Topamax weight loss side effect: dosage?

I was started on topamax for prevention of headaches, 25mg bid, and have noticed a huge difference in my appetite. I've lost 4 pounds in 4-6 weeks. Works well for me.

I have epilepsy and have consequently been on Topamax for twenty years. I currently take 200 mg twice per day.

Topamax is a very dangerous drug with a plethora of horrible side effects that impair one’s vision, cognitive functioning including memory, muscle tone, and normal metabolic function.

I find it difficult to believe that any doctor could even prescribe this awful med for weight loss with a clear conscience.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I gained over one hundred pounds. It took me a while, but I lost it all through sensible diet and daily exercise, which is something even I could do, and I was both obese and horribly unhealthy.

Any “miracle-cure” weight loss pill does not come without heavy consequences.

Think about this before you screw your life up with Topamax. Please.

Topamax didn’t work for me at all as a weight loss side effect. It also caused some difficulty remembering words that I want to say. I have an excellent vocabulary and speak very well. Not being able to remember the word that I want to use just won’t cut it. Some people call it “Dopamax” for this reason.

Topamax works best when prescribed with phentermine. They even have a pill of the two already together but it’s expensive. Have the Dr. prescribe them separately for you and take them together if the Dr. thinks you can have them. Phentermine is only available to a person 90 days per year for make the best of it. Alone Topamax doesn’t seem to work past 5-10 pounds for most folks & it’s very slow. The two drugs together can help you lose up to 4-5 lbs overnight and they do curb your appetite & speed up your metabolism.

I have only started Topamax 25mg for 1 week for migraines. My sleep has drastically improved (6-7 hours vs 1-2 hours), so my mood is better and I'm not groggy/foggy during the day. I have been a long-time user of ambien, but I have been able to not take it this week. I am obese and always struggled with eating, but I immediately became less interested in food. I didn't know this was a side effect. I have started having some hand/arm tingling/numbness, and some stomach pain and I was interested in what the side effects were. I'm scheduled to increase my dose next week. In reading all of the responses for the medication, it seems everyone has varied side effects. I'm hoping all continues to go well and the tingling/stomach pain goes away.

Hi everyone! I just started Topamax today. 25mg twice a day for two weeks then 50mg twice a day the bottle says. My pain doctor put me on it for pain from Fibromyalgia. He said it would also help me lose weight. Im praying sooo hard it does for me. I have type2 Diabetes and lost 30 pounds was working out every day and my pain was soo bad I cried myself to sleep. So needless to say I couldnt work out any more and gained all 30 pounds back. I was wondering for the ones on here who have had terrible side effects, did you drink alot of liquids while taking Topimax? Thats what the bottle says to do. I always up my water intake alot and was just wondering if that could be why you are having side effects. I wish all of you the best on here!

When I started at 50 MG per day there was nothing. After several weeks they upped me to 100mg per day. My migraines reduced slightly but all the other side effects increased only slightly. No weight loss or appetite loss at this point for me. I did however start having that metallic taste at this point. Then I was increased to 200 MG per day at night. Right away everything tastes like metal. I have a much smaller appetite. It's only been a few days so I haven't noticed any weight loss yet but I am not eating nearly as much as I usually do. Looks like upwards of 200mg was the magic number for me but everyone is different.

DON'T GIVE UP! I WAS PUT ON TOPAMAX FOR MIGRAINES AND TO ASSIST IN WEIGHT LOSS. I WAS 262. 4-3-2017 AND JUST LAST WEEK WAS WEIGHED AT 218. I took 100 MG at bed for 3 months then 7-3-2017 till present I M TAKING 100MG 2 TIMES A DAY. THAT IS THE MAX ALLOWED BY FDA. ASK FOR A DOSE INCREASE!!! HOPE THIS GIVES YOU HOPE!!!

I have been taken Topamax 200mg bi daily now for five years absoloutly no side effects. Shame could have done with the weight loss.

Hi Jess6702,
I have recently reached 200 mg of Topamax. 100 in the AM and 100 in the PM and have found it to be an excellent appetite suppressant. It wasnt so much so previously at the lower dosages. While I take it primarily for tremors and migraine prevention it is helping with my weight as well because I am also obese. Im not trying to specifically lose weight with this medication, it's just a happy side effect and Ive noticed it is just dropping off. Since I have reached this dosage and I've lost 29 lbs in two weeks and I feel great. Some foods such as milk do not taste good at all. But I do not mind.
If you titrate up two 200 mg a day it may help more with the appetite suppression just be patient.

I think that, like with other drugs, some people experience different things. I only took Topamax for a week and had to come off of it. With only having a week I didn't experience any of the positive but I got SO many of the negatives. I could've dealt with the numbness in my face and fingers but I can't deal with the brain fog and forgetfulness. I am a Safety Director so part of my job entails me being alert at all times. I was doing a chamber orientation on a new patient and he asked me a question, one I had answered thousands of times over the years, and I couldn't answer him. I knew what to say but my brain couldn't catch up enough to say it. Luckily someone was in the room and answered it for me. If you work a job that requires attention to details and safety, be careful with this medicine. Losing weight isn't worth putting others lives in jeopardy. Good luck with your journey though, I hope it works great for you without any of the bad mess.

Sweetie don't give up!!At a starting dose of 100 mg att bed. My weight started to fall. Then the neurologist added another 50mg in am due to severe migiraine issues and it's a dream!!So ask for a increase in dose ive gone from 265 to 206 in very short time few months!!!

I understand how you feel! I started taking topamax to prevent headaches. I was on medication that also made me gain weight. The trick is the meds that make you gain weight I ate the exact same food and gained over 70lbs. I was devastated, especially since I did not eat any differently. The topamax I ate the same and no weight gain or loss. My Doc told me if I started to take away a few carbs replaced with protein and slowly cut my portion sizes and stay away from greasy foods it will then start to help you lose more weight than without it! It’s working! 5 months, no migraines and down 30 lbs

I've seen excellent results with an organic non prescription product. I am personally not a fan of Topomax. Was a meal plan provided and is their support? Debpar27 at gmail.