Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

[Wildflowers]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Hi Trixie,

Just wanted to wish you luck & success on your journey! I will be following your thread behind the scenes as I take the Topa & have interest in how it works for others too. Please let me know if I can be of any help. Tho it sounds like your on top of your research. The meds peeps are very intelligent peeps.

Take Care,

Wildflowers

[Kradle123]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Trixie:

I see a Psycopharmacologist. I see him once a month for meds monitoring.
He knows all the drugs interactions. He's not an MD . He is a PHD with a liscense to prescribe.
He was refered by my counselor. Insurance covers him. He's completely 'educated ' in substance abuse, psycholological issues as well as holistic remedies. My Dr. also explores Suppliments and alternative therapies but I think I truly lucked out with him.

GP's I would think would not be anywhere near as helpful. It isnt their main focus.
Any chance of finding one of these these? Cheaper tha a psychiatrist

Hugs

[Kradle123]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

PS:

Trixie:

I am at 100mg Topa and I have found that if I drink it is not nearly as effective. Also, my side effects are pretty intense but like you, I belive the AL effects are far worse!

I am very happy with te Topa though. nd I take the L-Glut as well

[Trixiebelle]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Wildflowers - thanks for the support - how long did you find til the Topa kicked in and at what dosage? I re-read the MYO PDF today and it kicked in for Roberta on day one. I'm still waiting, but that's ok.

Kradle, thanks also for your support - I'm not sure we have any of those Psycopharmacologist's in Australia, and if we do, they'd be in the bigger cities - I might google it. What does he suggest you take?

I'm taking the Topa with L-Glut also along with Kudzu (plus a few other things like Omega 3, milk thistle etc) Not sure that they do anything much.

I'm still drinking daily, but I'm ok with that, I have faith.

[DizzyBee]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Hey Trixie

You should come join us on the Topa thread. And if you reeeeally don't feel like posting there I think you can gain a lot from WTE's journey on there. She's a real sweety but also a business woman and what she's done is kept track of her Topa journey with a spreadsheet, quite meticulously. She managed to go down from 2 bottles to 2-3 glasses of wine with some bumps but hey, thats her story to tell, not mine.

What you'll find among our stories is that Topa is a subtle effect. For me it takes away the physical 'hunger' for alcohol. If you ever smoked you would know that you also feel 'hungry' for a cigarette in lieu of a better word.

But the brain is a nasty bugger and won't just be told like that, your brain will still tell you how nice it was to drink, even if you know for damn sure it wasn't. Well Topamax made sure that drinking is no longer fun for me, sometimes I hate it for it, most of the time I love it.

So you said you didnt want that last cider. In the first week I found myself leaving glasses of wine in different rooms. An hour later I'd realise I'd even forgot about it. The evening I forgot I had a bottle of wine in the car I KNEW it was working.

So have faith, you are on a low dose, the only advice I would give is try to be gentle with your body and take its cues. Try not to drink over it too much. If its telling you you don't want a glass, try having a glass of water and waiting for 20 mins and see.

Here is the story I wrote when I was still fresh on it and VERY excited

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f2...ies-63122.html

I wish you all the best of luck.

:l :l :l

[Wildflowers]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Hi Trixiebelle,

Wildflowers - thanks for the support - how long did you find til the Topa kicked in and at what dosage? I re-read the MYO PDF today and it kicked in for Roberta on day one. I'm still waiting, but that's ok.

This is my 2nd gig with Topa. First took it in 07-08. Rxd by my current PDr. He started me on 50mg in the evenings two wks. Then he wanted me to increase dose 1 tablet twice a day am. Found it was too much. My maintenance dose ended up being 50mg pm & 25 am. It took about 2-3 wks. ( From what I remember) I did drink up until that point, noticing decrease in cravings at about 2 wks.

Stayed AF for almost 8 months. Very little physical cravings. I personally believe that addiction is also a mental, emotional, spiritual problem ~ illness for some people, along with the physiological illness. I was also attending AA, seeing a counselor & was involved in another group OP-Rehab at this time. Stopped Topa slowly, stopped everything & Wham. Here I am 2012 doing my best to go AF or a better way of saying it is... " Time to whip AL's Ass "

Current day. Went back to PDr. I wanted to follow MWO dosage guideline. Started at 25 mg for one wk in the PM. Trying to avoid SE while I sleep. First day 3/7 one wk later 3/14 increase 50mg in PM. Had my last beer ( one beer) on 3/17. It tasted funny & really had lost my desire to drink. The physical part of my disease was arrested. So that's 11 days. At 50 mg is where I noticed the decrease in cravings.

The cravings did increase again so I'm now back to 75 mg. Just like I was in 07-08. I take 50mg in PM & 25 in AM. No serious physical cravings, tho a bit, but have had a lot of stress. I big trigger for some of us. I also have Graves Disease ~ Hyper thyroid so causes extra anxiety, so this might be why I'm having more alcohol cravings now. Just didn't want you to worry. But, everybody's dosage regarding the kick in & reduction of physical cravings seems to be different. Like you said you have faith & I think that's a big part of the battle. So your headed in the right direction, I think.

