New here and starting Topa and with a question

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

YEAH !!! I didn't think it would copy and paste but it did! PHEW! I remembered I had it in a word doc 'cos so many folk ask for it all the time !! So Jimmy - here you go!!

Week Morning Dose Afternoon Dose
1 - 0 mg 1 x 25 mg

2 - 0 mg 2 x 25 mg

3 - 1 x 25 mg 2 x 25 mg

4 - 2 x 25 mg 2 x 25 mg

5 - 2 x 25 mg 1 x 100 mg

6 - 1 x 100 mg 1 x 100 mg

7 - 1 x 100 mg 1 x 100 mg
2 x 25 mg

8 - 1 x 100 mg 1 x 100
2 x 25 mg 2 x 25 mg

9 - 12 All the same as week 8, giving you a total of 300 mg a day
And after that I think it is up to you.

Week 7 is supposed to be am 1 x 100 mg then pm 1 x 100mg plus 2 x 25mg but when I submit it, it changes the placing of it and trying to edit it makes no difference
Week 8 is supposed to be am 1 x 100 mg plus 2 x 25mg then pm 1 x 100mg plus 2 x 25 mg


Hi Blondie - gosh that sounded scary for you - are you on a lot of other meds? Have you asked your doc if any of them clash with the Topa or do you get yours on-line? you can check on line to see if it does interact with other drugs...... Having said that, that is awesome that it worked so well when you had a drink - wonderful - but it must be awful to have the headaches. I never get headaches and had a cold a few weeks ago that was mainly headaches along with all the usual 'cold' stuff - I had more in one week than I think I had had in my entire life - I don't think I could handle the headaches - hopefully they will dissipate for you.

And you are more than welcome for anything I can offer up to be of help - I know what it was like when I first came here and needed help!! I just think it is nice to have someone that knows you are there!! Have a wonderful weekend :l

Hugs, sun X

[2Run]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hello Everyone!

Sun - Thanks for remembering me. I've always remembered you too! It's been a long time. Do I understand correctly that you are totally AF? Back then I always knew how strong you were sister, even when you were just doing your one little drink before bed. How wonderful.

Blondie - I had SO many episodes like you describe when I was titrating OFF of Topa after 8 months. And my max dose was only ever 150. It's so scary! I think no matter where you are with the Topa, it can do very alarming things until you get adjusted. When I was going off I also felt like I was going to fall asleep at the wheel every time I drove. But then I'd go to hang out on the couch at night and my heart would race like I was sprinting. I hope your body adjusts to the 50 and you don't feel any more of that mess. Did you start back at 25? How long were you on it the first time? I can guess by you being at 50 that you are somewhere in your second week? I've read that hair loss happens after about 6 months...is that when you experienced it the first time? I did, and I had had the terrible up and down of dosage at month 3, and it takes 2-3 months to see the loss from a "trauma" to the body. So...?????
Anyway, just curious. I'd really like to start Topa again, and listen better to it this time, and just wondering what I might expect.

And now, I run on. Sorry.

[jimmyjam]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Thank you sunshine for the scheduled dosing info. I will check in and post my progress. I hope my dr. Will prescribe that much. If not ill have to try and find a reputable online pharmacy.

[playland]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi All, play checking in.

Blondie, I'm concerned about your headaches and the fact that you said your blood pressure was "sky high", please be sure to let your doctor know all the details of that episode, it doesn't seem quite ok.

Sun, thanks for all the prayers, I know they have helped, the doctors feel very positive about things and so do we. I will be leaving in two weeks and won't get to hold her or even see her outside the incubator but just the pure feelings of joy will tide me over until I return in a few months.

So far I am keeping the drinking pretty much in check without the Topa. It is probably mostly because I am busy during the day helping the kids and during the evening helping the kids and not having alot of time by myself to give in to drinking. The minute I get home I will resume the topa and just hope that perhaps since I haven't been off for too long maybe it will just kick back in where I left off with such success.

I see a few new people have joined us here which is really great as I am a great fan of Topa and a great fan of this wonderful supportive thread and you don't have to take Topa to post here, so welcome. Now where is everyone else? Hey, let us know how you are doing.

So, bye for now,
love and hugs,
Play

[houtx]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

AArrrggghhh - as usual, I posted a reply but it didn't actually post!! Ugh - hate that!

2Run & jimmyjam. I remember you both. 2Run from here a couple of years ago when there were several of us trying once/twice...to see. jimmy, I think I remember you from when I tried BAC in the summer of 2010. Ugh - hated it! The weight gain was immediate and who can really get beyond that?! PLus I had brain fog much like the "Topa Dopa", the tingles, aw dat! Did not like it and could not commit to go higher with such controversy surrounding it.

So sorry to hear of the hair loss, 2 Run! Otherwise it sounds like the med worked for you. What a pain!! I hope your hair comes back and all else works out. I am thinking of trying TOPA again but would stay at a low dose, I think. UGH - why can't it be easy?! lol

Good luck to all of us and thx Sun for being so positive an influence!!
XO

[LostButFound]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

questions about topamax

Hi All
I haven't been on this site since Dec 12. I thought I was doing better lately and basically was - until today.

