Hi everyone, I've been put on topamax to hopefully assist with weight loss as am obese and am really struggling with food. I've just titrated up to 75mg (25 in morning and 50 at night) and have so far found no changes in appetite and no weight loss. I realise weight loss is only a possible side effect, but I was so hopeful about this drug helping me! My question is, have people found that appetite suppression starts at a certain dose? Or do u think its too early? OR am I just one of those for whom topamax isn't working? Thankyou :)
Topamax weight loss side effect: dosage?
Question posted by Jess6702 on 15 Nov 2014
Last updated on 11 April 2023
This question has also been asked and answered here: Does topiramate cause weight loss?
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85 Answers Page 6
Effect
4 Feb 2016
I lost weight on 25mg & 50mg, but after 2 months it stopped working. The side effects were also unbearable; always completely exhausted and couldn't think straight. I started to not even care if I was losing weight because all I wanted to do was sleep.
lorena86
2 Feb 2016
I have been taking topamax 50mg for about a week now and have gain 20lbs which put me at obese I seen my dr. Today and she prescribed me a higher dose which is 200mg once a day but my question is does this really work I've tried everything and can't seem to get rid of my belly area :(
lorena86
2 Feb 2016
I meant I have been taking topamax for about a month
Pippin10
4 April 2016
I took Topamax about 12 years ago. I was on 200mg. The weight loss was great, the brain fog was terrible! I went on this site to see if I wanted to try it again but it looks like it still has the " brain dead" side effect.
PJ0817
26 Jan 2017
I have been taken 200mg at night for approx 4 yrs. I have loss No weight I take tomapax as a mood stabilizer. I did stop taking a few years back because my memory was getting really bad, which is one of the side effects. I was blacking out while driving very scary!! I decided to start taking again because it is great mood pill. I just don't drive now. I definitly did not lose Weight. I am pretty sure I have gained
Mrgiron
3 March 2017
You don't gain 20 lbs in a week unless you are eating way too much.
PsychMD
27 April 2017
Topiramate is quite a difficult medication to tolerate, I start titrating up very slowly in order to minimize SE, and still several people struggle, particularly with word finding. Some find this amusing, some frustrating, but fortunately, it does not last long. The most problematic SE would be any sort of change in their electrolytes, that is their sodium, potassium, etc. The main reason for it to be prescribed at this office is as a stabilizer, but also to help with cravings and subsequently loss of interest in food. It helps, yet the dose varies significantly from person to person. Also, on the ability of each one to tolerate different doses, this is also saddening for both parties since one keeps trying to increase when lower doses do not work. When the problem or complaint is "foggy mind", one must consider pros/cons, but an AM medication such as wellbutrin may help, again, not too many people tolerate this other medication.
All in all, tolerating topiramate's side effects are very troublesome, but again, overall, it does work. If it is not working, do not take, talk to your doctor about other options, no medication it worth it's side effects particularly when there is no positive outcome. Good luck, consult with docs, take care, congratulations on trying your best to help yourselves, you are brave and sound like great people.
MimiglGodfavored
24 Nov 2015
Same here, Topamax doesn't work for me at all...
Liar5
15 May 2017
I take 400 mg Topomax daily and 300 mg Wellbutrin daily weight is coming off slowly appetite is really not there am I doing something wrong?
william1966
5 July 2017
I know this is an older post. I just started Topamax for insomnia and it works great. I am on 50 mg for my first week and going up to 100mg in my second . Lost 10 lbs in 4 days. I found out if i take my xanax during the day for anxiety it takes any side effects away. No brain fog, no dizziness and no sickness. I go about my day as normal
vrobaldo
27 Sep 2017
William, when you lost?weight that fast on Topamax were you severyly overweight or only like between 2p to 40#?
ErinWHODATRN
20 Oct 2015
I want to go back on it since I am trying to quit grains and sugar all together. I took topamax 200mg at night for nerve pain in 2005 from a back injury. At that time I was lucky enough to lose 45lbs between April and August of that year.That amounted to 3 dress sizes and 4 bra band sizes. Topamax did not control appetite for me but it took away my sugar and carb cravings. I didn't know then but I have thyroid antibodies. I didn't have side effects because I took mine as one dose before bed. I went back on it a few years ago with a different doc. My ob doc researched it and put me on it off label for weight loss but the dose was only 50mg at night and 50mg in the morning. It didn't work the second time. I think that the nightly larger dose made a difference. I couldn't tolerate taking it in the morning because of the sleepiness, brain fog effects. At night it helped me sleep because I have insomnia, but was still alert to be an ICU nurse during the day.
MollyN
29 July 2015
First of all you are on a very low dose - my doctor had me on 100 mg in the beginning and for headaches (my weight was 130) and I am not at all obese. I was having side effects of sleepiness and fatigue and word finding difficulties and he changed me to 50 mg a day but the weight just dropped off immediately - I lost 10 pounds without any loss of appetite or reduction of food - I lost fat also and now I am trying to regain muscle tone... I
Deborah Totten
21 July 2018
On the BMI chart I am obese. I started taking it for headaches with hoping for the weight loss as a side effect. I started at 50 mg twice a day. I wanted more relief and the wt loss side effect so we increased it to 100 mg twice a day. I have been on it for 3 months and have lost 30 pounds. However I have been trying to lose weight which includes eating good meals and exercising. I think I've missed that a lot here. There is no wonder pill for anything
Inactive
28 July 2015
I think you need to keep at it, maybe increase the dose a bit more. Weight loss is meant to happen at between 100-200 mg, so make sure you're in that range. After that, I would stick with it for at least one month.
When I was on it I lost a huge amount of weight and I actually don't remember having less appetite. What did happen was that if I did any kind of walking before my body was done digesting (so 2-3 hours) my belly would hurt BAD. Eventually this made me afraid of eating and I would only take tiny little snacks if I knew I was going to be walking. But as far as appetite went, if I wasn't walking I would actually eat WORSE. Burgers, pasta, chocolate, you name it... and I still lost weight faster than I ever have. I eventually had to stop taking it because my BMI dropped so much I was underweight (This took 2 months by the way)
Stay strong sister!
znelson0808
9 May 2015
I take topmax for epilepsy. When I started taking this I weighed 180 pounds because of the other seizure medication they had me on. Once i started taking it I had large curve in appetite . I lost 50. Lbs. I gained it back while having my daughter . Im on it now and since having her I've lost almost all the weight . I take 125mg . twice daily.
Sharon lacumber
8 June 2018
Hi can you lose weight using topamax after giving it up and going back on it ? Xx
shyane101
27 April 2015
I am also taking topamax for migraine, an it's only been a month. 50mg in the morning an 50mg at night. The side effects that I've been going though is not really worth the weight lost. Everything that use to taste good now tastes awful like soda, ice cream, even beer, certain foods I have lost interest in eating. Thing just don't taste the same. The other side effects is my concentration, I can't think straight , my thoughts is just not clear I sit there forgetting things or I get lost throughout the day it's like I'm a zombie. My daily chores don't get done it's like it's harder to complete. I was 200lbs before i started taking topamax, I am now 185.lbs so I've lost 15 pounds so far. the good thing about this medicine is that my migraines is gone no more pain.
the way I see that this meds work is by changing the way you taste things, like sweets,or your favorite foods, things that you crave, including soda, once you stop having all the sweet stuff usually you will lose weight. it doesn't stop you from craving it, you just don't enjoy the way it taste any more so you're not going to want to eat it. That's all. And that how you loss the weight with the help of the med. I haven't drank a beer in over 3 weeks not because I wanted to stop drinking it's because it tastes really awful due the meds, so that should tell you something, not having my migraines are more important to me then having a beer . I hope this helps. One more thing my appetite has decrease, not eating as much
MollyN
29 Jan 2015
When did you start taking this? I have been on Topamax now for 2 months - I did not notice any change in appetite but just started dropping weight - a lot ! I have lost 12 pounds now - I still eat the same - no change in appetite - in fact I am eating more - people are starting to ask me what I am doing - clothes are getting loose - its amazing and a bit scary - I was prescribed it for migraines - BTW I am not very much over weight - only about 20 pounds ...
Casey h
5 June 2016
What dosage were you on?
MollyN
7 June 2016
50 mg twice a day
Connor0820
10 June 2016
I just started on 50 mg before bedtime. I haven't notified any changes as of yet. Its been 1 week,my question is do you take the brand name or generic and what time of day.
Rivkalea
14 Aug 2016
Hey I am taking topamax for start of 3rd WK now. Started ist WK at 25 mg at bedtime. I lost 7 lbs the first week. I had almost no appetite. 2 and WK 25mg in morning and bedtime lost 3 more pounds. Just started 50mg at bedtime and 25mg in morning. Not primarily taking for weight loss but to control brutal migraine headaches. I am also on Seroquel that monster of a drug. All my life I was blessed with a great metabolism and a good figure. Was never over weight. I could pass for 30 when I was 50. Was a ballet dancer for many years. When my Dr put me on Seroquel for insomnia after a head injury I gained 60 lbs on a very small frame. Like others I felt depressed. Couldn't think straight. I have high bp. High cholesterol. High sugar. I am so depressed I don't like to go out. So Dr was hoping Topamax would help me use less Fioricet and lose weight. On Seroquel I could eat 500 calories a day and gain 2 lbs a day. I'm hoping as the dose goes up the weight goes down. I'm weaning off Seroquel its the devil.
Cybertiger40
22 Oct 2017
That's a bunch of bull. I've been on it for probably 2 yrs now and my appetite has maybe decreased. I have not lost weight. Maybe 5-15 lbs. Then back up. Then down and up. So let me tell you all. I take 100mgs in the am and 100mgs. In the pm. I don't sit around the house eating bon bond all day. As a matter of fact. I'm not much for candy at all and I don't like chocolate. I go fishing,kayaking,camping,motorcycles,atvs,snowmobiles, painting, adult coloring. Very active person. So tell me why don't I loose all this weight you are talking about? Hhhmmm??
Mscarrierenee0730
30 Oct 2017
Yes I was on the medicine for bout 2 yrs and at first I was eating good and real healthy then all a sudden I started dropping weight and I went to the doctor and she was like that medicine is a weight lost it was 75 pounds that I dropped I hate it cause I eat so much but not gaining any weight back I want to put it back on I dot like to be the size that I am
zinia salgado
14 Dec 2017
I've been taking Topamax 25 mg for a month now for migraines . I went from 149 lbs to 139 scare the heck out of me. Appetite is great no other side affects i just don"t want to lose any more wait.
crazy have to speak to my doctor seeing her on December 18th.
Skittles40
22 Jan 2018
That's what I'm using them for what mg are u using
JenniferDupont
22 March 2018
How many mg do you take daily I'm on it and have been eating more haven't noticed anything yet
christianmom
18 Nov 2014
I was taking topamax for migraine preventative it didn't make me lose any weight even at 100 mg three times a day. It did however make me lose all sense of taste after a few weeks. I stopped taking it hated it.
1Sweettea
6 March 2018
How long did it take for your taste to come back after you discontinued?
Related topics
topamax, side effect, weight, dosage, food
Further information
- Topamax uses and safety info
- Topamax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Topamax (detailed)
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