Question posted by Smartchick73 on 30 June 2009
Last updated on 24 November 2019
I would like to hear from others who have been prescribed Topamax for weight loss. Not so much those who have used it for seizures or migraines and experienced weight loss as a side effect, but those whose doctors prescribed Topamax as an off label weight loss drug.
I have personally been taking Topamax since March 1, 2009. I have gone from 295 lbs to 230lbs (to date) and continue to lose.
This question has also been asked and answered here: Topamax for Weight Loss?
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I was just recently put on 50mg of Topamax to curb my weight gain from other meds and I'm just slightly seeing effects. The soda thing is spot on. I have been drinking water like crazy because I'm afraid of the kidney stones that can be prone with this drug and I splurged and had a soda and I thought my taste buds were messed up. I still have to tell myself not to eat but my doc did say it may take a while or even a higher dose to really take effect. I know I'm not going to drop the weight all at once but reading others experience on Topamax has helped give me peace of mind. Its definitely made me want to eat less amounts of food than before. Hope this helps.
I am 49, I have suffered from migraines all my adult life, and occasional binge eating, I am bipolar and I am on Pristiq for the depression. I do not take any mood stabilizers as they cause weight gain. I asked my doctor to precscribe me Topamax 3 days ago. He agreed and started me on 100mg x2 morning & night I am 131pounds and 5'3. I have felt a slight tingling in my hands and feet, a little uncoordinated and a loss of words. I am hoping these side affects will subside. My wieght has dropped by about 8 pounds already. My mood has stabilized immediately. This is an amazing drug. So far it is helping me a great deal. I will keep you posted.
I would like the drug to help with wieght loss but is not my primary concern.
I have bipolar and migraines.
Hello... I am glad to see these responses ! i was thinking zi sm crazy with these side effects..as u can see I am typing poorly... i have the tinglingling in my hands and the "dopemax" feeling and was gong to stop it until I read this.. I am a nurse so thought i was really missing something. Thanks to everyone for their comments. I see that i have to wait... I am taking it for headaches and hoping for the weightloss. It is hard to function though while adjusting... this is awful. I left the typos in for people to see how bad it can be..this is 50 bid.. I think I am going to just take it at hs at others have suggested...
I am at 50mg, I started top a few weeks ago for sever night eating syndrom, I am a runner but have stopped due to weight changes and depression. I hav an eating disorder. I am on Effexor Rx, and have panic attacks once in a while, I noticed the first week at 25mg, my appitite was off but on week 2 at 50mg my appite is back, I go back to see my dr, next week she wasnt going to put me on this, I guess some dr are very against this drug I weigh almost 170pounds I am normally 120, I gained30 in 2 months at what dose did you notice weight loss? I have not lost any yet, I am in school for nursing so I dont get to run at all UGH!!
I'm on topamax for migraines 125 mg ea nite. How many mg does everyone take who has experienced weight loss? Any vision problems?
I was put on Topamax for migraines but never lost a pound! My bff however was also given this as a rx for migraines and lost like crazy! My dose was even a higher dose than hers! Believe me, I would have loved for the weight loss everyone else was experiencing to be my result as well. I would love to know if there are others that, like myself, never lost a pound while taking it??? Go figure...
I don't know if you read my previous reply about Topamax but it really concerns me that you want to use Topamax for weight loss especially if you are female. There is a multimillion dollar lawsuit against the makers of Topamax at the moment for birth defects like cleft palate and spina bifida, Google topamax and lawsuit and you will get more info, at the moment they have paid out $81m in damages. If you don't plan to fall pregnant its fine, but is it worth the risk, what other problems can this drug cause. My son was on it for seizures and it caused major memory problems. . Topamax has a nickname of Dopamax, for obvious reasons.
Wow! To sueffn: That was harsh to say the least! Name calling much? Im very sorry to hear about the problems your son experienced..thats every mothers nightmare to see your child suffer from side effects from a rx med that was meant to make their lives easier. I was put on Topamax for migraines, as I said... the fact that I wouldn't have been upset with loosing a few pounds while controlling my migraines, doesn't make me a bad person, or a "dope" as you so politely hint at. My bff and myself are, simply put, two pleasantly plump, healthy adult females that shared a little playful banter concerning our different reaction to the same rx med. I apologize if you mistook my post as anything it wasn't intended to be, and I wish your son the very best.
