[cardsDR]

Hi,
about 3 weeks ago, I started a patient on Topamax for weight loss..... it is an off label use, but well known side effect. She came back today for a check up and had lost 15 pounds!

This female weighs 290 pounds now. At the most she weighed 340 pounds. She says that she just doesn't feel hungry anymore and has lost her cravings for food.

Anyone else been on Topamax before?

[sweetchikk05]

I have never been on it, but, vcamo, she needs it for her headaches every month but I guess its a couple hundred dollars every month so she can't afford it, I know there was someone else on here whos on it...

what mg's did you prescribe her?

Another question, your a dr right? What would I have to do . say to get a dr to prescribe me methadone every month?

I am so sick of driving 250 miles every monday to get my weekly take homes, gas is so expensive, not to mention its 70$ a week,
thankfully my insurance is still covering it for me!!
Anyhow, what could I say to a new doc to get him/her to prescribe it without them thinking I am "drug seeking"???

Thanks

By the way, where the hek have you been? I havent seen you here in a while, Miss Ya!!
How are you??

LIz Ann

[hatelove percs]

i was started on topomax for migraines, but while i don't think it does to much for them, it does surely help with my weight which i have had problems with all my life. i have never been able to eat normally without excercising excessively but now i can and it is really nice. probably not the smartest reason to keep taking it but hopefully it is helping for the migraines also. i haven't yet heard of anyone rx-ing it for weight loss though, but dang, it does work good for it!!

[cardsDR]

Yea, I placed the patient on 50mg qhs and after one week increased to 100 mg qhs, she denied any side effects, in fact, I spoke to her today and she is loving it, states she is at 16+ lbs lost.

[Moreenjh]

This is Vcamo but I had to change my username in order to register. Don't understand why because I see that a lot of of other people got to keep their same usernames.

Anyway, about the Topamax......it finally started helping my headaches on Sun.. My head still hurts some but not nearly as bad as it has during the past 8 weeks. I haven't lost any weight, darn it, and everything still tastes the same to me, darn it again,. As I mentioned before I won't be getting anymore after I take what I have left because it's too expensive.

[Vcamo]

I've been taking Topamax for almost 2 weeks. The first week I had to take 2 25 milligrams at bedtime for 7 days and I'm now taking 1 25 milligram in the morning and 2 at bedtime and will take that dosage for 7 days but can't remember how many I'm supposed to take a day the 3rd week.

I did finally get my password mailed to me so as you can see I have my regular username back.

[AmandaJane]

I don't know if any of you that previously posted on this thread check in here now or not, but I wanted to post. I just found this website and think it is wonderful.

I have been on Topamax for about 5 years (this Nov., I think). There have been some periods of time during the 5 years that I did not take the medicine. I am not sure how much difference it has made in my headaches, but I don't really want to try going without it unless something better comes along. My Drs. prescribed Topamax due to the migraines and some tremors I had started having.

I have been blessed to have the side effect of weight loss. As the Dr. posted about his patient being 290, I was about 290/295. I am now down to 218/220 and still loosing. I did gain about 20/30 lbs back that I previously lost and had to loose it again. I believe I was off the meds when I had the weight gain.

Someone else mentioned not being able to take the medicine due to cost. I am assuming that is because you do not or did not have insurance to cover most of the cost. For anyone that does not have insurance, please be aware that you may qualify for the Patient Assistance Program that the Drug Company offers. At the moment I cannot remember the company that makes Topamax, but go to their website and there should be something listed there about the Program. You can also ask your Dr's. office about it. Also, there are some states that have programs that have Prescription Programs to provide medicine for those that do not have insurance, but meet their qualification. This does not usually come through the Social Services office, it is usually a separate entity.

The programs do work because I was able to get my Topamax through the Drug Manufacturer for a few years after I lost my medical insurance.

Good luck!

[tori13vc]

I am on Topamax for Migraines, have been for 2 months. They have really helped with them. I still get them sometimes, hormonal mostly due to that time of the month but they have dramaticly changed from 6 a week to about 4 a month. I have had the tingling feet and hands and the change in taste with carbonation. As far as the weight loss, I was unaware that you could or would prescribe this drug as a weight loss tool. I have lost 6 pounds in a month which seems a healthier amount then 16 in 3 weeks. I know that weight loss is a side effect and i expect and look forward to losing more, however, it seems odd that the patient doesnt report any other side effects and maybe she isnt being completley honest because she is so happy with the results so far. I am also on 100 mgs aday and have had difficulty remembering things at times. These side effects are well worth it to me to avoid the pain and sickness of the migraines that were taking over my life. I just have to wonder if this is really a reaponsible way to lose weight. I am not judging, please dont feel that way, I just wouldnt want to live with these side effects if I did not have to. And before you say it, I am very overweight, so I do know how that feels as well. I have done alot of research and read alot of comments on Topamax and I have not come across one where they have not had any side effects. Good luck to you and to your patient.

