Topamax

[gemsbmw]

I know we have some nurses and maybe some doctors too but I don't know. I have been taking 50mg of Topamax for about 12 years for my mood and ready to come of to se if the meds are causing my mystery illness.

I have been tested for many things including Lupus and all come back clean. I asked for a detox plan from my doctor on Thursday and got a call this morning.

He said I could STOP the Topamax right now, wait 2 weeks and start tappering off the Valium, wait two weeks and start tappering of the Celexa.

Everything I have read says tapper of Topamax. He asaid it is not in the same class as Valium and Xanax so I should not get sick.

Any advice... :confused: Ever detoxed from this med?

Thanks!!

[Carol25]

I know we have some nurses and maybe some doctors too but I don't know. I have been taking 50mg of Topamax for about 12 years for my mood and ready to come of to se if the meds are causing my mystery illness.

I have been tested for many things including Lupus and all come back clean. I asked for a detox plan from my doctor on Thursday and got a call this morning.

He said I could STOP the Topamax right now, wait 2 weeks and start tappering off the Valium, wait two weeks and start tappering of the Celexa.

Everything I have read says tapper of Topamax. He asaid it is not in the same class as Valium and Xanax so I should not get sick.

Any advice... :confused: Ever detoxed from this med?

Thanks!!

I was just recently stopped from taking it as well. No tapering off. The doc didn't say why. Will get back to you after my appt on Thursday to see why he stopped it. Had been taking it for a few years.

I am being treated for migraines. BTW, it was suspected I had Lupus at one time as well. But it is hard to diagnose.

[Lavinia]

It is my experience that Topamax only needs tapering if taken for seizures. It is one of the drugs my neuro gives me for MS when I got headaches from the interferon. I had to quit the interferon and I was glad to stop Topomax. Topomax made it even harder for me to find the words I want to say and it caused more slurring. It also just made me feel kind of out of it. I also didn't like the funky way it made my extremities feel.

Good luck to you.

ETA: I even tried taking Topomax to lose weight as it is supposed to be really good at that and I would rather be a little fat than have the side effects I did on it.

[gemsbmw]

It is my experience that Topamax only needs tapering if taken for seizures. It is one of the drugs my neuro gives me for MS when I got headaches from the interferon. I had to quit the interferon and I was glad to stop Topomax. Topomax made it even harder for me to find the words I want to say and it caused more slurring. It also just made me feel kind of out of it. I also didn't like the funky way it made my extremities feel.

Good luck to you.

ETA: I even tried taking Topomax to lose weight as it is supposed to be really good at that and I would rather be a little fat than have the side effects I did on it.


You know they call Topamax DOPAMAX! I have been on it for 12 years and I am just now getting like that. Can't find the words or mixing my words.

[Imperfect4]

It is my experience that Topamax only needs tapering if taken for seizures. It is one of the drugs my neuro gives me for MS when I got headaches from the interferon. I had to quit the interferon and I was glad to stop Topomax. Topomax made it even harder for me to find the words I want to say and it caused more slurring. It also just made me feel kind of out of it. I also didn't like the funky way it made my extremities feel.

Good luck to you.

ETA: I even tried taking Topomax to lose weight as it is supposed to be really good at that and I would rather be a little fat than have the side effects I did on it.

My doc insisted I try it as a migraine preventive. I started with a quarter of the recommended "starter dose." Same problem for me, Lavinia. Couldn't find the words I needed at times, my mind was muddled, and I just felt out of it. People told me I looked high or out of it.

Since it didn't seem to slow down the headaches, I got the heck off the stuff within a matter of weeks. Just didn't like the way it made me feel at all.

[Lavinia]

My doc insisted I try it as a migraine preventive. I started with a quarter of the recommended "starter dose." Same problem for me, Lavinia. Couldn't find the words I needed at times, my mind was muddled, and I just felt out of it. People told me I looked high or out of it.

Since it didn't seem to slow down the headaches, I got the heck off the stuff within a matter of weeks. Just didn't like the way it made me feel at all.

Yup. I already have those symptoms from MS and when it was getting worse, I got worried, thinking my MS was getting worse. I read up on the side effects and there it was. I also have a problem with my left leg getting paralyzed because of MS and the Topamax also made that worse. No thanks. I'm plenty screwed up without paying extra, lol.

ETA: And the COST of that stuff!!! :ohmy:!

[airportwoman]

I'm a pharmacist.

Topamax went generic a while back and the price has nosedived. BTW, 50mg a day is a relatively small dose. Your doctor would probably have you take 25mg daily for a week or so, and then discontinue it.

It really isn't used all that much for seizures, which is what it was invented for, but it is being used a lot for bipolar disorder, neuropathy, and migraine prophylaxis.

You folks are right, many people cannot take it because of the side effects. This is unfortunate because the people who benefit from it say it's a miracle drug.

