Side effects of topiramate????

[individualnz]

Side effects of topiramate????

Thats great the Bac is working for you Sunny,

I managed to get Topa from the Doc. Began at 25mg ;ast evening and tonight. No real side effects yet, but early days, no reduction in cravings yet either tho......... fingers crossed, toes crossed, and legs crossed too...... okay just being silly now

indy

[sunshinedaisies]

Side effects of topiramate????

Great that you got some Indi - I had no SE for a week or two and then it was just the tingling - don't go looking for them (SE'S) - I refused to even find out about SE before I started taking it 'cos I wanted it to work SO badly and didn't want SE! I also started to worry that it wasn't going to work re the cravings as it took a few weeks - the research (and my doc) said that it takes about - gosh, I have forgotten - umm, anyway - I think it was anywhere from 6-12 weeks for it to stop the cravings - but for me it was around the 4 week mark, for some it is earlier - just go on with life as usual and let the Topa do it's stuff - I think it is great that you are on it. It is an awesome drug - well, for me it is anyway!

hugs, Sunshinedaisies

[individualnz]

Side effects of topiramate????

Thanks Sunshine!

Yes your absolutely right about not focussing on the SE. Im pretty stoked I actually managed to get my hands on the stuff to be honest! Gee I was hoping it might start to work a bit quicker than that, but at least I have made a start.

Started on 25mg and will keep on with that for a few weeks then up it to 50mg. I have not got the MWO book but as Funny Girl suggests, it would be of great benefit so I shall get onto that one.

Funny, yes you bring up some very valid points, I completely agree. Do you take AD's?

I really really hope the Topa works for me as it has for you folk. This really is a little ray of hope after failing miserably with the Bac, it left me very timid to try anything again so here goes. Next I would love to get the supps, get a healthy diet and feel awesome from the inside out!

Indy

[Funny Girl]

Side effects of topiramate????

Indy - I took Wellbutrin to quit smoking & had stayed on it. I was still on it when I began with Topa and cut back on it till I stopped that completely. I found that the absence of alcohol made me feel so much better from a mood perspective that I don't feel I need anything to lift my mood. I had to make adjustments to not drink - don't get me wrong. But once I wasn't pounding tons of alcohol daily, I began to feel really happy. Imagine that!!!!! Even when I slipped up in May, my 'slipping' involved significantly less alcohol than it would have normally and I got back on the horse again at the end of may. I feel really good. Aside from Alcohol being a depressant, I was also just so mad at myself for drinking all the time & seemingly not being able to stop - I felt like a failure - that alone would make anyone feel depressed. I say pat yourself on the back for every little effort you make and every success you have. I'm rooting for you and hoping that this will help get you started. For me, the topa kicked in right away and I really didn't feel like drinking from the beginning, so everyone is different.

[sunshinedaisies]

Side effects of topiramate????

Indi - it might work faster than than that for you - it might not. I remember worrying 'cos it didn't seem to be doing ANYTHING. Then it started doing it's magic. Yes, I am on Celexa - have been for years and the two seem fine together. If ever my Doc suggests stopping it, I feel like a dog curling it's lip when one tries to take it's favourite bone away - my doctor got the message a long time ago!! Anyway - just take your time with the Topa and titrate up re the book - did you download it yet? I am pleased for you that you got it too!

Hugs,
Sunshinedaisies

[Ayuria]

Side effects of topiramate????

I have been on topamax for 2 weeks - up to 50mg. My depression has increased significantly, worse than its ever been ever before in my entire life, and the suicidal thoughts have increased far worse then ever before. Im now off topamax. My doctor doesnt think at such a low dose it should have triggered such a marked increase in my depression, but says that since Im not experiencing any alcohol issues, I may as well not complicate things. Thats been my experience.

[Funny Girl]

Side effects of topiramate????

It's too bad that it had that effect for you - everyone is different. You know your own body & moods. Best to listen to your body - maybe you should stick with natural things like the supplements. Have you tried those?

[individualnz]

Side effects of topiramate????

Hi Ayuria,

thanks for your experience. I know what you mean with that experience, I had that sort of thing on Baclofen, and even tho I had cut back on drinking my mood vastly deteriorated. I hope that you start to feel better soon. It may have been beneficial if you titrated up much slower, perhaps even starting at 12.5mg for a couple of weeks, then graduating to 25 then to 50, who knows, but like Funny says, you know your body better than anyone else.

Sunshine, I too am on those dam AD and have been for a long time and probably will be for a long time to come. Its been a long haul finding a balance and I would absolutely love to not have to take them, but at this point in time I dare not try.

Funny, hopefully one day I too can come off all meds. I do know AL has extreme impact on moods, but I also know my drinking began from trying to regulate the depression/self esteem issues, causing that nasty spiral so many of us get stuck in. I would love to be AL free and clear headed and see where it takes me this time tho......

Regards Indy

[sunshinedaisies]

Side effects of topiramate????

Hey Indi - yes, I know what you mean about the AD - I have been on them for years and cannot imagine coming off them. The thing is with the Topa, that when one comes off AL, that life changes - it is so different, and although I wouldn't say I am more depressed, I feel different. When I first quit, I was so unbelieving from quitting that everything was fine - but as others on here have said - they kept waiting to feel 'great'. And one just doesn't! I never drank enough to have hangovers so that wasn't an issue for me. I am now 6 months out and am still feeling - shall we say disgruntled?

I crave sugar - L-Glut didn't work or made me feel odd so that is out and when I just don't eat it (which is very hard) I don't feel good. Missing AL or Topa SE?

I picked up a book called Potatoes Not Prozac which so far is excellent - and seems to be 'me' the whole way through. In the "what we are reading" section here, I trolled back and found it in there and it got good reviews from others here.

Basically, I really don't think (or feel) that the Topa is doing any of this to me (any of the negative stuff) - I think it is the lack of AL and my body being so used to it. The Topa really helped me stop. Now I just need to figure out the rest of my life.....

hugs, Sunshinedaisies

[july141995]

Side effects of topiramate????

Great reply, Sunshine!

A lot of evidence points to our body taking awhile to adjust to the damage we've done! I appreciate your honesty.

Sorry, to hear L-glut doesn't work for you. I find it helps me - when I am consistent with my supps.

Keep up your great work, Sunshine.

[individualnz]

Side effects of topiramate????

Hi there guys

I have been taking the Topa for 11 days now, no obvious reduction in cravings at all. I may have to go up to 50mg now but just want to take it slow. I have noticed a huge reduction in motivation... for anything, but drinking that is. Bummer.

[techie]

Side effects of topiramate????

go to the 50mg I did after 5 days w/o any problems!

[individualnz]

Side effects of topiramate????

Yes will do, just makes me so tired. Im not drinking everyday,(i dont normally) but certainly feeling the tired/motivational effects which is why I wanted to take it slow and get used to it. How long did it take for the it to help with cravings for your techie?

[techie]

Side effects of topiramate????

About two to three weeks when I went to 75mg. Once I titrated to 50mg I didn't drink, but I fought the cravings with the supplements. It was at 75mg I had no desire to drink. Hope this helps.

[sunshinedaisies]

Side effects of topiramate????

Indi - I found that my am tablet didn't affect me but the pm one would make me feel tired the next morning so I have ended up taking the pm one around 3.00 pm and it has no effect on me re making me tired - odd I know but taking them at those times works for me. Try experimenting when you take them.

sunshinedaisies