right away Share 468 +1 3 Pin 19 Stumble Reddit Shares 490 Topamax (Topiramate) is an anticonvulsant drug that is used to help prevent seizures in epileptics. It was later approved by the FDA in conjunction with phentermine for weight loss. Although the two primary uses of the drug remain to treat epilepsy and to help people lose weight, it is prescribed by some psychiatrists to treat bipolar disorder. Despite the fact that it is used to help treat bipolar disorder, most evidence suggests that it is ineffective for that particular condition. If you are on this drug to manage bipolar disorder, understand that it has not been proven therapeutically effective. Some newer studies suggest that Topamax may provide some benefit in treating borderline personality disorder, but further research is warranted. Researchers have noted that long-term effects of this particular drug have not been well documented and that using this drug to treat borderline personality disorder is not well-supported. In the same regard, this drug has been utilized to help people with alcoholism, but there isn t enough supporting research. Other investigational uses for this particular drug include: PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), tremors, eating disorders, smoking cessation, cluster headaches, and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Fortunately most people end up having more problems with side effects from the medication than they do with any sort of major withdrawal. Factors that influence Topamax withdrawal As with any drug, there are going to be various factors that influence withdrawal from Topamax. These factors include things like: how long you took the drug (time span), your dosage, how quickly you tapered, as well as other individual factors. 1. Time Span How long were you on Topamax? Someone who was on Topamax for a longer period of time may experience a longer withdrawal period compared to someone who was only on it for a few weeks or months. If you took it for years and suddenly quit, it may take some time before you readjust to functioning without it. 2. Dosage (25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg) The initial target dose of Topamax for adults is 100 mg per day typically divided into two doses. The maximum recommended dose is 500 mg per day divided into two doses of 250 mg. In the event that you are on a relatively high dose, it may take longer for your body to adjust to reductions in dose during withdrawal and therefore you may experience more discontinuation symptoms. People that are on higher doses tend to 3. Cold Turkey vs. Tapering It is always recommended to conduct a gradual taper to prevent rebound headaches as well as seizures upon withdrawal. Those who are susceptible to seizures should take the time to follow a tapering protocol as opposed to quitting cold turkey. To be on the safe side, you may want to withdraw at a rate of 25 mg every 2 weeks. So if you are currently at 100 mg, cut your dose to 75 mg after 14 days. Some suggest dropping 25 mg every week, which is a little bit quicker, but many people have successfully managed with that tapering protocol. If these reductions are too intense, you could taper at an even slower rate such as 10 mg per week just to be extra safe. As long as you aren t cutting from 100 mg to 0 mg or making drastic reductions in your dose over short terms, you should be able to avoid seizures and debilitating withdrawal symptoms. If you have any questions regarding your tapering, be sure to talk to a professional (e.g. a doctor). 4. Individual Factors Although most research suggests that withdrawal from this particular medication should be relatively short-lived, many people have reported pretty severe symptoms weeks after their last dose. Just know that a lot of the symptoms that you experience will be related to how quickly you tapered, whether you are on any other medications, and how sensitive you are to withdrawals. Some people may not notice much of anything when they quit taking the drug, while other people may feel relatively sick and unable to function. Just know that your experience with any drug is going to be unique everyone is different. Having good social support, a withdrawal plan, and doing your best to stay productive can help take your mind off of symptoms and make for a quicker recovery. Topamax Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities Below is a list of symptoms that have been reported during withdrawal from Topamax. Understand that you may not experience all of the symptoms listed below, but you may experience some. Keep in mind that the severity of the symptoms and how quickly you recover from them will be an individual experience. Anger : If you find yourself prone to bouts of anger, just know that it could be due to withdrawal from the medication. Some people have reported that they notice themselves becoming angry during withdrawal when they didn t have any anger problems prior to using this medication. Anxiety : Many individuals report feeling extra anxious when they reduce dosage and/or discontinue the medication. Although the exact cause isn t known, it may be due to the effect that this drug has on the GABA receptors. It may take some time for the anxiety to subside, but everything should return to normal. Appetite changes : If you notice that your appetite increases when you quit the medication, this is a normal reaction. Topamax has been approved to help people lose weight and it tends to suppress appetite. When you stop taking it, your appetite may temporarily increase and/or return to baseline. Concentration problems : It may be particularly difficult to concentrate during the acute withdrawal period. You may have a difficult time staying focused at work and/or completing normal tasks involving critical thinking and planning. Confusion : The combination of physical withdrawal symptoms as well as concentration difficulties can lead people to feel confused for a few days of withdrawal. The confusion may persist for a week or two, but eventually you should be able to think clearly again. Dehydration : This isn t necessarily a common withdrawal effect, but some individuals have reported dehydration during withdrawal. It is always recommended to stay hydrated during withdrawal because it helps flush the system of the drug. Don t overdo it, but drink a healthy quantity of water. Depersonalization : Feeling unlike your normal self is something a lot of people report while on this drug as well as when they quit. Some individuals have gone as far as to say it