Topamax and blood tests

I've been on Topamax for almost a year. I've had auras for years which were misdiagnosed as hypoglycemia episodes, then started having grand mals after detoxing from alcohol (I'm sober now), continued to have them in sobriety (I guess I messed up my brain from alcohol). I tried Tegretol but it made me groggy. Anyway, a few months into using Topamax I stopped sweating completely and got the numbness and tingling in my extremities, which drives me crazy. I also have trouble with urination, I've been put on water pills. I live in a desert climate and during the summer had bad problems with overheating, had to drink so much water that I had trouble with water retention and my electrolytes got messed up. I had no idea that it was the Topamax--the doctors put me through multiple blood tests, I discovered it might be the medicine by doing my own research online. I'm tapering off Topamax and trying the Low Glycemic Index Treatment to see if I can be off meds and not have auras because I don't want to be on seizure meds if I can help it. The withdrawal is pretty bad--anyone else have the problems with no sweating and wicked withdrawal?

I was on 50 MG of Topamax and 1/2 Phentermine tablet for 3 months as part of a physician's weight loss program. In that time I lost 38.1 lbs (had little appetite, but had lots of energy and exercised by walking over 1 hr every day or every other day....depending). One week after my 3-mo weigh in, I started experiencing heart problems during one of my walks. I felt dizzy, I was sweating more than usual, I was lethargic and I just didn't feel "normal." The next morning I felt good so I went for my walk. The problems from yesterday intensified during my walk and I had to quit after 1 hr. I was very dizzy, sweating a great deal, I was very lethargic and I was nauseous. It also felt as though my heart was jumping out of my chest (palpitations). I went home and couldn't get out of the chair; that's how tired and bad I felt. That afternoon, I drove myself to the doctor. My blood tests and urine screen were "normal," but my EKG (on-site and immediate) was abnormal. I have always had "irregular EKG's" due to what I call "an extra beat." But this time my heartbeat was "enhanced" and not "normal" for me (doctor's words). The chart showed that I was having many palpitations (strong, irregular ones). I was told not to walk and not to leave town over the holiday weekend (the doctor still didn't believe the medicine was to blame since I had been on both over 3 months). I stayed inside much of the weekend, but finally went to a store to return an item. After 10 min in the store, I felt HORRIBLE (worst ever). I was so dizzy, very nauseous, I was sweating (in a very cold store), my heart was jumping and it was difficult to take more than a few steps. I went home and spent the remainder of the weekend in the house. On my own (2 days later), I cut the Topamax in half and took the usual 1/2 pill of Phentermine. I started feeling better that same day. The next day I did the same w/ my mediation and felt MUCH better (although not 100%). On day 3, my doc phoned me at home. When I told him I had cut down on my Topamax and felt much better, he told me to immediately stop taking BOTH drugs. I did and I improved daily. On day four I was 100% better. After a week and 1/2 of overeating (and being depressed about it), I began taking 1/2 tablet of Phentermine (but no Topamax) w/o my doctor's knowledge. That was 3 days ago. I am feeling well with an occasional palpitation (minor though). I am back to having little appetite. I see my doctor in 2 days. He may be unhappy that I put myself back on the Phentermine, but at least now I KNOW that TOPAMAX was what caused the majority of my heart problems. I am not sure what my doctor will do (probably demand I stop taking the Phentermine); I am hoping he will place me on a safer drug that will help me reach my goal of a total weight loss of 100.5 lbs. I have been overweight for 18 years (since my marriage) and I am FINALLY determined and motivated to lose weight by eating less, eating right and exercising. PLEASE be aware of taking Topamax!

After taking Topamax for six months, I found my self different person.... I started feeling this way just in the first few weeks after I started the medication, but the simptoms incleased with the time....Anxiety, nervousness, panick attacks, negative thinking and depression....crying, making up problems from nothing, hair loss also....I decided to stop it, slowly and without any concequences I thought I am out of it....But just a couple weeks I stop it is I noticed some red spots on my skin on the lower legs, soon they became more and stronger..... Two months later I was in abnormal stress that I am going to be sick from a terrible desease... Read so much on Internet.... I can explain how terrible I felt and even though I did blood tests (everything was in normal range!!) and spoke with so many doctors, nobody could tell me what exactly is wron with me. One Dermatologist named the skin problem as Progressive Pigmentary purpura and gave me a cream for that. Thanks a lot for that because the spots started desapearing, but it may come again.... nobody knows for sure.... I think this is another side effect of Topamax, that nobody had before..... Please tell me if somebody else had the same situation... I will feel much more relieved....