Oh dear I'm so sorry stillgoofy,I didn't mean it the way you read my post. Topamax has always had the nickname dopamax because it makes people tired, lethargic and causes problems with memory i.e "dopy"I didn't mean it at you, thats the trouble with internet, unless you can see the expressions it can be misinterpreted. I hope you manage to be successful with your weight loss, i was only trying to warn you about the side effects. Anyway, hope you accept my apology, as i said i wasn't calling you names, Have a nice Xmas :)
No harm done sueffn, wishing you and yours the very best Christmas, and your son a healthy and bright New Year!
Thanks stillgoofy, i felt really bad when i thought i had upset you when all i was trying to do was to help thats why i replied straight away.
I appreciate your concern for my son, he is much better now that he got off the topamax and is on Keppra instead.
Greeting to you and your family as well :)
I was put on Topamax when I went to a pain clinic for degenerating disc in my back. I am overweight and was told nothing could be done for my back. Just to try and manage pain. I was put on Topamax for the side effect of weight lost only. At first I did lose weight cause I was really trying hard. However, I began to gain weight again. With no explanation at all, I was taken off the drug suddenly. Now I have a terrible craving for sweets and have really packed on the pounds. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this problem? I'm not sure that's what cause it. I just can't understand the craving thing! It really seems not natural!!
I was put on Topomax in 2003 for mood stabilizer. I started out at 25mg in June and was 230 pounds. By Oct I was on 100mgs abd weighed 100lbs. I am now 115 lbs and on 800mgs. At one point in 2007 I was 89 pounds. It really does play a game with your head if you let it. I work to stay at a fighting weight. I am 5'3 by the way. I am not going to have children by the was as I have had mine already and have had a hysterectomy. I say this as to avoid drama:>:>
Would I tell a friend about the medication for weight loss??? You betcha. I would also warn them that it should be monitored If they find themselves buying their clothes in the chilldrens section as I did then it is time to seek help. LOL
Peace:)
I started taking topmax for bipolar, and have been on it for approx 18 months. My starting weight was 182lbs I now vary from 110-118. I am a very active person. I believe it helps depress your appitite.I know it helps with weight loss, because I have always been very active and never lost this much weight before. One of my sisters asked me when she say me if I was on drugs and I assure you that I am not. For the past 6 months I have had extreme joint pain in my shoulders and elbows though. I wondering has anyone else experienced this problem. My dose is 100mg twice daily
Yes ... yes at shoulder pain... call it my stupid arm as i can no longer bare weight on it or lift with it... I thought I was going mad. Also dry skin and bruising easily but bloods are coming back clear. Very odd.
Memas, I'm just checking in... have you started gaining weight back yet?
No still not gaining any weight . : ( thank you for asking
I'm sorry you have yet to gain some of your weight back. I hope you're feeling better since being off of it.
I know this was asked quite some time ago but maybe somebody is still reading up on it.I was precribed topamax for loosing weight,I was 199lbs, and now I'm at 118.
I quit taking it mo's ago and cant seem to gain weight for nothing.I look horrible and eat constantly to try and gain some weight back and nothing is working. I'll never take Topamax again.Has anyone gone through this like I have ? I need help to gain weight back I would like to be at least at 125 lbs.
Hey there,
I didn't forget about you. How are you feeling?
Just wondering if you gained any weight back yet?
I've been taking the Topimax for seizures for 12 years or more and never lost any weight. I would like to lose maybe 12 pounds. What's the secret?
Missy
Hey there,
I didn't forget about you. How are you feeling?
Just wondering if you gained any weight back yet?
I've been taking the Topimax for seizures for 12 years or more and never lost any weight. I would like to lose maybe 12 pounds. What's the secret?
Missy
Trust me you will gain it back!! I went on it for my seizures and went from 116 to 95lbs and felt the exact same way you did. I've gained all my weight plus some. Be careful what you wish for, I'm back on topamax to loose the weight.
After IV steroids (autoimmune diseases) and lyrica fibromyalgia from autoimmune disease I've gained nearly 200 pounds over the years and have just started taking topamax for migraines and pain so going down to 115 pounds or even less would feel like a miracle. I'm so big now I feel like a blimp! I'm also praying that the moon face and buffalo hump goes away! I can't breath because of the weight so there are definitely worse things than being 6 pounds underweight!
obesity, binge eating, compusive overeating, and bulimia are all common uses for Topamax. these, however are referred to as "off-label" uses because it hasn't solely been researched to diagnose or treat these issues. this means, they have no real data showing significant research upon these subject matters.
