Posted by JohnL on January 21, 2001, at 6:12:01
In reply to Stopping Anti-Convulsant Medication, posted by Faded on January 20, 2001, at 19:59:20
> Has anyone had any experience stopping Topamax or Lamictal without tappering off? Would you go into sezuire? If so what would happen? I would like to stop these medications, but have no interest in returning to the doctor. Any input?
Weening off is the only safe thing to do. Stopping abruptly could be OK, but then again it could result in something really bad. You don't know. No way to predict. I remember when I decided to stop Lamictal, I weened down very fast in large steps. I got strange twitches in my eyelids and my cheeks. They went away when I went back up to the previous dose and then discontinued at a slower pace. I also got a small rash on my cheek. I thought that was a risk when increasing dose too fast, but apprently it can happen when decreasing too fast as well. It was no big deal really, but still it just goes to show that you have no idea what to expect, and the only safe prudent thing to do is ween down slowly and in small steps. Though it was no big deal, it certainly could have turned into one, had I not resumed a more appropriate weening schedule.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:52109
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010111/msgs/52138.html