My neurologist suggested Topamax as a migraine preventative. I am curious as to why others take it and why it curbs the alcohol craving.

Thanks!
LBF

[2Run]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi Houtx! I remember you too. Isn't it you who had issues with chardonnay like I do? I still can't decide if I want to go back to it or not. I was having some success recently with the MWO kudzu but I think it's keeping me up at night and making me a serious irritable grouch. What kind of dose were you thinking as far as the topa? I think I started feeling the indifference to AL, weight loss and no migraines at around 50, but of course you have to go up or you get used to it.

LostButFound - I was originally prescribed topamax for my horrible migraines and oh boy - it worked! Topa is an anti-seizure medication but is also FDA approved to treat migraines. It's also rescribed off label for weight loss and AL abuse. The typical dose for migraines (after carefully titrating up) is 100mg a day. For weight loss and AL it's usually a lot higher. The highest I went was 150mg. Like I said above, it started really working for me at 50 but you go up as your body adapts. I lost a ton of weight (welcomed it as I enjoy being super skinny and am an athlete so it helped my marathon times a ton) and the migraines stopped completely. I also felt indifferent to wine and many nights I would have maybe 1/2 a glass. BUT, it's really easy to drink over the Topa and then it won't work at all for the AL. It also carries some other difficult side effects - I noticed I fought with my husband a lot more and was short tempered more often, especially in the beginning when you are titrating up. I had the tingling hands and feet and lost and slurred words a lot. And...I lost half my hair. This certainly doesn't happen to everyone but it did to me. It could have been not taking my supplements religiously and it could have been me screwing around with my dosage a ton for 2 weeks during a stressful trip. Anyway...hope some of that is helpful.

[blondie]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Morning All

Just a fleeting check in. Great to see everyone here and some others.

I am doing ab fab on this. No desire to drink at all despite my most severe triggers occurring this week!! It is complete day and night to what I have been used to and is completely how I recall my last topa experience, so I am full of enthusiasm. And thanks for your concerns; I am under my GPs supervision, and the Topa is fine with my other meds (hypertension, cholesterol, reflux, etc). My blood pressure - for the first time in 3 years, is down to a "normal" level. I am so pleased (though I want to achieve this without drugs, natch!)

2Run - I only stayed on Topa for 40 days last time and purposely came off to start festivities (Christmas, NY, birthdays, travel, etc!)

Well, just a brief check-in, I have lots of workers at home and lots of projects ongoing trying to get things sorted before semester starts next week. Plus it's been about 40 degrees in my office (no air-con, so not conducive to sitting on computer, though I am missing seeing the sights of San Fran via Piglett!!) No desire to cool down with a beer; much prefer one of my antique china cups and a nice tea.
Thanks for posting experiences; will check in again soon!

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi everyone - can't believe it is 5 days since I posted! Anyway - I am still doing fine. Still AF and rarely think about AL these days - it is quite amazing.

Blondie - so pleased that the Topa is working for you and that it has settled down - I had to smile at you coming off it last time 'cos of festivities! Oh - I am assuming your 40 degrees is C, not F ??? That is SO hot - and you have no AC???? Wow! Our temp right now is 40 too - but F not C !! (4 C) Anyway - really pleased that things are going well for you - any SE's bothering you? You are the poster child for this thread!!

2Run - Once you reach the point where you can either take or leave the AL (even though you can drink over it), if you stay on that dose, can't you just not drink? The level I got to, I couldn't go up any more, but I never lost the feeling either of not wanting to drink on that level. Play did well on a low dose too and it didn't seem that she had to go up more. Have you tried L-Glut? I can't say how good it was for me re cravings when I first quit - I just didn't have any. 2 tsps 3 times a day of the powder. Amazing stuff. I had tried it before but not taking it properly and not the powder.

Lostbut found - if you try the Topa, it works for some but not others - it is different for everyone. I had very few SE's and it did work for me but I had to get up to a really high dose for it to work. Play found it worked for her at a really low dose. It is working for Blondie now too - it is always worth a shot and you can come off it if you do have SE's. when I first started taking it I wouldn't let myself look at the list of Se's on purpose! I also didn't have this thread to see what other SE's others had so didn't know half of them! Good luck with whatever you try.

Hi Houtx - so good to have you back with us - are you going to give the Topa another try? Where are you with the AL these days? I found that I had to WANT to stop - I think I wasn't really fully committed any other time - I mean, I have only stopped one other time and did it then with no problem either. So for me, it had to be the mental committment and the rest sort of fell in place.

Hey Jimmy - did the doc prescribe the Topa for you? have you started it yet? How are you feeling? What was your AL situation if you care to share? I do hope that you come back and post - this thread hangs on by a thread!!!

Hi Play - hope things are going well for you. How is the granddaughter doing? how are you doing? I know you are out of your Topa and you said the cravings were coming back? You must be due to come back to USA fairly soon.... hope all goes well and you have an uneventful trip home. :l

Wish all the other folk that had posted would come back and let us know how they are doing.......

