I took 200mg a day, worked my way up from 50 believe it or not and my side effects have actually been positive. Soda tastes horrible which is good because it is horrible for me. I have lost about 40 pounds which I needed and the headaches are basically gone. The side effects for me come when I try to go off it. I get really bad insomnia. I am trying to go off it now as I want to take less medication and am down to 25mg a day at night and have slight headaches but that is it. I started at 100 mg taper for a month. I guess it is different for everyone.