking the worst and ready to have them do tests , Im afraid to eat anything. There is alot of cancer in my family so of course that is the first place my mind is going. This stomach pain is constant and is effecting my GI tract as well.
My daughter has been on it a year, complaining of stomach pain. Stomach not really intestine. It is not low, it is not esophagal based upon where she is pointing. How did you get the nerve damage diagnosed? And did it repair itself after discontinuation?
I've been taking Topamax for a month now and it's making me have the worst stomach pains I've ever felt, it's also giving me runny/bloody stool. I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one that has had a problem with it!
I started taking topomax 25 mg 2 weeks ago for migraines. I've noticed a pain sometimes on my lower left side of my abdomen. Today I started taking 50 mg for 2 woks then after that it will be increased to 75 mg. I was taking it may be due to the warning of kidney stones. I was advised by pharmacist to drink a lot of water when taking the mess. I don't usually like taking Ned's specially anti-depressants because normally the side effect are worst than my condition. But nothing has been able to help me with my migraines and this med has been working. But I'm being scared about the side effects.
I've been on Topamax for 3 weeks now. 1st 25 mg once a day, then twice a day. Today I start 25 mg 3x's a day =75mg. I've had the weird tingling in my hands and feet and in my tongue. But for the past week I've had diarrhea on and off. Also this stomach cramping. Even after I eat I get cramping and pain like I did not eat, but at the same time I'm nauseous lol it's so weird. My stomach pains are getting worse and I'm so worried about this med increase. The brightside is my migraines and headaches are gone lol for now anyway. I have a follow up with Neuro in 3 weeks so I'll see how this increase goes. If I still have the same symptoms I'm going to discuss getting off of the meds and trying something else. Sorry you guys are going through tough times too. Stay strong!!! 👍
I also had been started on Topamax for migraines. After slowly increasing the dose to 100mg/day I started to have a reflux feeling in my throat as well as nausea. I have been off of the medication for a couple of weeks and have seen a gastroenterologist. My upper GI was normal except for possible gastricparesis. This is where the food doesn’t empty fast enough into the small intestines. I am currently waiting for the result of that test but wonder why this happened out of the blue? Could the medicine had some effect on the stomach nerves? Anyone else have this as well? Very frustrating and upsetting.
Ronnie, I started topamax and then topamax ER about 2 months ago and I too am now having terrible stomach pains even after I stopped topomax. Did u find any more information about this ? How did u confirm it caused nerve damage and did the pain go away for u ? Would love to chat. My neurologist seems clueless about this side effect.
Hey there,
Topomax also is giving me stomach pains. Did your pain go away after u stopped it ?
Lisa1956
I’ve been taking topamax for two months now up to 100 mg a day and have been experiencing terrible stomach pain also. My migraines are gone but I’m ready to stop this medication! I have an appointment with my doctor this Monday if I can wait this long. I’m thinking I have all sorts of things such as ulcers, gastritis, etc...until I googled the possibility of stomach upsets associated with taking topamax and came across your website!
What an eye opener!!!
I had to stop Topamax after getting bad stomach pains which may be because i already have IBS and only after taking prescription probiotics for several weeks after i stopped did the pain decrease. horrible drug although great for migraines. am working on getting the new migraine medication Amovig right now and hope that works as well cause is supposed to have almost no side effects except constipation which for me can be a deal breaker since i already have constipation. what is up with these medications and the relationship to our gut ??
Hi, I took Topamax for 4 days, and had really bad stomach pains, as well as constipation. And even after taking, Ive been having cramping In my lower adbomden.
Hi i just started it 2 days ago and i am going to stop because my stomach hurts
I am on tompiramite 25 mg for few months and having gastric problems, I didn't know until tonight then I started suspecting because it is the only medication I had added prior to the one that also causes gastric but that was quite a while back, it should have been OK already, so I started to Google and found your page... Think I have to stop it, great med, with metoclopramide can help stop migraine but my gastric die on me 😢
I never had any pains from taking Topamax all these years! I have read though it can be auto immune and I have 5 other auto immune diseases. They just did a scope and found gastritis and they also took some biopsies to check everything out. Usually once you get one Auto Immune disease you get more. I started with one initially!! I guess I'm going to have to live with the outcome. The topamax is the only thing that has helped my Fibromyalgia all these years We will see what happens!!
I started this medication 9 days ago for migraines, on day 4 I started having epigastric pain with nausea. At first I thought it was the occasional acid reflux, tried the antacids and bismuth with no relief. Day 5&6 comes and I've never had stomach pain so bad in my life than I did (definitely not acid reflux) - the worst gnawing pain - the kind of stomach pain that doesnt make you have a bowel movement is the worst in my opinion. I took the topiramate (50 mg) at night and the stomach pains were the worst at night. I could not sleep. Come day 10 (suffer for 5 days of stomach pain) I decided to discontinue the rx after passing black stool which if you dont know is an indication of upper GI bleed. Today is day 12 and my Dr has rx pantoprazole to tx the drug induced ulcer. This is horrible. The price I am having to pay for finding a cure to migraines. Good luck to you all and and I hope my experience has provided some clarity. Now I have a second issue to attend.
I also developed severe stomach/abdominal pain after taking Topiramate. I have been off of it for 6 month and still have pain. How did you get diagnosed with nerve damage? What exam shows this? I have had a CT and an endoscopy, which were both normal.
I I have been taking Topiramate 25mg for about 30 days now and I'm having some of tue worse stomach issues and dizzy spells. Have anyone elses felt dizzy while taking them