wasnt_me
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I highly doubt there will ever be an explanation from an expert because the case is closed.
There may be a couple of pathologists or toxicologists on WS, I know there used to be.
You could always also google, research or even call a pharmacist if you'd like.
I'm a fan of listening to people who have used the medication.
My daughter nearly died because a neurologist put her on two conflicting seizure meds including Topamax. I am the one who caught it. So, my trust in "experts" isn't really very high. :twocents:
I don't care why K was taking Topamax. Doesn't matter to me if she was taking it for headaches, weight loss or recreation. I'm simply commenting on the fact that you don't get therapeutic levels unless you are taking it regularly. This doesn't mean it was legally prescribed, just that it wasn't a one time dose. :twocents:
It is also entirely possible that K had migraines and went to the doctor for it, but didn't mention migraines to her mother. After all she was fighting cancer and had a mastectomy. She had enough on her plate. I certainly wouldn't mention it to mine under those circumstances.
There isn't like a database where they enter her name and see if she has an RX for the med. (Topamax is not an opiate.) They ask family and check with known doctors. However, that doesn't mean she didn't see a new doctor, perhaps on a friends recommendation and get an RX they don't know about.
I just think it's far more reasonable to assume she was taking it regularly. Rather than took some massive dose at the party.
Has anyone seen a report where LE or the ME CONFIRMED she had no prescription for it? I've only seen the FAMILY SAYS she didn't. They are two very different things. Clearly the family was not aware of a lot in this situation. Which is not atypical with teenagers.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-kenneka-jenkins-death-20171006-story.html
The testing found alcohol, caffeine and the epilepsy/migraine medication topiramate in Jenkins' system, the office said. Her family said she had not been prescribed the drug, but the level was within the therapeutic range, the office said.
As I already said, I will wait for an expert before deciding things are the way "I" would think or do in relation to this drug. I do not believe she was regularly taking this drug. I do not have to believe she was taking it regularly. I do not know that. I only know that the "therapeutic" levels are between 2400 and 8000.
The report does not say that she has 3000 in her system from daily dosing. It doesn't say that. All I know is that this drug takes 21 hours to go to half life, so if someone gave her a few of these and she took them, maybe that's why the level is what it is.We don't know. A toxicologist needs to explain it.