I too had chest pains!! That is something that they do no tell ...

After a brief period of wonderful suuccess from Lamictal (about a week's time of great control, no mania, and a feling of normalcy), I got the rash. It was horribly painful,,but I was specifically warned by my psychiatrist at our initial meeting.
I have had anxiety disorder for ten years(diagnosd ten years ago,at 19)and have taken xanex or Klonipin that whole time. But I was already drinking from wake up, at work(I was a bartender), after work, and until I hit a friend's floor or crashed sitting up with a beer in my hand. It got up to over a 30-pack a day, just to function. So, I went to semi impatient rehab,,quit drinking, not pills.
I made it one month. Soon I noticed that my personality was changing and something beyond just alcoholism was definitely there.I quit my job because it had become to stressful (I'd been bartending, serving and even managed since leaving college my second year).
Without money and now with no place to live afte my girlfriend left me, i moved home.
My mother finally took me to see this psychiatrist, but I had been unable to handle my affairs, usually locking myself in m bedroom,,sleeping for 5 -7 days at a run and then going several days wiithout sleep. I was obviously very sick considering my personality of just a few years prior, looked to most, like I was a witty, fun, party guy.
So, Bi-Polar II (I had frequent hypomania when I would stay up for days)was the diagnosis.
Lamictal and xanex, but xanex xr which are just dum-dum dope to me. Even after the rash, I read that many people had gone back on Lamictal after the rash, jut starting slower and proceeding slower ,with smaller doses. It was worth the risk of rash because of the one week of control I had experienced(w/ no desire for alcohol). I wanted that permanently.

I didnot ask my psych's permission(very dangeros and irresponsible, but I wanted to feel normal. I have experienced nothing but very bad side effects that I never knew of. Shakes and tremors in my hands and arms,,now in one leg occassionally, blurry vision, cycles of incredible anger, loss of ability to pull up words, even worse memory. I have decided to discontinue immediately tapering off.
Well, Dr, So and So wants, I should take the super, wonder- drug, trileptal. It is, according to him, almost totally free of side effects.

I wanted to see what the truth was. Because, I will not spend the next five years being pumped full of garbage and paying arrogant shrinks to act like there is a good combination of meds that are just perfect for me,,,it just takes time,,,,No way. I don't work (a.k.a. unemployed) right now anyway, and I'm about to begin receiving Social Security, Medicaid and other assistance. I'll go to 3mgs Xanex a day, a 12-pack of beer and 30mgs of Adderall. I have a studio in the house and have played guitar for 20 years. I 'll teach lessons and go back to school on the government and Eli Lilly(they have several full scholarship/re-integration programs,,as do many pharmaceutical companies). At least I'll actually receive my S.S., unlike others my age.

That means I can't drive(I do not drink to get drunk, It just evens me out and actually turns my brain on. It may not be anything a Dr. could reccomend, but it sure is a lot safer, if spread ut over a 14-16 hr.day, than all this horrible medication they have for bi-polar .I would be fine to drive, but will not take the chance on an accident, because i'll be the horrible drunk driver who hit a biker and killed him,,) I will ride the bus, I do not care, But be a lab monkey,,no way.

I wish, instead of the comment i keep seeing that claims, "With proper diagnosis, treatment, and medication, those with Bi-Polar can still live fullfilling lives." they would just put up a picture of a guy with his head in his hands, that was captioned,"Bi-Polar Disorder? You're Totally Screwed."

I agree there needs to be more education on this Topamax. I am going through Hell right now. Tingling, Numbness, Pain in my chest,eye pain, hospital visits. I want to get up a bunch of people to help control this drug. Please contact me. Pam-everyone who is having side effects lets get this drug evaluated

Please help me get this drug reevaluated. I am suffering horribly now. I have numbness, tingling, confusion, chest pain, had a TIA lets get the drug co. to examine it more but I need help. Please e-mail me stories. I am at my wits end. Almost suicidal. Help me please Pam