surreal Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I just started Topirimate (Topamax) today and when I went to have a soda with my dinner, I noticed it tasted pretty wierd. It was almost sour tasting and I couldn't finish drinking it. Has anyone else experience this on Topamax? Is it even possible for me to experience this after only one dose? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I didn't have that experience, but it is not unusual for meds to change the way things taste to you. When I was on Depakote, the idea of shellfish made me sick, and normally, I *love* shellfish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sloane Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 It's a seemingly odd side-affect for medications, but common for Topamax to make soda and carbonated beverages taste like crap. Some people find food tastes a bit different too (especially high sugary foods); however I myself don't find that one to be true. Is it even possible for me to experience this after only one dose? Yes, it is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sloane Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Forgot to add... This side-affect can go away (although not saying that it will). When I was on a lower dosage of Topamax (Topirimate to be specific) purely for Migraines (50MG a day) I could not drink sodas at all because they tasted like ass. However now that I am on a higher dosage of Topirimate (200MG) for a longer period of time sodas, other carbonated drinks, natural sugar and sugar substitute, and all other food taste fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sloane Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 (edited) Every single time I've been on Topamax, carbonated beverages taste like crap. Sugar, diet, whatever. Soda tasted horrible. The dose made no difference. As I recall, this is a pretty common side effect. I just hit 200MG on my Topirimate increase; and I just started drinking Mountain Dew again about 2 months ago because it doesn't taste like sewage water anymore I feel so guilty for it (because it's soooo bad for you LOL) but in moderation I'm very happy to have soda back! Surreal if you HAVE to have soda.... Possible tips worth trying (of course, results may vary): - lighter sodas seemed easier to drink than dark sodas (i.e. lemon lime type sodas versus a coke or pepsi) - at times I could get away with a Sprite and it would taste okay (as long as it was SUPER cold - if it was room temp it was disgusting and 'tasted flat') - beware of orange sodas. they sound like they'd be 'safe'. but just...beware. After a while I personally gave up and drank nothing but water; especially after I realized I could only drink half a bottle of Sprite before it would get warm and become 'flat' and I'd just throw it away. Well...until I re-discovered Mountain Dew. But that's a different thread. ETA I added more (when my intentions were to fix a spelling mistake). Edited April 21, 2015 by Sloane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devotchka Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Yep, this is a common side-effect. I'm on 50mgs titrating back up to 100. I can tolerate LaCroix if, like Sloane says, it's VERY cold. But dark sodas taste like cat vomit. I've never been much of a soda fan to begin with but orange was one i did like...and holy crap. No. It may go away. It didn't for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 This is pretty common. When I started topamax, at 50mg a day, it started to make carbonated beverages taste weird. At 400mg, I could barely stand them. I had lemonade from a really great place, and it tasted like there was vodka in it - it was in a mall, there definitely wasn't, and my mom tasted it and said it was fine. It was weird. It also made chocolate taste funny. This side effect you get used to, but it doesn't tend to go away. It made pop (soda) seem flat, and had a weird taste to it. It was kinda like Wellbutrin and smoking, cigarettes taste different on Wellbutrin, and that stays. You get used to it. I eventually cut out a lot of pop from my diet, which is very healthy anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanderk Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Topamax is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. All meds in this class carry the risk of "taste perversion." Carbonated beverages suffer the worst. Coffee also tastes like a dirty diaper. Lots of folks seek it for its weight loss side effect. I've never been quite clear whether the weight loss is due to the taste perversion (makes a lot of stuff taste like it's over-salted), or that the stoopids it causes makes people simply forget to eat. But the up side is that if your brain cooties are in the temporal lobes it can be a wonderful med 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 It's a well-known side effect and nothing to worry about unless you just have to have your sodas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surreal Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 Oh wow, thank you for the info everyone! Very interesting. I guess this is a common side effect. I was worried a little but now that I think about it... it could be a good thing. I haven't had any soda since yesterday because of the wierd taste. It tasted sour and it definately was just me because I had my bf taste it and he said it was fine. Sugary sodas have been a comfort food for me for a long time now and I need to stop because of the health issues I am having. I've been planning on switching to only water or fruit-infused waters and this will be a good start lol. I don't drink sodas for the caffeine either any ways so that won't be an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forgetmenot220 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Red sauce also tasted weird to me when I was on a higher dose. Like, spaghetti sauce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincess88 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'm on 300 mgs of Topamax and never gave up my beloved Pepsi Max. I guess I didn't have the tasting altering effect. Although I no longer drink coffee, so maybe that was due to the Topamax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixiestarr Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 When I took Topamax it made soda's taste weird... Though it helped me cut my soda habit.. I haven't taken topamax in years and still hardly ever drink soda even though they taste fine now. Just got used to not having them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisy Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I've only been on Topamax for maybe a week and cokes taste weird and kinda gross to me, but I still drink them. I need my Diet Dr Pepper!!! It's very clear to me that I'm addicted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallen2017 Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 Yes!!! Omg I thought I was going crazy I literally have tried every soda and they all taste horrible!!! It sucks I'm glad I'm not the only one who has experienced this. How long did it last with you? Waiting for your reply 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnickNak Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 lol yep, I took a sip of something carbonated I don't know what it was.. I spit it right out, tasted like flat metal , real shitty. Now to this day, I just slam a cold carbonated drink ( La Croix) put up with the disgusting taste because I need the carbonation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynjen82 Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Ive taken topiramate before many years ago at a low dose with no side effects luckily. Now 35 ive had to be put back on it with minimum dosing 100mg 2x a day and the taste side affect is crucial, an my dr could've been more more explicit than just it was gunna be just bad lol he should've said its gunna taste like ass i promise lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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