[Marin]

In the beginning, my neurologist had put me on 150 mg. for migraines and I did experience some weight loss. After using Topamax for approximately a year to year and a half, I started gaining weight and went from 145 lbs. to 162 lbs. over a period of about 4 months. I had no idea what caused my weight gain, until a couple of months ago, when I decided to take myself off of it gradually. It was with the second 50 mg. tablet that I went off of that I began to lose weight. So far I have lost 6 lbs. in two weeks. My mind feels less foggy and I don't have the feeling of indigestion all the time. The reason I wanted to go off of it was the brain fog. The warnings say that you will experience headaches when going off the medication. I haven't had this experience. I did choose a time when I wasn't having my period, when I typically have uncontrollable migraines, to go off Topamax. So far, this has been a very good decision.

[SoMuchToBeCleanFor]

Random insight... people were commenting on the price of Topamax. I haven't been on that med in a long time so I don't know if there's a generic, but right before Depakote ER became available in generic, my doc suggested doing a mail order pharmacy in Canada. He basically said anti-convulsant meds like Topamax aren't becoming generic as quickly as other more popular meds, like anti-depressants and heart meds, etc. I asked if it was legally okay, he said yeah, as long as it's not a controlled substance. He said it's probably not encouraged, but he understood how pharmaceutical companies in the US rip you off big time. I dunno, maybe this tidbit will help someone. Best of luck all of you, I'm on an anti-convulsant for migraines too, and know how trying it can be sometimes.

[lostlynne]

I have lost 30 pounds in 6 months on topamax. I love it. Unfortunately I just lost my insurance and have to try to reach the manufacturer to see if I qualify for the plan. I've been dealing with migraines for 26 years now, and topamax seems to halp a little. 5 migraines a month were to much last year.

[shye01]

Thought u might like to know that just last week they released a generic that runs about 12 dollars a week. I have switched to it and so far have not seen any changes. Hope this helps!

[JDiamondW]

Just got my refill for Topamax in the mail and it wasn't Topamax but something called Topiramate. Did a search and it's the generic for Topamax. It's been avaliable since April 1 2009. I'm so glad. Drops my price by $30 every three months. Just letting people know.

[SmartChick84]

I am a nursing student with Epilepsy and no health ins. and my Dr. just switched me to Topamax. I literally cried after I left the pharmacy because the generic was going to cost me over $250 a month. So I found a patient assistance program that is going to pay for my meds: Jansen Ortho Patient Assistance Foundation, for anyone who was needing any help. Now I'm just gonna start waiting for the weight loss to kick in

[emmagrace]

Hi,

I asked my doctor to put me on Topamax a year ago after I read that it reduced cravings for alcohol without making you reject it completely, like Antabuse (I didn't know you could also lose weight on it). Not only did I reduce my drinking from five drinks a DAY to four or five a week, I have lost 62 pounds. My loss has been consistent and continues at five pounds a month. My doctor has reduced my diabetes meds and my blood pressure meds. I'm about to go off my BiPAP machine, probably at my next checkup.

I have had none of the side effects that many have. For tori13vc: Or maybe the patient isn't reporting any side effects because she isn't having any. There are a number of people posting here who apparently aren't having side effects either. Honestly, I really am not foggy headed or having memory problems. On the contrary, after no longer having five drinks a day, I feel pretty darn clear-headed. Nothing tingles. I consider using this drug as responsible as using my diabetes and blood pressure medicine. I'm sorry it didn't work for you.

I realize I am one of the lucky ones.

[m.firestone]

I'm on Topomax (100 mg/day) for Bipolar and I have gone from 173 to 149 in 2.5 months. Unfortunately I do actually miss my appetite sometimes and can get sick to my stomach if I eat too much at one sitting. I had gained a great deal from Risperdal, so I am pleased to be losing it with the Topamax and it also works well for my issues.

~Mary in PA

[topcatdancer]

I went from 315 to 205 in the year and a half that I was on it for my seizures back in 2004-05. I would just forget to eat. Now, part of that was also because I was dirt poor, got the meds through prescription assistance. When that ran out and i didn't reapply, i had to stop because of the increased price. Well, working full time now, have insurance and went to the neuro about my headaches. I am going back on topamax, and thanks to the generic form (and insurance) it will cost me about 10 dollars per month. If it helps the seizures and the headaches, great; if I lose some of the weight i put back on, even better. But I lost muscle tone because I wasn't exercising, not fat. Plus, my cholesterol went up, because i could only really afford junk. Now the cholesterol is below 200, the hdl/ldl is good, too, and i can afford better, leaner food. So even if it doesn't work for weight loss, i hope it helps the headaches and seizures. I do know of at least one other person whose md put her on it for weight loss. She didn't anticipate the other side effects and couldn't handle it.
Christy