Topamax Success Stories

[DizzyBee]

Hi All

:welcome:

I would like everyone that has had success or are having success with Topamax to post their story here. This will serve as inspiration to all newcomers, lurkers and those who are still making decisions about which medication to use.

I would appreciate if we could focus on the positives of Topamax here and stay on point.

If you would like to talk, bitch, moan, complain about Topamax, ask for support or share your feelings, please reach the rest of us at:

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f2...ion-44427.html

Thank you kindly,
DB

[DizzyBee]

Topamax Success Stories

My Topamax Success Story

I'm a 32 year old female who started using Topamax on the 7th of March 2012. I have what my doctor calls soft spectrum bipolar but you might just as well call it treatment resistant depression as I have been struggling with untreatable depression my whole life.

The depression has been bad for the last 14 years and the drinking unmanagable for the last 6. I did a stint in rehab in February 2011 but unsatisfied with the AA's answer to sobriety I started researching alternatives as soon as I could slide myself back in front of a computer.

In fact, I tried Baclofen and the book before I went to rehab but I'm afraid that didn't work for me. I'm not really going to go into detail about drugs that didnt work for me because I don't want to rain on what has proven to be magic bullets for other people here. We are all different and this was not for me. I am thankful for every single drug, support group, religion, rehab, etc. that saves addicts.

After rehab I did the Naltrexone book and meds and this made me very sick. I didnt try it for very long as I simply couldnt sleep on Nal. Again I was very disappointed and it took me a few more months to try something else.

It was only when my doctor suggested we change my mood stabiliser that I started reading up about Topamax. Now, like for most new people, the potential side effects scared the happy critters out of me. But considering how low I sank into my addiction the thought of 'Dopamax' could not actually make me worse, so I suggested to the doctor to swop my Lamictal for Topamax and after some negotiation we did.

Expecting to feel tired I went for a nap after taking the first pill and when I woke up after an hour I could 'feel' it working. As I'm very sensitive to medication I started at 12.5mg and titrated up by that every week. I could feel a reduction in cravings IMMEDIATELY.

For the first two weeks I was a bit tired at night but I made sure to take lots of supplements and treated myself with kindness. This is very imortant to anyone starting any new medication. After a couple of days I started noticing odd things like half drank glasses of wine, leaving wine in the car, passing the wine rack in the shop. Something was very very wrong! (I mean right!!!!)

The first two weeks was a bit difficult mood wise in that my mood was a bit up and down but after that my mood went up and I felt happier and happier and now I believe that Topamax is indeed the first antidepressant to work for me as well. (but that is probably because of the soft spectrum bipolar)

Even though alcohol wasnt as enjoyable and was making me more sleepy, I still had years of habits to break so I decided to combine it with Antabuse for a month to ensure that I don't go running to the bottle every time the clock strikes 5pm, I am elated, or I feel like crying.

Today is my 26th alcohol free day. Topamax works for many people and many of us don't have long term side effects. Please don't let the nay-sayers, many of whom have never tried it, put you off trying that can change your life.

Its still early days but I'm radiating love, joy and positive energy. Being alcohol free has never been this easy and I have never been this happy. I cannot think of enough ways to say thank you to Topamax, Roberta Jewell and all the wonderful, wonderful people on this site.

Lots of hugs, love and strength to all,
DB

:h:h:h:h:h

[DizzyBee]

Topamax Success Stories

:bump:

[baclofan]

Topamax Success Stories

Excellent aticraving med!

About seven weeks ago after a week long lasting exhausting vodka binge my Pdoc decided to prescribe me topa. It took a couple of weeks for it to kick in but when it did was so sudden and I knew was more to it than just placebo because within couple of days after my alcohol cravings disappeared my appetite was also gone.

Six weeks later: 6 wks AF, 4 wks al craving free, all anxiety gone, constant irritability gone, actually never felt more calm and relaxed in my entire adult life.

A disclaimer: tried bac and nal in the recent past, was doing ok on moderately low dose of bac till decided to lower it...

[DizzyBee]

Topamax Success Stories

Thank you for sharing baclofen, I'm so glad it's working so well for you.
All the best!

[DizzyBee]

Topamax Success Stories

:bump:

[DizzyBee]

Topamax Success Stories

:bump:

[Trixiebelle]

Topamax Success Stories

Hi Dizzy & Baclofan,

Great success stories - I love reading these stories and I am so inspired and can't wait til I can write my own story

I have been on 25mg of Topa for 5 days now - and so far all I can say I have noticed is that the cider I drink tastes kind of flat - if that makes sense. I noticed that people say the drink tastes different - that's what I notice.

Anyway, it hasn't stopped my cravings yet, but that's cool. I have read some of you having success from day one and others having the Topa kick in after a few weeks, I expect some results in the next week or two - and I am expecting them - so exciting.

My next post will be when they have arrived :yay: