MEDICATION QUESTION

Hello...I'm a newbie and "just" discovered this medication board. Had I found it earlier, I probably would have ordered online as I don't know how to do that; guess I wasn't paying attention. So I took the plunge and made an appt - saw my Dr Monday. I had no clue what to say and was very nervous and scared. I just mumbled something about wanting him to work with me on this and shoved the topa dose schedule at him. His first words, "great drug"! And then, why. I squeaked out that I was drinking too much and thought I had a problem (while looking everywhere but at him). I then shoved the supplement list and Lancet report at him. He told me it's just a disease, and why wouldn't people discuss this like they do hemmoroids, or...and he named a few other items I had never heard of. He was extremely generous and wrote a scrip with a refill. He also mentioned that should I have to explain anything like side affects, I could be taking this for migraines. He said he would work with me to wean me off. Wow! I was so emotional and close to tears, had a knot in my throat. My Dr is a DO, not a MD and that may be the difference. But, I guess we never know until we ask and it does depend on the Dr as alot of MD's go by the book and are not always open to alternative meds, etc. Anyway, I just wanted to post and share as that was a very emotional and trying day for me, until I got the meds of course.

Hi Breaker,

Well done!! I'm glad your doc is supporting you - lots of people here have had trouble getting Topa prescribed.

Welcome to MWO and a community filled with compassion and kindness. You have come to an inspiring place. Perhaps you could start a new thread? That way more people will notice the post and you'll receive a greater response. Sometimes if you post at the bottom of a thread, it can be inadvertently overlooked. Anyway, I'll look forward to watching your progress.

Kate

Because of this site, I announced to my family that I am going to try this program. I, too, am full of apprehension about seeing my doctor. I'm also apprehensive about the side effects of the drug and the possible interaction with prozac, which I've been taking for many years. I have to see the dr. anyway for a cholestral screening, so I'm going to take the Lancet article and ask him to work with me. I'm not sure myself about topa, and I just had my first evening of one glass of wine with dinner for the first time in--well, I don't know, just from two days on this site. I am so hopeful. Maybe I can get by without the topa, but I'd like to have the scrip in case I need it. I think I'm going to tell him that.

Well I'm going to the doc in an hour - a new one so hopefully he/she will be supportive. I'm so tempted to use the migraine approach even though I want to be honest! I already got shot down by one physician so I'm even more apprehensive about being honest.

The program is working so well but I think the meds would seal the deal for an amount of time to make this lifestyle change a wonderful habit!

Good luck to you and me!

Guys, see what I mean about the different docs, if yours wont perscribe just look till you find someone that will. And I keep loosing things in here so I dont know who said this but I take Prozac too and my doc said ok on that. gabby

Well, just got back from seeing my Kaiser doc. I told her my (drinking) problem (went there under the guise of a physical) and told her about the mywayout program and how I had been using the Topa for the last few weeks and my alcohol consumption had dropped considerably from 1 liter of wine per night and blacking out, to 1 or 2 glasses per night and no blackouts for the last two weeks. She (was very young..didn't know you could be a doctor that young...ha ha) commended me on my progress, had never heard of the program, had no idea about Topamax, was under the greater assumption that moderation usually doesn't last as alcohol is a disease and in order to cure it one needs to stay off of it totally, but she could be wrong and this might work for me, but. So she wants me to make an appt with a substance abuse physician and talk about "maybe" getting a script for the Topa...and probably will have to talk to a counselor at least once. You know, ya need to combine the counseling part with the medication part yada yada yada. So I will try that route first and try to explain more about the program to the doc/counselor, and give them a shot. In the meantime, I've ordered my second dose of Topa from the Internet. Found a cheaper source then the inhouse pharmacy, but it is not the generic one. I just wish the program would hurry up and get more recognized for us struggling folks....:(

Hi Smokey, Will Kaiser make you stick with that same doc or can you look for anther one. And MAYBE the abuse counselors might know about topa? I just know tha day I am having today if not for topa I would be probably finishin off the whole 12-pk. Instead none. There were two in the fridge (I didnt put em there) and I put them out in the garage to get warm to help with the temptation. gaggy

I ment gabby

Smokey06,
Managed Care, you gotta love it. Good thing you didn't need a mole removed too or you would have been "referred" to yet another department. Sorry the visit was dissappointing, I was really hopful that Kaiser was coming out of the AA mode, but I guess not yet.

Gabby, I hear you about getting another doctor, but when you are in managed heath care system, they go by their playbook and that is that and they all use the same playbook. To go outside the system is to paid a lot of $$ for docs and meds when we are already paying premiums for the insurance in the 1st place. Ok now off the soap box I promise!

My doctor has been awesome. Of course wanted me to go to AA, but she agreed to let me have topa when I saw her. Unfortunately I couldn't take it for medical reasons. An addiction therapist did prescribe Campral for me though and it's doing wonders. I think about having wine for a couple seconds and then it just passes. I would recommend anyone see their doc and try to get topa before ordering off shore. They work for you, if you approach them about it and they have an open mind they should be willing to prescribe.

Marcie