I don't take L-glut, but I'm considering it. I've decided against the Kudso. I take a number of supplements, tho not everyday, but getting better about it. Milk thistle with dandelion, B-12 ( I'm deficient), Flaxseed oil, Multi, Calcium, etc.

I hope that by the time you reach your 2nd wk & maybe that's when you plan to increase you will notice a decrease in cravings, maybe the kick in will happen. I'm glad you have faith that you will whip Al's Ass. Me too girl!... We can do it! Woo Hoo!

I do agree with Kradle & Dizzy about after a time of being on Topa & if you decide to drink, it's not fun. It was explained to me by PDr that it blocks Dopamaine. Sorta takes the pleasure out of it. But, this is your journey & you get to decide the shots ( No Pun Intended ) hahaha.

Sorry about the novel. Hope this answered your questions & maybe helped.

Waving hi to Kradle & Dizzy. PS. So very happy Kradle you jumped right back on that wagon girl, you go!.... I also apologize to Kradle & Trixe if I didn't properly say hello to you lovely ladies on the other Topa thread. I'm branching out, so hope to see ya around the site.

Take Care,

Wildflowers :h

[Trixiebelle]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Thank you so much Dizzy and Wildflowers for your replies.

Lots of great info there.

I didn't know about the Topa thread Dizz, so I'll head over there and I'll read your story too - looking forward to that, I love to read O/Peep's stories. They are so inspiring. Can't imagine forgetting about leaving a drink....something I'll report in the coming weeks

Wildflowers, amazingly I have had Graves too, albeit it was 2000 when I had it and for about 18 months, I had such a shit time while on the medication and I suffer mental scars from that crap til this day. I also think that it stuffed around with my body and I suffer from that to this day. EG: I still get headaches, my internal thermostat is screwed, I cannot stand the weather if it's too cold, too hot etc, I stuffer mental fog, I'm fatigued constantly...I could go on.

I have had blood tests, my levels are all fine. I just don't think you ever totally recover from a thyroid problem :upset:

Anyhoo - that aside, It was great to read how you are doing things and the results you are getting.

I appreciate you all sharing what is working for you and giving advice, it makes this journey soooo much easier.

See you on the Topa thread :l

[Trixiebelle]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Dizzy, where is the Topa thread you mentioned?

[Trixiebelle]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Topa is finally kicking in

Okkkaaaayyyyy,

I think this gig is finally gaining some momentum.

This is my second day on 50mg (Day 10)

I am still drinking my ciders, I haven't gotten to the stage where I haven't completely forgotten about drinking yet though I am sipping them not gulping, which is HUGE for me. It takes me an hour to get one down now (375ml) now, instead of 20mins.

I am feeling quite good, have the tongue twisters every now and then, but I always did anyway - apart from that, no other SE's.

I started the CD's today and I am about to start reading the book "Kick the Drink Easily" by Jason Vale - so I am armed heavily - something has to happen, lol.

Anyway pretty pleased so far.

[spacebebe01]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

So things are happening, your slowing down on the drinking, that is big.

I have the cd's although its a while since Ive used them but I found them really good. I do think they make a big difference, in fact I will get my cd player out now and find some to listen to.

I wasnt keen on the Jason Vale book, I prefered the Allen Carr one but lots of peeps raved about the Vale one so it may do the trick for you as well. I hope so.

Keep up the good work Trix you are doing so well. xx

ps are you still taking the L glut?

[COSGringo]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

space did you read the Carr book? I have it but never finished it. I am on a bunch of benzos tonite trying to sleep but I can't as this darn fire is freaking me out.

[spacebebe01]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

I have read both books but it was quite a while ago now. I think the Carr book is pretty much like his stop smoking book, which I have also read. I still smoke as much as ever For me I dont think reading a book like that does much really but there are other peeps who get great help from them so Ive heard.

I just didnt like the Vale one, especially where he reckons that everyone who drinks at all is addicted just didnt ring true to me, but at the time it was getting rave reviews so it did it for others.

I always believe that we have to find what works for us, that is different for everyone, and the only way to find that is by trying as much as you need to.

[COSGringo]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Yes, what I was getting from the Carr book halfway through was everything I already knew. Bad for you, ignorance about it, lobbyists pushing it, and so on.
We all know it's bad for us but that doesn't stop us from poisoning ourselves.

[spacebebe01]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

There are some good tips tho maybe, I cant remember any drink one but after reading a smoking one it said to smoke conciously, as in when I smoke think about it and when I did that I cut right down, it is actually hard to smoke a cigarette while thinking about the smoke and chemicals going into my lungs, damaging them, clogging up my bloodstream and my arteries ect. I only actually managed to keep this up for a couple of days, then the elastic band and paper came off my packet and I carried on as ever, without thinking about it, but If Id carried on with it, who knows

[Trixiebelle]

Starting Topa Today - Woo Hoo

Big slip up last night, drank way too much - maybe I read too much in to it too soon.

Very disappointed in myself today.

But as I always say, today is another day, and another opportunity to have another crack at it.

So, onward and upward - at the very least it's given me another kick up the bum, where I need it the most.