Hi, I'm Kerry Hancock

September 26, 2026

I am actively tapering from topamax and this all started because I missed a couple days and went in to extreme withdrawal. I took the meds after the 4th day because I thought that would immediately clear up the withdrawal but it made it worse to the point that by the 3rd day it n 100mg I had a seizure. The hospital tried to put me on an every 3 day 25mg taper and that put me in the worst withdrawal of my life getting to 50mg for a week. I am now back up to 75mg with propranolol to help with the withdrawal symptoms. My neurologist wants me to taper 25mg every two weeks but I am terrified to go back in to such extreme withdrawal again. I’m afraid even going down by 25mg monthly will be hard especially with this medication already giving me a seizure and I cannot miss any more work. Are there any suggestions because my neurologist doesn’t seem to believe just how bad my withdrawal was at 50mg.

Topamax — 75 — 2 years 6 months — actively tapering | without clinician

3 Replies

Peggy WallaceSep 26

NavigatorCymbalta · holding

I’m learning the hard way not to trust any medical person when it comes to tapering. Keep coming here and asking for a clinician who knows. I’m learning to advocate for myself.

60 mg — 2 yr — holding | without clinician

Gigi‎Sep 27

NavigatorZoloft · active

Hi @Kerry Hancock, welcome! It is incredibly frustrating when they dismiss or simply don't believe how bad the withdrawal is. But I'm still puzzled about how a doctor wouldn't be infinitely more cautious and do some research before recommending further big reductions after you suffered a seizure! Please don't let any doctor rush you. There is no medal for going fast, only the risk of a crash. There are lots of resources and shared experiences on this site, and all of them echo one thing: don't reduce too much at once and take time between reductions to let everything settle. I've heard the rule of thumb of a 10% drop per month, but in my own experience, even that can be too much. It depends so heavily on your intake history and your current dose. I just don't trust that a doctor who ignores these specifics is actually informed about withdrawal (which unfortunately seems to be the current state of things). Keeping a journal of your symptoms and your doses is a great way to figure out a pattern that actually works for your body. Sending a lot of courage, Gigi

Withdrawal is not a preview of who you are without the drug.
Zoloft — 10 years, 50 mg — currently 21.5 mg — actively tapering

⭐

CatinaSep 27

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @Kerry Hancock, nice to have you here (although I'm sorry you have to be!). I'm sorry to hear about your experience. The medical community has not been properly trained in the area of deprescribing; that's why communities like this one exist. Here are a couple links regarding Topamax that I hope will help: https://taper.community/drugs/topamax https://taper.community/resources/blog/topiramate-topamax-withdrawal-guide I hope your doctors are willing to listen and don't gaslight you regarding your experience. Here are some tips about how to handle the subject of tapering with them: https://taper.community/thread/dbb2cdbb-bb3d-4bb9-93ab-b33de4a3fd0b https://taper.community/resources/blog/how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-tapering Keep us posted on how things are going for you. Catina ❤️

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

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