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**NoraC** · April 30, 2010, 11:43 AM

Don't want to contact my GP

Topamax

Good for you for wanting to stop. I am currently taking 200 mg of Topamax with not many side effects. I did go to my Dr. but she only gave me a prescription for 50 mg. I worked my way up to 150 mg and then contacted her & explained what I had done. So, she is working with me now. I needed to up my dose because the 50 wasn't enough for me. You will have to listen to your body and up the dose if you think you need to.
If I stay on the Topa and continue with the regular doses I do very well. Once, I start missing doses or drinking on it, I slip back into bad habits.
Did you order L-Glutamine? That helps with immediate cravings. It works very well.
Be sure to ask any questions that you have!!!:welcome:

**4MyHealth** · April 30, 2010, 06:13 PM

Don't want to contact my GP

Grangelady,

I ordered online too. Didn't want to talk to my doc about it -- don't really have a doc I see regularly. I started at 25 mg. and moved up to 50 mg. the 2nd week. Haven't moved up since. I think I'm in the middle of my 4th week. (I didn't order a huge supply bc I was so worried about the side effects and didn't want to spend a lot of money on it if I didn't use it.) Anyhow, it has worked pretty well. I think I could really stand to go up to 75 mg. but with the volcanic eruption in Iceland disrupting shipping, I only have enough to get me through next Sunday at this current dosage. I may have to go back down to 25 mg. to carry through until the new order arrives (I ordered 200 tablets this time around....maybe too much).

Interesting what you say, Nora, about slipping into bad habits. I can really feel it...especially tonight...since it is a Friday and my "drinking" night. (Though what night wasn't my drinking night?)

**grangelady** · May 2, 2010, 04:20 AM

Don't want to contact my GP

Thank you NoraC for your encouragment and advice. I am hoping that once I kick the habit of drinking too much every night that I won't need Topa. I will continue with the Kudzu though as I understand this is completely free of side effects and a herbal remedy.
If I'm honest I don't like taking drugs of any kind, so for me to buy an off-label drug over the internet is scary but it shows my commitment to free myself of this addiction.
I bought all the supplements yesterday including L-G just waiting for Kudzu and Topa and I'll be ready to face my demons!
Thanks again

NoraC;846179 wrote: Good for you for wanting to stop. I am currently taking 200 mg of Topamax with not many side effects. I did go to my Dr. but she only gave me a prescription for 50 mg. I worked my way up to 150 mg and then contacted her & explained what I had done. So, she is working with me now. I needed to up my dose because the 50 wasn't enough for me. You will have to listen to your body and up the dose if you think you need to.
If I stay on the Topa and continue with the regular doses I do very well. Once, I start missing doses or drinking on it, I slip back into bad habits.
Did you order L-Glutamine? That helps with immediate cravings. It works very well.
Be sure to ask any questions that you have!!!:welcome:

**grangelady** · May 2, 2010, 04:34 AM

Don't want to contact my GP

4MyHealth
Thanks for the reply, it's reassuring to know that you 'did it alone' too. I ordered 60 25mg tablets but as soon as I did it I was wracked with guilt and scared at what I'd done, ?55 it alot of money and I was ordering a drug that wasn't prescibed to me. I'm hoping that I won't need to take Topa long-term and that by carrying on with the supplements and Kudzu I can keep my cravings at bay.
I really think my issue with drinking too much is down to habit and association. I'm not depressed, stressed or anything like that, it's just a habit I've formed. I start to cook dinner and associate that with having a glass of wine. I don't 'crave' wine as such, but once I have a glass I end up finishing the bottle.
I can have nights were I don't drink if I choose, but I don't choose not to often enough! For me it's fact that I overindulge and that's what I want to control. I want to stop after just 1-2 glasses so that's my long-term aim.
Thanks again it's great to have a site where you can get such support and encouragment without judgement :h

4MyHealth;846400 wrote: Grangelady,

I ordered online too. Didn't want to talk to my doc about it -- don't really have a doc I see regularly. I started at 25 mg. and moved up to 50 mg. the 2nd week. Haven't moved up since. I think I'm in the middle of my 4th week. (I didn't order a huge supply bc I was so worried about the side effects and didn't want to spend a lot of money on it if I didn't use it.) Anyhow, it has worked pretty well. I think I could really stand to go up to 75 mg. but with the volcanic eruption in Iceland disrupting shipping, I only have enough to get me through next Sunday at this current dosage. I may have to go back down to 25 mg. to carry through until the new order arrives (I ordered 200 tablets this time around....maybe too much).

Interesting what you say, Nora, about slipping into bad habits. I can really feel it...especially tonight...since it is a Friday and my "drinking" night. (Though what night wasn't my drinking night?)

