does stopping Topamax cause withdrawal symptoms

[michele]

I run out of my topamax on friday (in three days)and just found out that I am not currently covered by my insurance. I cannot afford to buy them at full price, so it looks like I have to go off them cold turkey until I can fix the insurance problem (should only take about two weeks). I have occasionally forgotten a dosage with no problem, but that was at the beginning. Now I take 150 mg per day. Can anyone tell me what to expect?

[Miranda uk]

Hi, From everything I have read here and that I have been told, you should not stop this drug suddenly. However, that is easy for me to say as here in the UK I am in a different position. Is there any way that you could reduce your dosage by halving your tablets or maybe taking some every other day, at least then you would not just be stopping dead outright. I am so sorry that you are in this situation. I hope that you find a solution to this.

[jpn72738]

michele wrote:

I run out of my topamax on friday (in three days)and just found out that I am not currently covered by my insurance. I cannot afford to buy them at full price, so it looks like I have to go off them cold turkey until I can fix the insurance problem (should only take about two weeks). I have occasionally forgotten a dosage with no problem, but that was at the beginning. Now I take 150 mg per day. Can anyone tell me what to expect?

I was just taken off topamax (due to skin allergy). I had only been taking it for 1 month & my doctor had me taper off for a week - not quiting cold turkey. I would suggest you cut your dosage down.

[Ramona]

michele wrote:

I run out of my topamax on friday (in three days)and just found out that I am not currently covered by my insurance. I cannot afford to buy them at full price, so it looks like I have to go off them cold turkey until I can fix the insurance problem (should only take about two weeks). I have occasionally forgotten a dosage with no problem, but that was at the beginning. Now I take 150 mg per day. Can anyone tell me what to expect?

MICHELE, try to taper if at all possible, buy a few pills if you need to. You may experience detox symptoms like nightmares, twitching, frequent urination, sweating. I had that all happen my last night of Topamax, and felt like a new woman the next morning. I was glad to be off it.

[MLN]

I've been on topamax for 5 yrs, and I'm starting to taper down. immediately I felt high anxiety that went away within a couple of days. 10 days later after the first cut, I'm still experiencing sensory changes- numbness/tingling in my rt arm, and waking frequently at night. I'm actually finally ready to ask my Dr. about it tomorrow- but it's worth to be off the meds! good luck!

[samuel]

stopping a high dose of topamirate quickly can have bad side effects and is dangerous

[joanne]

MLN wrote:

I've been on topamax for 5 yrs, and I'm starting to taper down. immediately I felt high anxiety that went away within a couple of days. 10 days later after the first cut, I'm still experiencing sensory changes- numbness/tingling in my rt arm, and waking frequently at night. I'm actually finally ready to ask my Dr. about it tomorrow- but it's worth to be off the meds! good luck!

what was the dosage you were on?? I am on 150mg and have been on it for a few years. i am trying to decide if i want to stop or not but idk if its worth it.

[josephine]

I stopped it suddenly. I was on 100mg every day for over a year for migraines. 2weeks out I had my first absentia seizure. I had my 2nd 5 days later.I don't have a history of seizures prior to the topamax. They think it is from the sudden withdrawal from it, but not sure yet. I've also had rapid heart rate and chest pain and my blood pressure has shot up to 178/100. Before my BP had always run low, 100/60. I stopped it because of $ also and because my migraines are better. I would have never done this had I known what would happen. I would have asked for samples or something. I pray I don't have another seizure. It is no fun!

[joanne]

josephine wrote:

I stopped it suddenly. I was on 100mg every day for over a year for migraines. 2weeks out I had my first absentia seizure. I had my 2nd 5 days later.I don't have a history of seizures prior to the topamax. They think it is from the sudden withdrawal from it, but not sure yet. I've also had rapid heart rate and chest pain and my blood pressure has shot up to 178/100. Before my BP had always run low, 100/60. I stopped it because of $ also and because my migraines are better. I would have never done this had I known what would happen. I would have asked for samples or something. I pray I don't have another seizure. It is no fun!

Now i really dont know if i want to go off of this or not. How r u feeling now??

[sherryanne]

I stopped taking topamax almost 2 weeks ago after being on it for 3 months and feeling worse then before I started taking it. I was up to 100mg. The first couple of days after going off of it I had some minor side effects but after a week I started getting quite a bit of dizziness. It's been two weeks and I still am getting dizzy. Are you still having problems with withdrawal symtoms? I was wondering how long it takes to get this drug out of your system.

josephine wrote:

I stopped it suddenly. I was on 100mg every day for over a year for migraines. 2weeks out I had my first absentia seizure. I had my 2nd 5 days later.I don't have a history of seizures prior to the topamax. They think it is from the sudden withdrawal from it, but not sure yet. I've also had rapid heart rate and chest pain and my blood pressure has shot up to 178/100. Before my BP had always run low, 100/60. I stopped it because of $ also and because my migraines are better. I would have never done this had I known what would happen. I would have asked for samples or something. I pray I don't have another seizure. It is no fun!

