Nervous about starting Topomax

[MountainLady]

I am about to take my first (25 mg) dose of Topomax and am a little nervous/apprehensive. Can anyone tell me what to expect? I know everyone's different, but should I plan to go about the rest of my day as usual or will I start to feel effects immediately? This is day one, and I followed the supplements plan starting with the All One powder this morning and a big handful of supps at 10:00. I am ready to take the afternoon set with the Topomax. Info/tips/support welcome and appreciated.

[Guest]

Nervous about starting Topomax

Hey Mountain Lady,I think we live near each other. I am one of the rare people that can't take topa. It raised my blood pressure that only happens in 1% of people who take it. But the 1st week that i took it I was lightheaded felt buzzed in a odd way. kind of an out of body experience for me. I'm sure someone will be along with more info shortly.
Smiles
Mar

[rottrod]

Nervous about starting Topomax

Mountain Lady,
I started three weeks ago with the Topa. However I started the supplements three weeks before that while I was waiting for the Topa to arrive in the mail. It's a good thing because I had some side effects from the supplements, that I may have confused with the Topa had I taken them together at first. I got really light headed about an hour after taking the AllOne for the first few days. Then either the Magnesium or the Milk Thistle kept me in the bathroom for the first couple of weeks but I soon discovered I had doubled the dosage on the Milk Thistle by mistake. Those all wore off.

So when the Topa arrived I took it the first day after having a few wines already, I admit. After about an hour my hands and feet tingled a little bit and I had a slight metal taste but it went away soon and then a couple of days later had a slight ringing in my ears but that was only a couple of times then nothing. This week I'm up to 75 mg and the good news is I'm down 6 lbs and yesterday was my firs AF day in over 10 years. I finally had the courage and the desire yesterday to not pour that wine. I only have a slight tingling/electrical feeling in my feet about an hour after taking the dose but it doesn't last long.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

Melissa:welcome:

[MountainLady]

Nervous about starting Topomax

Thanks both of you! Rottrod, I am happy that your side effects are fairly light and that you are having success. Sounds like you aren't experiencing "topa dopa" - my main concern. Simeybear, thanks for your response, too. I am not one to choose medication as an option, but something has to be done. Thanks for your support and information.

ML

[paula]

Nervous about starting Topomax

I took topa + other supps. I followed the mwo advice, and had very few side effects.
I did get slight tingling and reduced appetite. I am not taking topa now but it certainly
curbed my cravings, I still take kudzo, evening primrose. A nd haven't had a drink
for almost 4 months now, and that is after years of binge drinking.
Best of luck. Paula.

[Ripley]

Nervous about starting Topomax

Hi ML

I was REALLY nervous about the topa dopa as I just cannot afford to have experience it in my life, so I took adrafinil (bought from nubrain.com) simultaneously with the topamax for 5 weeks whilst tirtrating up to 150mg topa (went up 25mg every 5 days), which is where I am now. I had no side effects from the topa apart from very slight tingling in my toes, which was not unpleasant. I still get this but don't mind. I didn't get the metallic taste or problem drinking carbonated drinks. I did the whole MWO prorgramme exactly as per RJ in the book - all the supps, cds, every thing, and went cold turkey on the booze. It was ok, but suddenly when I got to 150mg it was EASY, and I switched to moderating. I now have a couple of drinks 3 times a week. I no longer take the adrafinil (which also had no side effects other than being a huge appetite suppresant - i lost a lot of weight, but I was fine with that!)

I did this all on my own with no medical supervision. I was drinking 2 bottles of wine a night before and often drinking in the day.

Good luck ML!

Rip

[MountainLady]

Nervous about starting Topomax

Thanks Paula and Ripley

:thanks: Paula and Ripley,

I am impressed, encouraged - and much relieved! My toes are tingling after my 1st dose this afternoon, but other than that I feel fine. I have started the supps and topa, but the hypno cds have not yet arrived. I expect them within the next few days. I REALLY want a glass of wine right now, but will hold off as long as I can.

ML

[WilliamTheFree]

Nervous about starting Topomax

Hello Mountain Lady....sorry but I didn't see this until today...and it is after you took your first dosage...so you have already taken it and you don't need to KNOW whatt to expect since you've already experienced it....by my second day on TOPA I didn't really have a desire to drink...I thought about it but just didn't care to...that doesn't happen for everyone but did for me...that isn't to say I don't have ANY cravings because I do...they come and go and sometimes they are pretty strong but for the most part they are gone.....
As for side effects...the tingling hands and feet didn't start for me until I reached around the 50mg dosage and that was mild....I am at 150 now and get a bit more tingling though it is not too bad...the brain fog is there but I just got some adrafinil which should help with that.....
BTW...I have now been AF for 39 days and could not have done it without TOPA...the TOPA worked like a switch going off in the brain for me...again...not like that for everyone but it was that way for me.