**Emcee** · May 3, 2010, 03:45 PM

Don't want to contact my GP

Grangelady - I feel as if I am reading my very own post! I am in your shoes completely. I've made my nightly bottles of wine a "habit" - how could I possibly stand in the kitchen and cook w/out that glass in my hand? Then, the next glass and so on. Then i wake up and hate myself and by 3pm have forgiven myself enough to start up again that night. Crazy roller coaster ride. I too have decided to go alone and not tell my doc. I ordered topa through River Pharmacy and will see how i feel after ramping up the first two weeks as I can't afford to keep buying meds from out of the country!!! $26 in shipping is a bit steep! Anyhow...good luck on your journey, I will be watching for your progress. There is TONS of support here.

MC

**jessie** · May 3, 2010, 04:09 PM

Don't want to contact my GP

Hi everyone,
I was just wondering if any of you had any expeience with weight gain while on Campral. I used it for a month and gained 3 kilos - while also feeling bloated after every meal. Very unpleasant. Granted that it did not stop me drinking either. I'd like to hear about your experiences.
Thanks.

**Guest** · May 3, 2010, 06:00 PM

Don't want to contact my GP

Jessie

I've tried Campral 2 or 3 times and I found it caused me abdominal discomfort and bloating. I have been told it as well as some other medications, reacts badly with grapefruit which I would have for breakfast as well as the juice instead of AL - but one of it's listed side effects is gastrointestinal discomfort. Didn't cause weight gain for me but whenever I stopped drinking I tended to lose weight anyway as the empty calories were eliminated.

**Guest** · May 3, 2010, 06:31 PM

Don't want to contact my GP

Hi Grange Lady,

My drinking habits were the same as yours and somtimes upto two bottles of wine per night!

I'm on Topamax too but I did go to my doctor for it. I asked for it as a migraine preventative and got it. I was worried about how it would mix with my other meds for depression and high blood pressure but he checked and it's fine. I don't want AL probs on my medical records but I do want the Topamax recorded in case anything goes wrong.

I started on 25mg per day and went upto 50mg. I stayed there for about three weeks as the tiredness was almost too much to cope with. I must say the cravings for AL just stopped. I started on 75mg yesterday as my interest in AL is coming back.

I have heard some people here going upto 300 mg but my doctor only advises going upto 100mg.

Also, don't just stop taking it. You have to get off it the same way as you started by weaning down over x amount of weeks.

**hopefulspirit** · May 5, 2010, 05:42 AM

Don't want to contact my GP

Reasons I wish I never told my GP:
- There's enough resources and support online -- you find more knowledge here on addiction than your GP will have. (you'll be educating him/her)
- If you need to be safe with withdrawal, you can find a specialist nurse to do it in the privacy of your home. Similarly, there are resources to go to "out patient" more anonymously.
- You will have issues with insurance... specifically, life insurance for-ever....
- If your GP is on a universal medical records system as mine is: Your eye doctor, gyno, lab technician will all see and know your history. You will constantly be embarrassed seeking medical help.
- You will never be able to adopt/foster which I would have liked to have done at some point.

I will say that I have gone outside of the "universal" health care network to get advice on a female related issue. I do think it would be in my best interest to come clean with her but would prefer to do this on my terms rather than her getting the whole story in a medical file.

Again, there are many qualified nurses that can help you "withdraw" although at your stage, that may not be necessary.

I think the whole fear of "doing it alone" fuels the professional addictive community. Despite good therapy (and the bad truly outweighs the good), the only real value I've received from doctors is the necessity to get prescriptions. Now that we have online ordering (just received an order from Rivers yesterday) I wish I had this forum, armed with the knowledge that I now have and never reached out to the medical industry.

But you have to weigh the positive and negatives. How would I justify getting numerous liver blood tests without being honest. That's the tricky part.

I wish you the best...
HP

**ecosette** · May 5, 2010, 06:08 AM

Don't want to contact my GP

Hi, I guess this comes up alot. Like you GrangeLady I found it a bit rich that the My Story character could not go to the GP but the Programme centres on a prescription only drug. I won't go because I am fearful of what problem drinking on my medical record may cause later in life. There are no guarantees.

However, did not know you could buy it online! Where?

Good luck with your way!

**grangelady** · May 5, 2010, 02:50 PM

Don't want to contact my GP

Spam
Thanks for your reply.

Have you decided to abstain or drink in moderation? I only ask as you said you upped your dose of Topamax because cravings started to return. Have you been taking Kudzu and L-Glutamine with the Topamax?

