hi, i'm new here.  well, sort of.  i was on here a long time ago.  i
have been on anticonvulsants for 27 years for complex partial
seizures.  i had an enormously difficult time gaining control of my
seizures, and for awhile they were intractable.  i was considered for
surgery, but was found not to be a good candidate.  i lost lots of
work, and have suffered from severe depression in addition to epilepsy
all these years.

well, i've been on Topamax for several years and, at the current
dosage (700mg), it has controlled my seizures for 5 years.  that is,
all except for some visual disturbances i have, which my last
neurologist said were seizures (and which were helped by an increase
in meds), but which my current one says are not.

now, with my new insurance plan, i have to pay $1076.00 for my next
refill.  just for the Topamax.  i'd have to do that twice before my
meds are completely covered, and i sooo can't afford it.  i mean, who
could???

anyway, my neurologist had said at my last appointment that he was
going to keep me on my meds 1 more year to make sure my seizures were
under control before he pulled me off the meds.  so i called him, and
asked if he might consider doing it early.  and he agreed, if my EEG
were normal.  so i had an EEG today (no results yet).

i guess i wanted to hear what you all think about a couple of
things.
   - has anybody withdrawn from Topamax, and how is it?
   - has anybody withdrawn from meds after being on them so long?
   - does anybody have any thoughts about the visual disturbances?
i'm a little worried about being off meds when i have these, since my
last neurologist said they were seizures.

thanks for listening.  it's much appreciated.
diane