Symptoms of a Drug Prescription
Medication ♥ Nikki’s Story
Journey through Topamax
January 4 2024 by Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ Nikki’s Story: Journey through Topamax
This week we continue our journey through Nikki’s healthcare treatment discussing the prescription drug, Topamax. Even though this journey lasted a very short time, the knowledge we provide you is significant to your wellness journey.
Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following journey through Nikki’s eyes.
Nikki’s Story:
Journey through Topamax
It was no surprise when I was prescribed a new drug, Topamax, in a difficult class of medications called anticonvulsant.
By 2014, I considered my treatment plan basically as a game of roulette — drug roulette as I now refer to it.
When one drug was eliminated, another drug was immediately prescribed. And another class of medications was introduced.
Unfortunately, I rarely had any positive results with any drug prescribed to me. In fact, my mental and physical health continued to deteriorate.
In the course of everything that went on at this time, my memory of taking Topamax is non-existent. According to my mom’s journal notes, I became immediately sick and was taken off within a short period of time.
Still feeling unwell and without evaluating what was truly going on with my health, my current healthcare provider decided to increase my current “base” medication.
It was also at this time she prescribed Xanax, a controlled substance, to get me through difficult times.
At the beginning of January 2015, I again decided to change to another healthcare provider in hopes of finding wellness.
After years of an inadequate treatment program, I want to share with you tips I have learned for your awareness:
TIP Number 1:
- Realize everyone is different.
- Recognize that what works for someone may not work for someone else.
- Chemical sensitivities are real.
- Mental health awareness is a key factor in your wellness.
- Living a happy and healthier lifestyle may be a lifelong commitment, but not necessarily life consuming.
TIP Number 2:
- Before beginning a prescription drug treatment plan, be aware of your symptoms.
- Learn different treatment options.
- Have all appropriate blood testing done, such as thyroid levels, vitamin deficiencies, etc.
- Weigh all pros and cons.
- Realize there are no quick fixes.
TIP Number 3:
- Try to recognize any changes in your symptoms after taking a prescribed drug both positive and negative.
- Realize you may not see all the changes.
- Do you feel better or worse mentally or physically after taking the drug?
- Are you experiencing more positive or negative results from the prescribed drug?
- Should you continue on this medication or stop?
- Should you switch a prescribed drug with a new one?
- Should you add a new prescription drug to an existing one?
- If you are having negative effects, can you have hidden sensitivities that have not been looked at.
- Can your diagnosis be wrong?
TIP Number 4:
When withdrawing off a medication, it may be difficult to recognize if it is a withdrawal.
- Withdrawals may last longer than your healthcare provider informs.
- Someimes when a medication is stopped abruptly, you can experience severe symptoms.
- Even when a medication is stopped as per guidelines, negative effects can occur.
TIP Number 5:
- Know that a medication prescribed to you may not necessarily be FDA approved for your condition. Prescription drugs are frequently used off-label.
- Verify how long the prescription drug has been approved and on the market for your condition.
Information for this post on Topamax was obtained from the following:
Fariba KA, Saadabadi A. Topiramate. [Updated 2023 Jan 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554530/
Knowledge is key to wellness!
The goal is to live a happy and healthier lifestyle!
“Don’t listen to the person who has the answers, listen to the person who has the questions”
– Albert Einstein –
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Note: All information in “Nikki’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
Medical Disclaimer:
We share informational resources that are intended to help you with your self-care plan. We are not professionals. We write based on personal experience and personal research.
Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the Website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
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