anyone w/bipolar taken off med topamax?

[schell08122008]

Help , my doctor is doing med reduction with me..been one week and I am having very hard, scary withdrawals from the bipolar, anti-seizure med topamax... anyone with these disorders ever taken this med or taken off of it (and switched to another med) I have been in contact w/my sponsor and definitely the doctor. I just don't know how long this goes on....any advice? Peace Schell

[MajestyJo]

Just stay in the moment and stay in today. Don't project your fear into tomorrow and have faith in your doctor and your God. Don't think about what could happen. Don't go into the past at was, the difference today, is you are clean and sober. You won't have the same symptoms. Just be in tune with your doctor and keep him informed as to what is going on.

Touch base with your Higher Power and know that no matter what, your Higher Power is with you. I am not bi-polar but have sponsored 3 women who were.

[schell08122008]

Thank you Jo, last night was the first I peacefully slept through in about 4 days. I am grateful for that this morning. I am still having visual disturbances which scare me. I follow up with the Dr. on Thurs. Staying in the moment is good advice, this too shall pass. You are right about not projecting what will happen tomorrow..peace Schell

[janels]

Well i am bipolar. I have not been on topamax but was on cymbalta for a few yrs n had to go off it n start something more affordable. Well i had terrible withdraw for a few wks, vomiting night sweats depression. it was bad. My advive is pray, keep hydrated, n remember it is temporary n will end. I would also suggest googling w/d symptoms.

[schell08122008]

Thanks janels, this helps. I did google withdrawal and am experiencing most of those symptoms..I could not find any comments on how long I would be experiencing these. I can't stop drinking water, eliminated caffine..and working the steps. I still saw "bugs" yesterday but today the visuals seem to be gone..had night sweats really bad..those are continuing. I have been off only just over a week now..I thank God I am no longer on this med, and do not want to experience this again. I was projecting that this would last forever..this has really taught me to work in the moment. A God thing? Really , thanks for your input. Peace Schell.

[janels]

Well when i googled mine, it said coffee was good for the terrible migraines. I also felt like the w/d would last forever. But it was over after a wk and a half pretty much. Im glad i could help :-)

[MajestyJo]

Food was a big trigger for me, especially chocolate and eggs and egg products. I had migraines for the first 7 years of recovery, that got worse instead of better. They changed my high blood pressure medication in September, I quit smoking in December, and haven't had a migraine since that put me in my bed or in the hospital.

[marlene damore]

Schell - You are in my prayers. God will not take you to what He cannot take you through. You are in the solution and stay close to God.

[schell08122008]

Thanks Marlene and Jo, my last withdrawal symptoms were on Sunday, so it lasted a week and a half. I learned from this experience..thank you Marlene for saying that God will not take me to what He cannot take me through. I did pray, a lot. I did not directly pray for myself, however. I prayed for others, and that by going through this experience I may be of help to others. Today, I thank God for feeling healthy and sane today! Sobriety is a gift. Peace Schell

[marlene damore]

Schell - It's ok to pray directly for ourselves. God wants us to come to Him. Even in times such as what you just experienced...it is opportunity to continue to come to God.
In fact I pray for myself everyday...not foxhole praying and not praying to hit the lottery. But prayer for God's help and guidance and direction according to His Will for me. Also, always praying to be used as an instrument for love and service as God sees fit.
Seems that God has chosen you for this particular life experience with Bipolar Disorder as well as recovery. He is molding you. And molding you to be used as an instrument for the good. Now you have experience to be of service to many others in recovery dealing with this Disorder. And no matter the storms and seasons of trouble we have in our lives...and we will have them...the answer is always going to God. For me...sometimes on my face to God...praying for His help and guidance to get through.
Seems that God has blessed you with the gifts of courage and gratitude and honesty too. It has not gone unnoticed. God bless you.

[schell08122008]

Wow Marlene, Thank you for showing me the Gift in all this. You are right I can share with others how to get through these changes clean and sober. I thank God I did not have to pick up a drink or drug to work through this, but instead used the program to help me. God Bless you in your recovery and words of strength. Peace Schell

[saved1]

:wink:

[schell08122008]

Saved1, this was dug up from the archives! I remember when I was struggling letting go of some of my psych meds. I am stable today, or more stable , down to only a few..of which there is nothing mind or mood altering..low doses. I found more peace and contentment by working the steps of the program, and becoming part of the fellowship than what the meds did for me before..I don't want to rely on a pill as much as I don't have to. Since the time I first wrote on this topic, I have found through being more connected to my spiritual side, and to the program of action, my mental state has improved greatly. Not that I don't have some pretty severe incidences still, but I am able to get through many of these without running to the psychiatrist for meds. I appreciate where I am at right now, may not always be good, but I can get through most of it, the general stuff, and not be over medicated..I appreciate that..over the past year I have grown away from relying only on medication to help me through..and guess what ...a lot of the rawness in my soul has been open and I am able to use the tools of the program to work through these.. I don't want to run away. The program offers gifts that I look forward to receiving. Peace to all, Schell:29: