Weight gain on Topamax?

I have been on Topamax for over a year now at first I lost weight. That stopped after first couple months and now I’m gaining and I’m hungry all the time. I’m even on adderall even with the adderall I’m hungry which is odd. Somedays I feel I may be better off coming off the Topamax but I take it for nerve pain and migraines and I’m scared of the level of pain I had prior to returning however being this overweight isn’t helping either.

I came across this post while looking up weight gain while taking topamax. I’ve been on 100mg for 10 years! I worked up to this amount. I take it for migraines. I have gained a total of 60lbs in the 10 years. I almost starve myself to stay thin. I’m always hungry. I still have a ton of headaches and I’m hoping to figure out something else. I have been trying so hard to figure out why I gained this weight until I came across this thread!! Has anyone weaned off this drug? How hard was it? Did you lose weight? Any help would be amazing.

First, I am so happy I decided to look for this post this morning. I left the doctor on Friday feeling like I was going crazy and just making excuses for the sudden weight gain. I was placed on Trokendi XR about 3 months ago along with Phentermine. I gained weight like crazy and was bloated, even gaining 12 lbs. of water alone. I had to ASK the doctor about the difference in my water weight (even though I take water pills). I was also losing sleep at night but going comatose during the day. I had no energy to get up or even eat, and felt useless. I made the decision a week ago to stop the Trokendi, and I'm starting to feel better all ready. I have a better mood, I am having REGULAR bowel movements, and had my first FULL night of sleep last night. This is while being on my cycle. I now know for certain that it was Trokendi, and thank God I stopped it before it got too out of control.

Yes I have gained weight on 50 mg tablets of topiramate. I first lost weight on it but that's when I was 100 mg tablets. I cut down because I was so spacey and could not remember things. That's when I stated gaining weight and my memory got worse. I decided to get off it now I'm off for about a week hopefully I will start loosing weight. I went up 2 sizes and couldn't loose it. Very bloated too. Now I see I'm not the only one.

I have been in for 1.5 months. I lost taste sensation and appetite for 3 days. Then everything went hay wire extreme fatigue, hangover feeling. Ebbs and flows. Around noon I am famished (like can’t eat fast enough) but before 11 and after 6pm I have no interest in eating. Gained 2 lbs. (this was over vacation) feel very bloated and irritable. Trying to hang on til appt with neuro on 10/1. Is there any chance I could level out. It is nice not having migraines. And I understand weight loss comes from prolonged dose and higher doses. I know it’s just a shot in the dark... most real people say it happened immediately but studies say otherwise.

I’m curious as to anyone that has posted or responded to the thread on Topamax and weight. I have been on and off Topamax for years. Never with an issue regarding weight gain. Recently because of the 100mg shortage, I had to switch to 50mg (two tablets) and I gained almost 20 pounds in less than four months. I talked to my migraine doctor about it and he said there are a ton of complaints about the 50mg tablet. Thankfully, the shortage of the 100mg is over and I got back on it two days ago. But I would love to know if anyone else took only the 50mg tablet and experienced weight gain? Thanks so much.

PS all my thyroid levels have come back normal.

My doctor put me on topamax in order to help stabilize my mood and to lose weight I had gained from ability. We were trying to lower my abilify dose so she increased the topamax to 200 mg. Instead of losing weight, I have gained 60 pounds. Now I feel like I need to get off of the topamax as well as the abilify but she won't take me off of either one. I have blown up like a balloon too.i feel helpless and though my bipolar is managed my self esteem is the lowest it's ever been.

I'm only on topamax and have recently ballooned out as well. I'm always hungry and trying to eat healthy is so hard now... I swear its the topamax increasing the cravings. I'm bloated and the heaviest I've ever been in my life! Did you guys lose the weight once you quit taking it? I walk daily. any advice/help is appreciated! (on it for nerve pain and disc issues)

i know that this is an old post but has anyones doctor put them on something else besides topamax? My doctor has changed the way i take it and dosage a number of times and it still doesnt work. I was also on amitript.

The topamax has caused my hair to fall out and gain so much weight. I was 120 and now im 200lbs. I eat right and exercise but the weight keeps building. im just glad i wasnt the only one who gained instead of loosing.

glad to hear your story. Thought I was the only one. I have taken topamax for nearly two years and I have also experienced many changes with my body. Yes it stopped my seizures as well as minimized my migraines but it insured weight loss. I'm not sure if that was due an abundance of stress but I can only imagine. Over the last 4months my body has suddenly switched where I've been gaining weight, not much but enough to feel and see a change, in which my headaches have also come back. I wonder if this Is hormone related? However, I also agree that this should be checked out. Perhaps another medication can be recommended?

Im not too sure bout the weight gain but i believe that's the cause why i blew up. I take more than 25mg. So yeah..

I am currently on 75mg, slowly supposed to be working up to 100mg but 75 is working to control migraines at the moment. I am having lots of side effects; the worst ones being weight GAIN and depression. Being overweight has always been a problem for me but my weight is usually stable. Since starting topamax,it has shot up and I am now the heaviest I have ever been. I am always hungry now that I have got past the initial nausea etc when I started it. The side effect of depression is also not helping as when I am depressed, I tend to only want to do nothing except sit around and eat.

I was prescribed Topamax for migraines . It was a very low dosage. It affected my eyesight and even at the lowest dosage available I GAINED WEIGHT! The Dr. swore I would lose weight but I gained it. I no longer take topimax. You are not alone! I too have a difficult time with medications. I am allergic to tryptans found in migraine medication so I must take OxyContin. I was thin but since then I struggle with weight. I have many migraines and am bedridden for at least 3 days and I had a coma happen from one migraine. Like you, if it took away my migraines but kept me fat I would look for another thing. Botox works wonders but it is expensive and not all plans will pay for it. I hope this helps you.

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Weight gain or not be very careful if you decide to discontinue this medication. I myself had a massive seizure breaking multiple bones in my neck from halting Topamax to quickly and never had a seizure in my life until that night.