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**Guest** · April 9, 2006, 07:47 PM

Getting discouraged....

Kitkat...
I also did not get any REAL noticeable difference with the Topamax until the second week when I went up to 50 mg. The first week at 25 mg made NO difference for me at all... I think it was more just to get my body adapted to the medication before titrating up on the dose. All the supplements just really help you feel better the rest of the time, and I know some people find help with the cravings from Kudzu and L-glutamine, although I have not noticed a difference from them. I continue to take them anyway... they cant hurt! The ALL ONE makes me feel terrific during the day, and the Topamax has been a lifesaver.... so hang in there and I think you will see a big difference when you increase the dosage. A lot of people did not benefit from it either in the very beginning. So bottom line: my advice is dont give up on the Topa... I think you will see a big difference when you dose up.

Allie

**Guest** · April 9, 2006, 11:18 PM

Getting discouraged....

Thanks Allie

I will continue to hold out hope

**Guest** · April 10, 2006, 07:56 AM

Getting discouraged....

Re: Thanks Allie

You HAVE to stick with it. I had ups and downs and was discouraged also. I did more research and found that the best effects are seen once you get to 200 mg of topa. If you are handling it well, maybe you can titrate up quicker?

Please realize that topa, although great for helping with the cravings is only one piece of the puzzle. Are you doing the supps, the cds, the workouts?

I tried to do it with just the topa and my success was moderate and frustrating.

Dig in.Take a second look at the aspects of the program you are doing. If you commit yourself 100%, I know you will be successful.

-Nina

**Guest** · April 10, 2006, 08:25 AM

Getting discouraged....

Keep on Trying, KitKat

Hey KitKat,

Many people have noticed a quick benefit from Topa, but it wasn't that they stopped drinking right away! It just helped them slow the drinking down a bit. I am at 200 mg topa now and staying there, because 200 is the dose that has been effective to enable me to stop drinking without too many side effects. Below that, I will drink A LOT less, but not be able to completely stop without cravings.

Keep on pulling! Try to be patient!

Hugs,
Kathy

**Guest** · April 10, 2006, 10:15 AM

Getting discouraged....

Re: Keep on Trying, KitKat

KitKat let us know how you do,
I believe the lancet article and the American family physician article both say the best effects are at the higher doses. Sheesh! 3 days, are we impatient or what?

Just kidding, but curious, what time of day are you taking your dose, and did you get your topa from a local pharmacy or off shore? It really is the ace in the hole, but also, I felt the CD's were the most powerful part of the system.

Best of luck!
Vida.

**Guest** · April 11, 2006, 12:04 AM

Getting discouraged....

No I am NOT impatient, I am NOT impatient (stomp, stomp)

....Can you tell? Thanks all for the words of encouragement. I have been waiting so long to quit this and in the same vein scared of to death of it happening.

Keep you posted and praying for the Topa kicking in at higher dosing!

K.

**Guest** · April 11, 2006, 06:50 AM

Getting discouraged....

Re: No I am NOT impatient, I am NOT impatient (stomp, stomp)

KitKat,

I can totally relate to waiting soooo long to quit, and at the same time being scared to death of it actually happening!! My wories were, What do I replace it with? Will I have as much fun? Will I be as Much Fun So on and so forth....Truth is, I wasn't having much fun, nor was I being much fun....it had become an obsession if you will. And as far as replacing it.....well I can't even begin to tell you all I have neglected while drinking. Believe, I have been quite busy playing catch up with all that I had let slide in the fog of alcohol.

Hang in there!! It will work!!

Sending you good vibes!!!

Donna

**Guest** · April 11, 2006, 08:38 AM

Getting discouraged....

Re: No I am NOT impatient, I am NOT impatient (stomp, stomp)

kitkat,
i am on week 3 and am with you. I am working the program and not findind any real craving reduction at all. I am getting scared that I may be the one it is not going to work for, or maybe I am not putting enough of my will power into it. BUT if I could do this by my own I would have done it by now. I will keep going as I have so much invested . I am following the program to the tee.

hang in there with me

syd

**Guest** · April 11, 2006, 05:47 PM

Getting discouraged....

Re: No I am NOT impatient, I am NOT impatient (stomp, stomp)

KitKat, and Sydney,

I know Allie already mentioned the l-glutimine caps but I think it bears repeating because I didn't see either of you repond to it. I also am in week three of the program. Although I seem to be moving along a bit better than you two. I have been taking l-glut three times a day since the get go, and have at those times that I felt the worst of a craving, popped that little sucker open it poured it under my tounge. I am wondering if this could be making a diference between us.

