the topamax is working both good and bad. i waited all day for a food delivery only to find out that it is for tomorrow. i am trouble having spelling words. i can't remember certain things. i am not binging.I thought i lost my address book but it fell out of my bag when i was leaving the house. the next day i thought i lost my scarf but it fell down in the house when i was leaving. i saw a pair of shoes i loved and did'n't bid on them. what a trade off. I don't know when i will hear from my doctor's office. I might call them tomorrow afternoon.
bobby
I just read this " In contrast is topiramate (Topamax and generic), a drug that has been successful in treating volunteers who were still drinking heavily, according to a new analysis by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists. But unlike the other medications, topiramate is not FDA-approved (also called "off-label" prescribing) to treat alcohol dependence.

Available as a tablet or capsule, topiramate is approved to treat certain types of seizures and prevent migraine headaches. It's used off-label to combat alcoholism because in addition to other effects, it appears to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain caused by chronic drinking including a decrease in "rewarding" effects in the brain from continued consumption."

When did these cognitive problems start Bobby? Could some of them be inattention/distraction because of grief?

I've been on topamax for about 7yrs. and it never helped me in regards to my alcohol abuse, but I also was never involved in any substance abuse program.

they started right after, maybe a week on 50 mg. of topamax. I am sure it is topamax. my grief is weird. most of the time i feel like a stone or intense pain about the grief.
it didn't help you with the binging on alcohol. oh rats. yesterday i didn't have dinner and i gave my vegetables at lunch to alice. it is really dulling my appetite. I bought a pair of shoes because i had already ordered a pair that was cancelled so i rationalized and got something close. it wasn't a binge. it was a normal weakness for shoes
i wish i hadn't ordered the pumpkin ice cream for today but i am afraid the doctor is going to make me swear off everything and lose so much weight. i think i can lose the weight over time with topamax or for me dopamax.

Maybe you could give the ice cream to stella.
Do you ever see robert these days?
bizi

I want the ice cream! I hardly ever have ice cream. i haven't seen robert in a while. he sent me the most beautiful condolence email card with two gorgeous pictures of abby when she was younger and healthy and one included his super dog mickey. It was so awful to see how she had deteriorated in comparison. I have to invite him over to give Mickey chicken. I have been isolating a lot lately. I am so hypersensitive about abby's death. anything can trigger me. I haven't been meeting with stella. I told her not to write me anything heavy. I can't cope with my feelings right now....tooo much. now i have to get used to the topamax.
I thought the topamax might help you and your battle but i guess since it didn't work for kay it probably won't work for you but it might be worth a try since it is also a mood stabilizer.

I was confused.
I have a terrible memory.
Lately, I guess you met with celia?
I think that I read somewhere in my readings of late about the naltrexone helping to lose weight for people with bipolar and taking antipsychotics.. I am hoping that it may interfere with my internet addiction too. All three would be great!
bizi

I still take walks with cecilia. that would be great if it helped all three!

Bobbi

Hopefully if you can stay on 50 mg, it will subside. I lost weight on
topamax, for my migraines.

Donna

Eat the ice cream…

Give your body a little time, and hopefully it will adjust to the topamax. I hope it helps you lose weight like it did for Donna.

You did well after Myra's death. You didn't isolate yourself. Maybe Abby's death in addition is just too much for you
I can understand avoiding Stella because I know she triggers you, and now is not a good time for her Byron Katie BS. But please try to get out, go to the senior center when you can, and maybe see Robert as Bizi suggested.

Bobby,

My old pdoc said that we get the weight loss benefits of the drug around 50mgs per day. (That was according to the research but of course we
all respond differently.)

And what the pdoc calls weight loss and what we know as binging are perhaps separate things -- not sure.


There is a new "version" of Topamax available now for weight loss that is approved by the FDA:
http://www.livescience.com/51896-wei...pros-cons.html

Qsymia (Phentermine + topiramate)
also
Contrave (Bupropion+naltrexone)


Mari