i'm hoping there is someone out there who has some information, 'cause i'm about at my wit's end. to make a really long story short, i've been fairly well controllled on Topamax for several years. the last three have been tough with the changes in insurance, because i've had to pay more out-of-pocket. and this year is just not going to be doable. I have a $5000 deductible and the topamax is almost $1500 - i can't afford to pay that for a month's supply.

so i was switched to the generic, although my neurologist did not think it wise. now, i need to say that i also have a virus right now. i'm not taking anything special for that, though, but am on a lot of other medications (which makes this so very hard to figure out), but i started having, a little over a week ago(about a week or so after i switched), bone pain along my shins, in my right shoulder, and in my thoracic spine. i also have started with horrible night sweats, vivid dreams, and visual and auditory hallucinations.

anyway, i was going to make this short. sorry. what i mostly wanted to know was if anyone had ever had any experience with a Topamax to topiramate switch and what their experience was?

Hi Diane,

I'm sorry to hear that you are having a hard time and I wish you only the best. I know that when I took the brand name of topamax it increased my seizures and it has been known that many generic drugs are not as strong as the brand name and they can cause seizures for some people. I had this problem when I went on the generic form of Diamox. One thing you might be able to do is to buy your seizure meds on line at a cheaper price and that way you can get the brand name instead of the generic form. Also try taking vitamin B12 1000 mcg. once a day this will help cut back on the seizures also. I wish you only the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue