TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

[ratana]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

Nerak, re: IBS - "Also, as for supps. Here's a note for anyone with IBS/IBD. I tried them and they don't work. If you have any sort of IBS or IBD, the supps in any combination (and I have tried them in any and all variations) can be deadly." - I have been on the supps only, (dr. appt. Nov 7) for two weeks now and my IBS, which I have always been able to control with probiotics and enzymes, has been flaring up again. Have you tried ONLY the kudzu and Glut? I am thinking I have to go off the powder for sure.

[nerak]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

IBS/IBD

Ratana, I tried, just the All One powder for a week - still flared up. I tried just the kudzu for a week - still trouble. I tried just the vits. - still trouble. I tried all together - DEADLY. I am now on nothing but Top. and all symptoms are subsiding day by day. I am being very careful with my diet - the usual IBS diet and noticing daily improvement. The other supplements had no effect for me anyway - other than placebo effect. Everybody is different, of course.

[MissCheryl]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

Hi all...

I just started Topamax 3 nights ago.... 25mg at night. I guess I'm on the usual schedule. 25mg at night for 1 week, 25mg am and pm for week 2, 25mg am and 50mg pm week 3, then 50mg am and pm week 4, then.... don't know what after that. Guess I will have to see my dr. again and go from there. I am taking the Topamax for "migraines" - I chose to not get into the real reason I wanted the Topamax - hopefully I won't regret that down the road.

I am so anxious to get to a point where I have no interest in drinking wine. Also, scared that it may never happen. What if this doesn't work?? Last night I went through 2 bottles of wine... ughgh. I guess I shouldn't expect the 25mg to be doing anything yet...

A question... when someone says they take 150mg or 175mg, do you mean that's the total for the day? Or would that mean 300mg or 350mg for the day? Also, being optimistic and assuming this is going to help me quit drinking, what happens down the road if you stop taking Topamax? Is there a limit to how long you can take Topamax?

Thanks for any info you can offer... again, I am sooooo hoping and praying that this is going to help!!

Cheryl

[mikediesel]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

Well i was drinking a 12pk of beer a night then started the topa after a major binge weekend so i was clean for about a week then slowly it crept back for a while but i never NEVER gave up on the topa around the 200mg (yes a day) some thing clicked and that was in july now i took it up to 300 mg just to make sure. whatever this stuff fixes in your brain gets fixed. as for the side affects i weigeghed them agianst the others, homeless, jobless no friends and no family. so i figured sounding stupid once in awhile was alot better.

Now I Came back down to 200 mg a day i can have beer and whiskey in the house and not belive its my sole job to drink it all.

So it a slow process dont get discouraged and you might trip up but stick to the schedule and you notice you make better decisions about drinking

[mom of three]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

my experience with topa so far

Hi Everyone,
I have found all of your posts so helpful that I wanted to provide my own experience for those who may come after me and find it helpful on their journey. I read the book about a month ago, started the supps and the hypno three weeks ago. I wasn't sure about the topa - very nervous as I have had bad reactions to medications in the past. I ordered it from River Pharmacy. I read all of the posts on line and the potential side effects really scared me. However - the supps and the hypno, while they were helping, were not releasing me from thinking about wine all the time. So when the topa came I decided to give it a try.

The first week I took the 25 mgs as outlined in the book. I have continued the supps and the hypno. I have had some diarrhea in the am(I know TMI) but I think that is the supps and not the topa. I have felt more hungry but for healthy foods - not junk. I am more satisfied with less food. I don't really need to lose weight - but hey what 42 year old woman doesn't want to have her clothes a little looser...I have lost about three pounds so far. I tried to have a beer the first night of the World Series - and literally couldn't drink it - and trust me I didn't believe all those other people who wrote that before me! And I really tried - I mean come on the Red Sox were in the World Series! I poured the beer down the drain.

I am just finishing my second week on the topa - went up to 50 mgs - taking it all in the early evening. I have had some tingling in the bottom of my feet but nothing really bad. I have to proof my typing a little more carefully. I think I may be a little more tired - but I work outside the home and have three kids so I am pretty tired anyway. I do sleep really well at night which I did not before the supps and topa. My thinking is a little foggy. Tomorrow I go up to 75 mgs. I'm not sure I'll go much higher than that as I can't afford not to be on the ball at work (or at home!). I'm thinking about ordering the modrafinal that helps you stay sharp while on the topa. I hate to be on more meds but I look at this as temporary. I am not drinking most nights. My goal is moderation.

Before this plan I could drink about a bottle of wine most nights. And if I didn't have one I wanted to...I am just hoping to get rid of the wanting to...so far so good. Thanks to all of you who have posted before me...it has been so helpful.

[Shantiji]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

I have thought about taking topa or one of the other medications suggested. I have just started taking Kudzu Rescue, and if it doesn't work for me, I'll try topa. I'm glad I dropped into this forum and read the posts. Besides hearing good things about topa, I realize that I must have patience--I must keep trying--it will take time to free myself from a six-year habit of guzzling 1 1/2 bottles of wine every day.

Peace! Shantiji

[ggirl]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

Nerek,

I was so happy to see your e-mail. I have been on 100 mg Topa for about 2 weeks, my Dr. didn't want me to go up further - she didn't know if I'd need it. My cravings have definitely diminished, but I am still drinking daily, several drinks compared to many, many. I would like to quit completely, at least for awhile and your disgust with alcohol sounds wonderful to me. I just called my Doc to ask if I can increase my dosage to 150, in increments of 25 of course.

Now, why did you stop the supplements? I didn't quite understand. You sound like you know alot and exercise alot. I used to exercise all the time and am still pretty fit, not marathons or triatholons, though....

thanks,
ggirl

[Gret]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

75 mg per day seem to be working for me so I'm not inclined to go higher. I don't want to drink anything unless a strong trigger hits. A strong trigger for me is if my sister calls - she is my biggest party partner. She lives hundreds of miles away and only calls maybe twice a month, but if she calls, I immediately pour. Interesting, eh. She is coming for Thanksgiving and I suspect I will drink then. I'm not sure. But other than that, I haven't really wanted anything. Nothing sounds good. Isn't that strange? I've also lost a few pounds, so I have to watch that. Also another reason not to increase dosage, I'm down to 115 and should really not go down any further. But I love not wanting to drink! My husband does not know what I'm up to so he is wondering a bit what I'm up to, I think. Hasn't said much, but I used to drink 5 or more very strong vodka drinks EVERY day! Straight vodka at times. Does not sound good at all. I'm just wondering how long I'll maintain this regimin. Any thoughts?

[MarinaBlue]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

Hi all you great MWOs,

I've just come back to this site, as I've been increasingly fed up with drinking too much and feeling miserable. Have been AF from time to time without any meds or sups but on a day to day basis, I'm finding it impossible to abstain from drinking a bottle of wine every night. So, all your stories about Topa really working gives me enormous hope!! I will order on-line this week. Does anybody know a good site where I can order from the UK? I am 163cm and 65kg (can't do feet and inches!) - I guess I should follow the recommended dosage in the book? This is the first time i'm posting by the way.

LOL MB

[vino_grrl]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

Started Topa Tonight ...

I started posting here and there a few mos ago and then vanished. Originally, I thought I'd just try the supps without the Topa (was scared of side effects). I did ok for a week or so, but any little trigger (a difficult day with my toddler daughter, various other things going wrong in the day, etc) and that was it. The "I need a drink!" kicked in. And, if I'm home alone and start with one glass of wine any time before 8pm, I can assure you the entire bottle will be gone before I go to bed. I might even open a second. It seems like such a good idea at the time. ;-) So, after a couple of mos back to drinking more than is good for me, I ordered the Topa from River Pharmacy. It showed up tonight. And I just took my first 25 mg tablet. I am VERY nervous about the impaired thinking/functionality side effects I've heard described (my career is based upon my comfort with public speaking/way with words ... god forbid it fail me). But have decided the risk is worth it. I'm just so tired of feeling rotten in the mornings. And only very fuzzily recalling the last hour or two of the night. Ialso have put on 30 lbs in the nearly 3 yrs i've been drinking like this so any weight loss side effects would be very very welcome.

Thanks so much to everyone who's shared your stories on this thread. They helped so much in my making this decision to get started. I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh yes, I'm 41, 5'2 and 154 lbs.:thanks:

[Mercer]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

I want to know your results

:new: Hi Vino,
I just found this sight last week. I too am very hesitant to try the topa. I want very much to kick this habit and want to try the topa. But the side effects make me nervous. What was it like for you taking it for the first time?
Anyone out there reading my post have advice? I'm pretty sure I won't go to my doctor with this because I don't want this on my medical record.

[HopefulNow]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

All,

FWIW, I've recently started with Topa, am still at 25 mg, but will go up to 50 mg starting tomorrow.

So far I've had no ill side effects. Then again, I've noticed no change in my cravings/drinking habits yet either. But the doctor said not to expect a change "overnight" -- that we'd have to go up until we find the right dose for me, but that it's so very important to do so slowly and properly, and not get too anxious and/or discouraged.

My 2 cents.

-HopefulNow

[Fresh Hope]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

Zoloft and Topa?

Hi All,
I take 100mg Zoloft can I also take topa??
If it makes you tired great! I can take it at night and maybe skip the imovane?
Once you find your dosage of topa and it is working, can you stop it and expect to stay AF? also do you have to slowly wean off topa and what if you miss a dose? any side efftcs other than cravings?
Thanks:thanks:

[mikediesel]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

Hey everybody me again I notice everybody worried about the site affects of the topa and afraid to try the the topa but they are ok with the affects of the alchol. I dont get it. I have been af for 6 months now and let tell you the booze side affect are a whole lot worse then what the topa are becuase you'll be sober and able to deal. I looked for a bunch of reason why not to. But once you make it thru the door you'll see no the journey wont be easy you'll get some headaches ( I had some killers) you stumble over some words big deal. Your fingers and toes will tingle oh well. Its a whole lot better then the alternatives lost friends, family. That smell my wife says i lost. My job is stable now Hell im stable now
so if you really want to make a pros and cons list and think of why you want to quite drinking and you'll see the side affects are minor. now if you really have major medical problems with stop but i haven't heard of those yet. just the vain ones. thanks for listen to my rant

[USMgirl]

TOPAMAX SURVEY - DOSAGE/LENGTH OF TIME/SUCCESS

Considering the side effects of Topa.........they all seem small compared to all the "side effects" that alcohol has on me and my life.....it's worth the risk too me.....Everytime I drink, I take a big risk with my health anyway. I'm going to doc this week.