[EKate23]

I took it briefly for epilepsy, but just stopped without much tapering or side effects. I detested the way it made me feel.

[TeTra]

Any Cymbalta takers? If and when you try to wean off it, be very careful. It took me 2 months with lots of head noise, vertigo, sick to your stomach, extreme dry mouth, constipation and trouble sleeping.

Consult your Dr. or Pharmacist before atempting this. There are horror stories about this drug.

[gemsbmw]

I'm a pharmacist.

Topamax went generic a while back and the price has nosedived. BTW, 50mg a day is a relatively small dose. Your doctor would probably have you take 25mg daily for a week or so, and then discontinue it.

It really isn't used all that much for seizures, which is what it was invented for, but it is being used a lot for bipolar disorder, neuropathy, and migraine prophylaxis.

You folks are right, many people cannot take it because of the side effects. This is unfortunate because the people who benefit from it say it's a miracle drug.


I was on 50mg for 12 years and he just told me to stop. Going on my 4th day.

[gemsbmw]

I'm a pharmacist.

Topamax went generic a while back and the price has nosedived. BTW, 50mg a day is a relatively small dose. Your doctor would probably have you take 25mg daily for a week or so, and then discontinue it.

It really isn't used all that much for seizures, which is what it was invented for, but it is being used a lot for bipolar disorder, neuropathy, and migraine prophylaxis.

You folks are right, many people cannot take it because of the side effects. This is unfortunate because the people who benefit from it say it's a miracle drug.


Oh and I was taking for my moods.

[ViennaGal]

I was on 50mg for 12 years and he just told me to stop. Going on my 4th day.

Then most importantly Gems how do you feel after 4 days without it?

[gemsbmw]

Then most importantly Gems how do you feel after 4 days without it?


So far ok.. Thanks for asking!

[airportwoman]

Any Cymbalta takers? If and when you try to wean off it, be very careful. It took me 2 months with lots of head noise, vertigo, sick to your stomach, extreme dry mouth, constipation and trouble sleeping.

Consult your Dr. or Pharmacist before atempting this. There are horror stories about this drug.

I would not recommend Cymbalta or Effexor unless absolutely nothing else worked. Both drugs are fiendishly difficult to get off of.

I myself have taken Paxil, another drug that is difficult to taper off, for 12 years and have no desire to stop it. All that happens to me when I go cold turkey (and yes, I have tried it to see what happened) is that my OCD returned. I have intrusive, repeating thoughts and it's totally worth it not to have them. I have read some heartbreaking stories about this drug online, and most (although certainly not all) of the people who have told them clearly had very serious problems before they went on it.:sad:

The most common withdrawal effect I have heard about for these drugs is "electric shocks behind the eyeballs". You hear this over and over again, and there has to be something to it.

[cookiedog]

I was on Effexor while attempting to treat my HepC with interferon and ribaviran. (Unsuccessfully)

When my docs stopped treatment, they had me continue on Effexor for sixty days. Then I followed a very careful schedule for tapering off. It took me a full ninety days to completely stop.

I had no problems during the taper and after the cessation of the drug. My liver doctors had warned me that a fast taper could lead to the sensation of electric shocks in my head. I never had that sensation and I was glad to take it slow to avoid the side effects.

[gemsbmw]

Feeling a little sick at the stomach today and a little dizy.

[gemsbmw]

Well I have been off of Topamax for over a week, so I guess it is out of my system. Can't wait to get my brain back. :tongueside:

Thanks all!

[ViennaGal]

Well I have been off of Topamax for over a week, so I guess it is out of my system. Can't wait to get my brain back. :tongueside:

Thanks all!

That's great Gems. You conquered it all on your own. Congrats! :thumbsup:

[gemsbmw]

That's great Gems. You conquered it all on your own. Congrats! :thumbsup:


Thanks! I am now working on the VALIUM! Down from 10 1/2mg to 5

[Carol25]

I went off topomax and effexor. I must be one of the lucky people who did not experience side effects. On Cymbalta now. I don't expect problems.

However I taking Chantix right now and at times, experience shaking and involuntary jerking movements with my head and hands.

[Lavinia]

Thanks! I am now working on the VALIUM! Down from 10 1/2mg to 5

Good for you! You're doing great! :thumbsup:

[gemsbmw]

I went off topomax and effexor. I must be one of the lucky people who did not experience side effects. On Cymbalta now. I don't expect problems.

However I taking Chantix right now and at times, experience shaking and involuntary jerking movements with my head and hands.


I had been on Topamax for 12 years and I did very well going cold turkey. I was a lil shocked.

[ViennaGal]

Thanks! I am now working on the VALIUM! Down from 10 1/2mg to 5

Your rock!! :thumbsup: Congrats!