Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by increased intracranial pressure, in the absence of a tumor or other diseases affecting the brain or its lining. Diagnosis requires brain scans and lumbar puncture. Characteristic symptoms are headache, transient visual obscurations or transient visual loss in one or both eyes usually lasting...

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/ Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group

Topamax question

loveyalots143
loveyalots143
My neurologist has decided to take me off of Topamax - slowly. I was taking 150 mg twice a day now I'm down to just 50 mg at night (this has been over the last two weeks). On the plus side, I woke up this morning and my brain felt like it was going 634 miles an hour, making plans, figuring things out, etc. BUT my head feels like its going to explode! He has also reduced the Diamox from 3,000 mg a day to 2,000 mg a day at the same time and I don't really know which is causing the increased pain. I'm so excited to think clearly, but when I'm having trouble seeing and pain out of this world it doesn't do me as much good.

Do I just need to wait it out? Has someone been through this wonderful med transition and can help please?

Thanks in advance,
Kristena
deleted_user
deleted_user
I haven't been through your exact transition, but it seems like maybe you were taken off both meds a little too fast.

Reducing your Topamax over the course of 2 weeks sounds about right, but reducing your Diamox at the same time, may have really just shocked your system.

I know for me, what works best is tapering off one med slowly, like your Topamax, waiting 1 month (that's about how long it takes for most meds to completely clear your system) and then start tapering off the next med.

You could call your doc, tell him you think you may have tapered off too quickly dosing down on 2 meds at once and let him know your symptoms. Topamax and Diamox aren't really habit forming meds, so you shouldn't be terribly uncomfortable...your doc may need to raise your dose, and taper 1 at a time.
magnatomamma
magnatomamma
I would ask your doctor to taper one at a time. My personal opinion is to get off the Topomax first if your headaches have not gone away. I have been off Topomax for 2 weeks and I'm feeling much better. Both decrease CSF production, but Diamox much more dramatically. So your pressure may be going up if you decrease both at the same time. If you change up two medications at once you don't really know which is the culprit to any negative side effects. Docs usually change one at a time.