[DocGray]

michele wrote:

I run out of my topamax on friday (in three days)and just found out that I am not currently covered by my insurance. I cannot afford to buy them at full price, so it looks like I have to go off them cold turkey until I can fix the insurance problem (should only take about two weeks). I have occasionally forgotten a dosage with no problem, but that was at the beginning. Now I take 150 mg per day. Can anyone tell me what to expect?

The exact same thing happened to me @ the same dosage.
It seems that insurance companies are targeting topamax but do not offer a generic substitute in their sorry excuse of a 3 step program.
Ed Weisbart, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Express Scripts has now become my de facto physician--although I never had any contact with this quack.
From my own recent experience, you can expect any and/or many of the symptoms found in the literature by going cold turkey.
I recommend that you be under 24 watch for a few days.
Good Luck,
Doc

[Kristine]

I'm 9 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child and trying to quit topamax. I've been weaning by 25mg every 3 days but the dizzyness, resstlessness and anxiety is still overwhelming. I'm most concerned about miscarriage? Does anyone know how long these symptoms will last and if we'll be allright?

[Ryan]

I also stopped topamax. Same thing, nighmares, anxiety, diziness.

[Chrystle]

I've started a taper of topamax too. Was on 100 mg. for migraines and felt out of it confused, not sharp etc. and when it reached toxic levels early this year (after taking it for 3+ years) very depressed. When went to 75 mg. depression temporarily got much worse then a few days later felt better than I had in years!

Stayed at 75 mg. for a few weeks because my neurologist told me to go slow on the taper (I think you can go as slow as you feel the need to - better too slow than too fast! but check with your MD don't do this unsupervised especially if you are pregnant!) and am now feeling depressed, anxious, nervous and blah again. This drugs stinks!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it stopped my migraines during a really bad time but getting off of it is liking getting off crack! Feeling aggravated - Chrystle in Greenport, NY

[JTK]

My wife is in the process of tapering off Topamax now. She's been on it a number of years with no migraine relief. She's experiencing severe anxiety, mood swings, depression and headache. This stuff is nasty!

[Bella]

Don't just suddenly come off... I tried weening off of topomax gradually like doctor said.. I had to tonic clonic seizures... No aura's before nothing just straight into convulsions... by the way on Topomax i've lost 25lbs.. and it's made me i'm dumb as a rock! But it's the only med that's controlled my seizures... i'll deal with been stupid and skinny.. than having seizures ruin my life.. Good luck all.

[Reanna]

My boyfriend took himself off topamax by trying to cut back gradually over a week and has had what I believe to be absence seizures but we are going in today to find out for sure, either way he appears to be have a black out as a result of coming off the drug. I would consult your doctor before quitting cold turkey, she/he can take you off it in a safer manner and may even have samples to help you through if you can't afford the meds. Please don't be careless with the chemicals in your brain!!!

[Mia]

I have recently been told that I need to cut down on my topamax because my cronic migranes are getting better so I'm going down a medicene that I will take only when I need it, instead of Topamax- which I am up to 500 MG. My migranes were absolutley horrible!! To the point I had thoughts of suicide. Now that I am down to only one pill, and almost completely off, I feel very depressed and angry. I can't sleep and I sweat in the sleep I do manage to get, and I have had many nightmares and I never really used to have nightmares before. I havent eaten in days because I havent felt hungry. I feel as though now I am more unhealthy than I have ever been, even though I am not having as bad of headaches anymore.

[Amy-Help]

So if you quit cold turkey how long does it take to get rid of the symptoms?

Ramona wrote:

<quoted text>MICHELE, try to taper if at all possible, buy a few pills if you need to. You may experience detox symptoms like nightmares, twitching, frequent urination, sweating. I had that all happen my last night of Topamax, and felt like a new woman the next morning. I was glad to be off it.

[Jeri]

I stopped taking my 100mg dose topamax about 1 week ago (cold turkey).
It was ok at first, but for the past 2 days, my mind is just swimming with nightmares, anxiety, and almost any bad memory over my lifetime is replaying itself in my head. I can't sleep and my head almost has a numb feeling to it.

I stopped taking it bc I was actually getting seperate headaches (rather than the migraines that I was using for) as well as intense pressure from behind my eyes. I recently found out that the eye pressure is a very serious side effect.
The pressure side effect went on for 6 months.

So, I panicked and stopped taking it.

I just relocated, so I don't meet my new neurologist for a few days.

I would like to know what danger I am in and how long I am going to have to endure this.
Anyone?