[netsavy006]

I saw a neurologist this week and he is having me go for an MRI and an EEG to determine if I have seizure disorder (to govern the need to continue taking Topamax).

I started Topamax in the hospital (psych ward) because I had 1 seizure back in Jan 2010, and I've not had one since.

My question is, should the testing show I can come off of Topamax, as the neurologist withdraws me from it, what "side effects" should I look out for going off of Topamax?

Thanks in advance,
Andy.

[SlatkaMala]

The only thing that I noticed was eight gain. Like 40 pounds.

[Fresia]

The testing cannot show if you can come off of it b/c being in your system, doing what it does, it is preventing anything from happening to get a read on that activity that is being suppressed. The only way to know is to actually go off of it and see if those symptoms are still a factor. Each one of us had to decide if it is worth the risk for our particular situation to do this.

Being nicknamed "Dopamax", going off of it, I became more awake and actually slept less. The doc warned me about the weight gain, so I ramped up my exercise program and diet to combat it. I ended up with only a couple extra pounds. He also said that if you didn't lose weight when you originally went on it, weight gain is usually not a factor coming off of it. I had however.

I unfortunately/fortunately had to go back on it. My original symptoms returned, that I was put on it for in the first place. So please watch for your original signs and symptoms and be careful as you taper off and then are off completely.