I know this reply is rather late after your origional post, but I would not take Topamax for weight loss especially if you are female. There is a multimillion dollar lawsuit against the makers of Topamax at the moment for birth defects like cleft palate and spina bifida, Google topamax and lawsuit and you will get more info, at the moment they have paid out $81m in damages.
Doses anyone know why drs are so afaid of giving this med to people to help them in weight issues, it may not be siezures but can lead to heart and other health related diseases
I guess people are allowed to sue for stupidity now. There is a warning label to not take topamax if you are pregnant, trying to conceive , or nursing. It is also contraindicated in the info packet that is stapled to the pharmacy bag for the same reasons. At some point people need to accept responsibility for their own mistakes instead of suing.
Yeah, I started a gradual dose for weight loss, but not without severe consequenses because I was upping my own dose to lose faster, so don't do that! Stick to what the Doc sais it'll work great for you, I started at 267 pounds and at 5 months later I was at 205 so, Yeah it does work. That was 5 years ago, Last week I started back on, I am 256 so I'm starting at 25 mg for 2 weeks in a matter of 2 months I'll be at 100 mg 2x per day. However, this serves 3 purpouses for me Hypertension, Body Mass Index and Alcoholism. Wonder Drug Sent From Heaven! I love it. Good Luck to you!
I've been on Topamax for migraines since October of 2009. At first I lost 30 pounds almost immediately. I really had no appetite, I loved it. I take it 3 times a day, but I've recently gained almost all the weight back. I'm wondering if the appetite-loss symptoms have gone away, or if I've just been eating more than usual. But I definitely love the drug for migraines and for the weight loss.
I just started taking Topamax to control binge eating. I am taking 100 mg at night to hopefully control the side effects during the day, I'm wondering if anyone else is taking all of their medication at night only? So far, I think it is helping a little. Maybe it takes some time to really kick in, I hope.
I take all my meds at night (Topamax, Seroquel, Cymbalta, and Lamictal) and I have noticed that I have lost about 30 pounds since January when I started the Topamax. On my list of things to do for the day is eat since when your not hungry you forget that your body still needs food. My only thing that I don't like is that with an increased dose I get a metallic taste in my mouth but I can deal with that as long as I continue to lose weight.
I just started a few weeks ago I am at 50mg for night eating sydrom, yes it helps however my appitite is coming back I think I may need to go up, how do you feel, what was your dosage did you notice a difference in 50-75-100?
Please guide if you started Topiramate direct at 100 mg. dose or increased from 25/50 mg. dose, so that I can also use it.
I'm taking topermax at night only started about four nights ago and have noticed a bad taste in my mouth all day long, I hope that goes away soon. Been taking phentermine also for about 2 weeks and have only lost 3 lbs I hope to see a difference soon.
Do you find that it helps with binge eating and cravings? A lot of times I don't eat due to hunger I eat due to a craving, or something in my head that says "I need 3 donuts." I also have fibromyalgia and diabetic nerve pain, so if it helps the cravings it would be a miracle drug for me.
I just purchase my topamax today and was wondering to take it at night or in the morning when I eat breakfast cause I already don't sleep good at nite any suggestions.
Yes you notice a big difference at 100 I make myself do mini meals cause you don't get hungry.
yes I have and it works quit well. It affects your brain by shutting down some part that controls your hunger. I stopped taking it and gained 15 pounds... and no matter what I did or how little I eat, It seems to not come off as easy as when I took the Topamax. If you don't have insurance. get your dr. to order it from canada. about 1/3 the price of 400 plus dollars here in the states.
Users beware. Drugs that come from Canada (and. Mexico) are often very expired so that is the reason they are wat cheaper. I wouldn't take anything from another country unless you buy it over the counter yourself.
Do not give advise like this. I know this info because if a pharmacist that dealt with it.
Canada has far better health care and life expectancy is much greater than USA! So don't believe that nonsense! Drug companies are just scamming Americans because we live in an oligarchy!
Mexico's medicine is not expired the reason it cost less is because people in Mexico get paid less and things cost less it has nothing to do with expiration date. Get your facts straight.
topamax, weight loss (obesity/overweight)
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