From what I gather the 2 'herbal' supplements really help...I'm hoping for the Topamax to give me a kick-start with the Kudzu and LG being the on-going supportive therapy.

Good luck with it all :l

Spam;847946 wrote: Hi Grange Lady,

My drinking habits were the same as yours and somtimes upto two bottles of wine per night!

I'm on Topamax too but I did go to my doctor for it. I asked for it as a migraine preventative and got it. I was worried about how it would mix with my other meds for depression and high blood pressure but he checked and it's fine. I don't want AL probs on my medical records but I do want the Topamax recorded in case anything goes wrong.

I started on 25mg per day and went upto 50mg. I stayed there for about three weeks as the tiredness was almost too much to cope with. I must say the cravings for AL just stopped. I started on 75mg yesterday as my interest in AL is coming back.

I have heard some people here going upto 300 mg but my doctor only advises going upto 100mg.

Also, don't just stop taking it. You have to get off it the same way as you started by weaning down over x amount of weeks.

**grangelady** · May 5, 2010, 02:54 PM

Don't want to contact my GP

I bought mine from edrugnet.com - reliable trustworthy source ordered and was told it was shipped estimated delivery 2-3 weeks - arrived in 4 days! I bought the real deal and not a generic (cheaper version) - took my 1st 25mg this afternoon okay so far no problems and I don't fancy a glass of wine at all - thought about it but not bother RESULT!
Lots of luck to you keep in touch through the site :l

ecosette;848735 wrote: Hi, I guess this comes up alot. Like you GrangeLady I found it a bit rich that the My Story character could not go to the GP but the Programme centres on a prescription only drug. I won't go because I am fearful of what problem drinking on my medical record may cause later in life. There are no guarantees.

However, did not know you could buy it online! Where?

Good luck with your way!

**grangelady** · May 5, 2010, 03:14 PM

Don't want to contact my GP

Hi Emcee
Nice to know you feel the same I know I'm not alone in my drinking habits most of my friends are the same. I've just got to the stage that enough is enough I want to regain control and start to enjoy the occasional glass of wine without over doing it.

I never want to give up completely as I think alcohol does have a place in my life, how lovely to share a bottle of wine with a girl-friend and put the world to rights and that's exactly how it used to be... before I got into drinking every night.

Have you started using Topamax yet? Took my first this afternoon along with Kudzu and I feel fine. No side effects as yet but it is early days.. I think from reading the site that if you keep to the lower dosage there are few problems. Haven't had a glass of wine tonight, which is a real result as I've been on holiday today so been home all day, cooked and ate dinner, now sitting at my PC and not a glass of wine in sight - diet coke by my side...how good am I?:goodjob:

Keep in touch via the site I'd love to hear how you get on. I think having the suport of the site will be really beneficial

Emcee;847907 wrote: Grangelady - I feel as if I am reading my very own post! I am in your shoes completely. I've made my nightly bottles of wine a "habit" - how could I possibly stand in the kitchen and cook w/out that glass in my hand? Then, the next glass and so on. Then i wake up and hate myself and by 3pm have forgiven myself enough to start up again that night. Crazy roller coaster ride. I too have decided to go alone and not tell my doc. I ordered topa through River Pharmacy and will see how i feel after ramping up the first two weeks as I can't afford to keep buying meds from out of the country!!! $26 in shipping is a bit steep! Anyhow...good luck on your journey, I will be watching for your progress. There is TONS of support here.

MC

**Guest** · May 5, 2010, 07:43 PM

Don't want to contact my GP

grangelady;849034 wrote: Spam
Thanks for your reply.

Have you decided to abstain or drink in moderation? I only ask as you said you upped your dose of Topamax because cravings started to return. Have you been taking Kudzu and L-Glutamine with the Topamax?

From what I gather the 2 'herbal' supplements really help...I'm hoping for the Topamax to give me a kick-start with the Kudzu and LG being the on-going supportive therapy.

Good luck with it all :l

Hi GL,

I would like to moderate but I am aware that it may not be possible. Before the cravings returned, I could look at wine and take it or leave it. There was an open bottle in the fridge for ages until I threw it away.

Yesterday, I was at the dentist for a while, which is right next to the bottle shop, and the should I / shouldn't I buy a bottle was on my mind the whole time I was there. A craving for me could lead to drinking more than a bottle.

Generally, cravings for me would start with "fancies" around school run time in the afternoon.

I do take L-Glut but got out of the habit when the Topamax took away the cravings. I need to plan a bit more. I should have taken some before going to the dentist yesterday. I think I should take some before the school run as well as around 6.00 pm.

And, I made it home without AL yesterday!

I've only been on the Topa a short while, so I'm not a great source of information but more than willing to try and help.

Spam xx

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