# New Topamax prescription. Weird side effect, is this possible or my imagination? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2021, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421 "2021-03-22T12:26:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/1 "2021-03-22T12:26:24Z")
Hello Everyone, I’m looking for a factual answer so I don’t think this is a IMHO question, so here it goes. My pain management Doctor has put me on a drug called Topamax to see if it will help with nerve pain. She said it’s a drug similar in effect to gabbapentin. I’ve just started it and can’t tell if it’s working for the pain yet. However yesterday I had my morning Monster and noticed it tasted very flat. Then lay night I had a Dr. Pepper fountain drink with dinner and it too tasted flat to me. Hmmmm. I didn’t think much about it until this morning. I opened my morning Monster (yeah it’s not good for me, it’s what opens my eyes in the morning) and it also tastes flat. Weird So, I find it hard to believe that 3 seperately purchased carbonated drinks were all flat and devoid of bubbly goodness. Is it possible the Topamax is causing me to not taste or perceive the carbonation? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/2 "2021-03-22T12:29:09Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Topamax > **[Topiramate (Topamax) for Migraine Prevention | AMF](https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/topiramate-topamax-migraine-prevention/)** > > Topiramate has been shown to be an effective form of migraine prevention. Learn more about what this medication does and its possible side effects. > Finally, the drug may cause carbonated beverages to taste “flat.” ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/3 "2021-03-22T12:31:33Z")
I’ve been on this drug for a long time for insomnia. A lot of foods tasted weird at first, but they went back to tasting normal after a few months. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/4 "2021-03-22T12:39:51Z")
How’s your sense of smell right now? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/5 "2021-03-22T12:55:40Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Topiramate (Topamax) for Migraine Prevention | AMF](https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/topiramate-topamax-migraine-prevention/) > > > Finally, the drug may cause carbonated beverages to taste “flat.” I find it interesting that such a specific symptom is mentioned. Usually side effects use more generic terms. Looking at a more generic list, I would guess this is officially a paresthesia, with your tongue going ever so slightly numb to light touch, so the sensation of the bubbles is lessened. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/6 "2021-03-22T13:05:10Z")
Smell seems to be unaffected as far as I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/7 "2021-03-22T13:05:52Z")
So probably not COVID then. At least it’s not the taste and smell symptom from that. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/8 "2021-03-22T13:07:06Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Finally, the drug may cause carbonated beverages to taste “flat.” Wow, thanks. I would have never thought this could have been a side effect. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/9 "2021-03-22T13:08:27Z")
Medical questions belong in IMHO. This is to make it very clear that this message board isn’t offering professional medical advice, you are just getting the impressions of a bunch of people on the internet. So I’ve moved this topic. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/10 "2021-03-22T13:13:28Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I’ve been on this drug for a long time for insomnia. While I’m not taking it for this I have to say I’ve been falling to sleep much more quickly than I normally do. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/11 "2021-03-22T16:06:29Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I find it interesting that such a specific symptom is mentioned. Usually side effects use more generic terms. “Flat” isn’t the term I would have used. I would have said “Stale.” I know it’s hard to imagine exactly how a soft drink could go stale, but for one thing, they all tasted the same. Normally, I can tell them all apart-- Coke, Pepsi, RC, etc. I lost the ability to do this. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/12 "2021-03-22T16:07:07Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > While I’m not taking it for this I have to say I’ve been falling to sleep much more quickly than I normally do. It’s definitely a “take at bedtime,” not “first thing in the morning.” ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-topamax-prescription-weird-side-effect-is-this-possible-or-my-imagination/938421/13 "2021-03-22T16:17:58Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I find it interesting that such a specific symptom is mentioned. Usually side effects use more generic terms. I never had any taste issues with it, but I also don’t drink soda. However, I thought I read somewhere that it screws with your ability to taste either sugar or (certain types of) artificial sweeteners. Without that taste people report sodas tasting either flat or chemically. > [@BigT](#): > > I would guess this is officially a paresthesia, with your tongue going ever so slightly numb to light touch, so the sensation of the bubbles is lessened. Is it in common for that to happen on your tongue? I think extremities was common, my fingers would usually get tingly (occasionally my feet or even my nose) particularly if they were adjusting the dosage.