Coming off topirimate

[lindyloo64]

I am reducing my topirimate from 400 daily over 4 weeks. I am onto my 2nd week and now taking 200 daily. My headache is realy bad. Any tips as im dreading it when im totally off them, but was unable to function on them.

[glamourpuss]

Hi Lindy loo , sorry to hear you feel so dreadful. My advice is to reduce the tablets very very slowly , even if you have to cut the tablet in half and take longer to get of them . I could not function on that medication due to such terrible side effects but found nortriptyline v helpful in reducing the severity . I hope this is helpful and you find something that helps you .

[Hidden]

I think you are supposed to reduce the dose far more slowly than that. I too am on 400mg daily, and my doctor has impressed on me that I must be very careful when I come to reduce it or I could feel very I'll.

For two weeks take 200mg in the morning and 175mg in the evening

For the next two weeks take 175mg morning and evening

For the next two weeks 175mg in the morning and 150mg in the evening

For the next two weeks 150mg morning and evening

And so on. That's what I've been told to do anyway, and I increased the dose to my current level in the same way.

Hope this helps and hope you manage to sort your dosage out and start to feel better.

Perhaps check with your doctor? Topiramate is a very strong medication.

xxx

[woodlog]

Topirimate is quite effective at controlling migraine but the side-effects are horrendous: I'm sure you're better without it so long as once you've got through the hideous cold turkey period your migraine is monitored and if necessary you're offered Botox treatment. You seem to be reducing the dosage very quickly. Migaineurs are hyper sensitive to medications so starting them and coming off needs to be managed very gradually indeed.

[Johnny-One]

I am only on 200 mg daily at the moment and I too was always told 25mg daily each fortnight if you want to downgrade the dosage. It takes weeks to come off them. When I did once, the doctor (not neurologist) was experimating because they messed up some other medication, it was eight weeks before my headaches came back. I am now only on Topiramate for my head and Symbicort for my lungs. I would love to do without both, but have tried and I can't.