changed their personality. It may have changed it while you were on the drug, but as time passes off the drug, you will eventually return back to normal. Depression : Some people end up experiencing depression on the drug as well as when they withdraw. If you didn t have any sort of severe depression prior to taking the drug, then your mood will return to normal after you quit. Dizziness : This is perhaps the most common withdrawal symptom from any medication along with headaches. Many people have reported dizziness and vertigo immediately after they quit. The dizziness may last for a couple weeks, but should gradually diminish as time passes. Fatigue : Don t be surprised if you feel pretty tired during the withdrawal period. You may notice that you have low energy and want to sleep more than usual. After a couple weeks your energy levels should pick back up. Headaches (Migraines) : A lot of people take Topamax to help with cluster headaches and migraines. Don t be surprised if you experience rebound headaches when you discontinue the medication. Additionally even if you didn t have migraines prior to taking the drug, you may end up dealing with headaches for a few days as you withdraw from the drug. Insomnia : Some people notice that they are unable to sleep when they quit taking this drug. It is thought that the increased anxiety as a result of GABA changes can lead to insomnia. Do your best to reduce your arousal with relaxation exercises if you are experiencing insomnia. Irritability : You may notice yourself becoming increasingly irritable during the withdrawal period. Just keep in mind that this is temporary and a result of your brain readjusting to normal function without the drug. Mood swings : Some individuals have experienced changes in mood upon withdrawal. One minute you may feel angry, the next depressed, the next more like your normal self. As time passes, your mood will stabilize. Muscle pain : A common reported withdrawal effect is that of muscle weakness and pain at the joints. This could be due to the fact that your body is now functioning without the influence of a drug and is no longer getting the subtle pain relief and muscle relaxation that the drug may have been supplying. Nausea : You may feel nauseated during withdrawal as this is a normal reaction to withdrawal from most medications. The nausea is typically not overwhelming and will likely subside within a week or two. Panic attacks : If you experience anxiety and allow it to get out of hand, it may lead to panic attacks. In part this may be due to changes in the GABA receptors during withdrawal. As long as you taper slowly and do your best to practice relaxation exercises if you experience intense anxiety, panic attacks shouldn t be long lasting. Seizures : It is important to avoid quitting this medication cold turkey as you may experience rebound or withdrawal seizures if you aren t careful. Therefore always follow the protocol as issued by your doctor and report to your doctor if you experience any problems. Shaking : Some people have reported experiencing shakes and/or tremors when they discontinue. These should not last more than a couple days unless you quit cold turkey from a high dose. Sweating : In some cases people have intense sweats throughout the day and while they sleep during withdrawal. This may be a detoxification mechanism by the body to help itself readjust to functioning without the drug. Thought changes : Some people have noticed that their thoughts are weird or odd during withdrawal. Additionally others have noted that this drug changed the way that they think and/or their entire personality. Once you are off of the drug for awhile, your personality and thoughts should return to normal. Vision changes : A troubling side effect that people report while on the drug is changes in vision and eyesight problems. During withdrawal, people have noted blurred vision and visual changes. In most cases, these changes in vision should return to normal over time. Weight gain : Since this drug is used to help people lose weight and it inherently suppresses appetite, many people gain back the weight that they lost while taking it. Don t be surprised if you gain a little weight once you withdraw. Topamax Withdrawal Duration: How long does it last? There is really no telling how long the withdrawal from Topamax is going to last. Most people suggest that it takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to be free of withdrawal symptoms. The half-life of the drug ranges from 19 to 25 hours, meaning it could take over 2 days for the drug to leave your system. Most reports suggest that there isn t a protracted withdrawal syndrome associated with Topamax, so no need to panic. Many people experience the usually mental fogginess, low energy, and thought changes for a few days, and end up returning to normal relatively quickly. Some people actually feel better within a couple days of stopping Topamax. Obviously it may take your body longer to adjust if you were on a relatively high dose for an extended period of time and/or you quit cold turkey. There aren t many horror stories regarding Topamax withdrawal like there are other drugs. During the withdrawal, it would be in your best interest to make sure that you get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, and get some light exercise (e.g. go for a walk). If you feel anxiety and/or possible panic, take the time to utilize some sort of relaxation techniques. Most people end up feeling as though they have fully withdrawn within a couple weeks after discontinuing. If you still don t feel better after a couple weeks, just know that everyone reacts differently to withdrawal. Some people may experience symptoms for a longer time than others upon discontinuation. Do your best to stay productive, engage in healthy habits, and eventually you will feel fully recovered from the withdrawal period. If you have been through Topamax withdrawal and/or are currently in the process of withdrawing, feel free to share your experience in the comments section below. Sharing your experience may prove to be very helpful to another person going through the same thing as you. Share 468 +1 3 Pin 19 Stumble Reddit Shares 490 Related Posts: Phentermine Side Effects & Adverse Reactions (List) Saphris (Asenapine) Withdrawal Symptoms: List Of Possibilities Geodon (Ziprasidone) Withdrawal Symptoms + Duration Pristiq Withdrawal Symptoms + Duration Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms most magnificent
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