Have a wonderful day everyone, Hugs to you, love, Sun XX

[2Run]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Sun, that is so inspiring! Good for you! How do you feel? Has your body responded in any particular way?
You are right, if I listen really carefully to the topa and don't ignore it, maybe I could stay at a lower dose this time and avoid the hair loss. If I remember correctly, the switch flipped with the AL at 50. I think the weight loss began than too. I can't remember specifically with the migraines but I think it was a bit higher of a dose. I started at 25mg late afternoon yesterday. I find if I take it too late, it keeps me up. Not AF yet...going to wait for the switch. This morning I sort of have "tunnel head" and seriously thought I was going to faint driving my kids to school this morning. Not sure if it was the topa or not but I definitely got very dizzy and shaky. The roads were terrible so that may have contributed. I remember feeling buzzy - like I'd had too much caffeine - with topa the first time.
I have been a long time believer in l-glut. It didn't help me so much with the AL but it certainly helped me to cut out sugar (well, sugar other than AL, lol) 2 years ago. It's wonderful for appetite control and sugar cravings. I take an amino acid blend before my workouts but will go back to the l-glut powder religiously and see if it helps.
Before I decided to go back on the topa, I had some Moder8 on order. Has anyone tried it or heard about it? I think its GABA and 5HTP.

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi 2Run - I don't feel any different to be honest! But wasn't drinking huge amounts either - just daily, which bothered me! My body seems no different either! Isn't Moder8 that really expensive stuff? I can't take 5HTP 'cos I am on Celexa. And I took the supplement Gaba once and if I remember correctly, it didn't agree with me - can't remember why not, but I do know I didn't take it for long. Celexa has recently been shown to cause heart arrythmia and my doc wants to lower my dosage - I am so worried about him doing that - I talked him into letting me have 6 more months worth. he said that once I quit the AL I might find I could take a lower dose anyway as AL acts as a depressant but I have been on it for 13 or 14 years and wasn't drinking much when I started taking it and still needed the higher dose. Anyway I will consider the 5HTP if he does lower my dose.

Hope that all goes well for you with the Topa - that sounds scary though when you were driving - did that happen before? Had you eaten anything? maybe you need to take it with food - or you said you had taken it yesterday though......please be careful....

Off to shower and get ready for work,

Hugs, Sun X

[2Run]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi!
No, it really wasn't that expensive. I think around $30. I hope it's ok to take with the topa. I would think so as MWO sells both of those supplements. I've taken the 5HTP before and slept like a log so I hope the morning Moder8 doesn't put me to sleep.
I do remember that buzzy/dizzy feeling from the very first time I tried topa. When I was weaning off of it the last time I had the worst side effects! I was nauseous all the time, I would totally space out driving and also feel like I was going to fall asleep at the wheel. I had to pull over several times until it passed. So scary! And I weaned really slowly. Anyway, I will be careful. Thanks. If I remember correctly it was only a day or two of the dizzies.
Do you like your Celexa? A friend of mine started Lexapro a year ago for extreme anxiety and she gained 25 pounds! The heart concerns are really scary but I know how frustrating it is when you find something that works. I took zoloft for a time for post partum depression and did really well with it. Could you switch?
Hope you have a great day at work!

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi 2Run - quick reply as I am about to leave for work - I LOVE the Celexa - have been on it for ever and it was like having a black cloud that had been with me for life, lifted from over my head. My daughter is on Lexapro and likes it too - but I am not sure if I like the sound of gaining 25lbs!! I know Lexapro is the same as Celexa - almost! That is what he would want me to switch to.

I must be confusing Moder8 with something else. Yes, I am sure it is okay to take with the Topa. It is a supplement. Anyway - I Have to leave or am going to be late - have a wonderful day!!

Hugs, sun X

[playland]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi All,
Just a quick note to say that things are going well here, the baby so far is doing well and I am leaving on Wednesday to return home. Yes, Sun, I am off the Topa and can't wait to get home and get started again, the cravings are not so bad yet, I'm not having trouble during the middle of the day but definately having more to drink in the evenings, nothing to awful yet but I will be happy to have that disinterested feeling again. Hopefully it will kick in pretty much right away since I haven't been off it for too long. I haven't had time to read all the new posts and I definately want to catch up with everyone but just wanted to say hi and let you know that I will be posting again once I get back home.

Love and Hugs,
Play

[2Run]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi Everyone-
Play, will this be your second time on Topa? Sorry...I don't know your story. I need to read back! How do you plan to titrate up? Many hugs to you as you get back home and started over again.
I am on day 5 of 25mg and I am wondering if I really need to go to day 8 before going to 25 am and 25 pm? I had a bit of the crazies on the first morning after my initial dose, and have had some tingling, but that's stopped. I've lost maybe half a dozen words, if that and have slurred less than that. The familiar first SEs of Topa but not nearly as bad as usual. I am really, really wanting the AL and the appetite and the migraine SEs to kick in though so...just wondering how slow I need to take it. I also don't want to shock my body which I know can be a hair loss trigger. ARGH. This will technically be my third go with topa. The first was only a month or two, second, 9 months or so.
Hope everyone else is well. Who else is actually on topa?? Such a love/hate with this stuff...
2R