Try to explain symptoms and conditions

I took Topamax for a week about four months ago for migraine. I stopped because I felt so dopey. It did help with the migraines and I noticed it mellowed me and evened out my mood. Despite that I don't suffer from any mood disorder.

Three days ago I started again because I had been experiencing frequent migraines. I am only in the 25mg at night phase and have already decided to quit again. The side effects are just too much. I awoke this morning and my extremities were completely numb.

After I showered, I caught myself just standing in the closet spacing out. I find it difficult to concentrate and focus (I was just staring out the window a moment ago!). I sound like an idiot when I talk to people and try to explain things. I left work early today because I was feeling so uneasy and depressed that I thought I was going to shake apart. That is totally unlike me. (I'm a cop) And this is after only three days back on at a minimal dose. So, I'm glad it works for some, but it's definitely not for me. The migraines are actually preferable.

My new doctor put me on Lipitor and after taking it 5 days I developed a redness and swelling under my left eye. I also felt out of it and went from feeling really good to barely being able to do anythng. I quit taking it immediately and by the next day or so I was my old self. My doctor does not listen to me when I try to explain that I have strange physical reactions to most meds. He wants me to change my medicines, but it took me too long to find the ones I can tolerate. My LDL is not good but I'm exercising (walking) daily for 35-45 minutes and drinking more water, eating oatmeal at breakfast, cutting out all sugar, eating lots of fresh veggies and fruits and I feel better than I've ever felt.

Prednisone- what can I say.
I was on 40 mg 3 times a day, then cut to 40 mg 2 times a day. This lasted for 2.5 months before they started to slowly get me off of it. I finally got off of it after 4 months. This was pure hell.
FIRST OFF to any of you that goes cold turkey on getting off of it, DON'T. NEVER DO THAT!!!!!!!! If anything get off of it SLOWLY!!! If you are at 20mg a day, cut / break them in half, take 15 mg for a couple of days, then 10 mg for two to three days, then go to 5mg for a couple of days. The higher the dosage that you are on, the longer it takes to get get off of them. REMEMBER, I'am NOT a Doctor, this is some of my insight on this 'demon' drug.

How long to get it out of your system, well it will depend on the dosage you are taking and how long you have been taking it. With the high dosage I was on and the lenght of time, about 5.5 months, I'm STILL affected by the 'demon' drug and it has been 2.5 years since I got off of it.

One VERY IMPORTANT point to make if you are going to be taking it over a lenght of time is: If you have a wife / girlfriend, family, and friends, let them know right away. They don't know or realize what it is and what you are going through. For your family if they don't understand have them talk to your Doctor.

I have MANY side affects from this drug and will go through more of it some other day, but right now I'm having 'wife' problems because of this stuff. I sat her down three times during the couse of taking the 'demon' drug but she did not or could not believe it. (note: for the first month on it, I average 1/2 hrs of sleep per night. This IS with taking a stong sleeping pill.) To this day, my wife is not really even talking to me because of the way I acted when I was on the 'demon' drug. I don't remember any of it, and try to explain what it is like to not sleep for weeks. SHE doesn't understand that, she just says that it was me and my fault.
There is nothing I can say now to change her mind. So now after 33 yrs of marrage, (30 of them were just great) she wants to leave me. So keep that in mind with any high dose long term use. Side effect possibly lose your spouse or friends if they are not aware of what can happen to you.

To those of you on it, God be with you and stay strong. You are NOT going out of your mind, it is that some people do not understand.

Talk to you all later.

Angel