Donna

**Guest** · April 12, 2006, 10:46 AM

Getting discouraged....

Re: No I am NOT impatient, I am NOT impatient (stomp, stomp)

Donna,
Thanks I will try that. I will try anything at this point.

Syd

**Guest** · April 14, 2006, 01:33 PM

Getting discouraged....

Re: No I am NOT impatient, I am NOT impatient (stomp, stomp)

Hi guys just checking in to see how you were doing with your cravings. I wish I had a better progress report. Maybe a wee bit, but not much. My cravings are mostly the same. What I mean by that is... If i have a drink, the compulsion to have another has not changed. NOW..... my willpower to not have that first one has probably changed due to this boards encouragement, and the cd's, but to say that there has been a chemical change in my brain that I have noticed so far , not really. I am still hopeful that maybe it is because I am only at 75 mg. of the topa. I pray this will work. Does anyone know if this program has maybe not worked for some. Not trying to panic just yet, but just wondering if some people have just not had luck with it. Trying to stay positive, so forgive me for that one, but had to ask out of curiousity.

hugs
syd

**Guest** · April 14, 2006, 01:56 PM

Getting discouraged....

Re: No I am NOT impatient, I am NOT impatient (stomp, stomp)

Hi guys, I am almost five weeks without drinking (yeah) after many attempts to get here. I agree with Donna on the L-Glut I swear by it. I am on Campral right now and it works for abstinence although I am switching back to Topomax to try moderation in May and am hoping that will work for me. The topomax did work for me for cravings before but the side effects were too extreme for me and I came off it so hopefully will have a better experience this time around.

Yvonne

**Guest** · April 14, 2006, 04:11 PM

Getting discouraged....

Re: No I am NOT impatient, I am NOT impatient (stomp, stomp)

Yvonne,
Congratulations on 5 weeks!!! Oh My gosh. If I could do that, I would be doing cartwheels. I am not kidding. If I could do 3 day I would be doing cartwheels. I am taking the L-Glut, and I have tried what others have said about placing the powder under my tongue. I am really down in the valley today. I am not trying to elicit sympathy, no way, just saying that I am not seeing any difference in my cravings. Yvonne, may I ask, was this easy for you, or did you really put your heart and soul into it with willpower? After reading the book, I became so excited because I thought that it would be like a flip of a switch in my brain, and I hoped this switch would turn off this horrible bottomless pit of a desire for alcohol. ANd honestly it has not happened for me yet. I am wondering if maybe I am going to be one of the the unfortunate few that it just doesnt work for, and if that is the case, I want to exit gracefully, rather than damper anyones spirit by staying here and whining. There is nothing worse than to to have this successful wonderful program that exists today, and have someone like me raise doubt & unbelief, and possibly plant that seed of doubt into a newbies mind, and scare them away, when this may be their only hope , and it may very well work for them. If I had read this post, I may have ran away. I am going to pray on this tonight and just ask for guidance. In the bottom of my soul, I know that God led me here, so I have trouble walking away, so I am totally conflicted at the moment. Please bear with me.
FYI ....I am the kind of person that needs to journal to alleviate stress, You poor people!!!!! I normally will write pages & pages front & back & then throw them away. I promise I will not inflict myself on you! Thank You so much for the ear, and dont ask me how I got on this topic

Oh my I have said way to much and you are all probably bored to tears. Sooo sorry.

Hugs to all
Syd

Ser

**Guest** · April 14, 2006, 04:19 PM

Getting discouraged....

Re: No I am NOT impatient, I am NOT impatient (stomp, stomp)

Dear Syd,

Please stop it, right now! (Stomp, stomp!)

This site is here for you! It is great to have the success stories, but many of us have struggled for a while before finding success! The only thing you need to do is keep trying. If you have a setback, you are welcome to come here and post about it--you will get lots of support. For some reason, those of us with alcohol problems have a lot of trouble asking for help. Maybe that is why we turn to the bottle instead of to other people in the first place.....

Anyway, you are a dear person. Please feel free to complain while you try to pick yourself up and dust yourself off. We've all been discouraged....believe me! Also, newbies need to know that not everyone gets it right the first time, immediately, or they will have an unrealistic idea of what to expect!

Love, Kathy

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