Topiramate for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) User Reviews (Page 4)

• Come...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 15, 2018

"I started this med back in late November 2017 and lost 40 pounds by early Jan 2018. For some silly reason, I went off the med, but watched what I ate. Then, that slowly went out the window as well. While I didn't gain any weight back while I was off the med, I didn't lose any either. I went back on my healthy eating regime yesterday, but the sugar cravings were so bad last night that I binged and ate half a bag of chocolate morsels. This morning the craving was still there, and then I remembered the topiramate. Took a half dose to get me through the day and will begin the normal full dose tonight. Took that half dose about an hour ago, and cravings have settled down, and I'm chilling. It also helps with my mood disorder, so I guess I will be a lifelong fan! Love the med!"

• Anonymous
• September 26, 2010

Topamax (topiramate) "I haven't been on Topiramate very long, only a couple of months. Started taking it for RLS (restless leg syndrome). I was really surprised to see that it is sometimes used as a weight loss medicine. I didn't really notice any difference in my appetite. However, my last visit to the doctor did show that I've lost 5 lbs. I don't like the tingling, crawling skin sensation side effect. That went away after a few days."

• Lindzh
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 29, 2015

Topamax (topiramate) "I started taking 50 mg of Topamax for the first month and went up to 100mg for the next three months. Lost 40 pounds. For the next year and a half I have kept off the weight but have not lost any more. I still need to lose 30 more pounds, but have seemed to plateaued. And I am at 200 mg now. Don't know what to do."

• JillV
• December 8, 2015

"I am 56 years old and weighed 249 pounds. Finally decided to deal with this weight issue once and for all. My knees prevented me from working out, and my weight caused my knee issue. I sat down with my primary care physician, and she ultimately suggested the use of topiramate. In July 2015, I started with 25 milligrams and evolved to 125 milligrams. It is now December 8, and I weigh 221 pounds. Here is how I would describe the experience. It stops the need to impulse eat, so you don't feel deprived, so...you're not crying when the scale isn't moving quickly. It's not quick because I am postmenopausal...but it's not painful. Appetite is down, I can now walk for 45 minutes...and for the first time in my life...I know I will reach a goal weight."

• Lisse...
• August 8, 2016

"I just started taking this medication. I was at a starting weight of 198. My migraines made me very sick, and I vomited a lot and lost weight with that down to 186. Started on topiramate 25mg in the morning and evening on July 30. I am now 178. Coke tastes flat, so I drink more water. I do have tingling in my hands and feet, but I am glad not to have migraines. Sleep is a problem, so I think I will ask for something to help with that. I just wanted help with migraines, now I'm losing weight, so I got help for both. I couldn't be happier."

• EmmJay
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2021

"I was just prescribed generic Topamax, 100 mg a day. I asked for Adipex, but my doctor wants my blood pressure lower, so she prescribed this. Today is only my first day, so I decided to research. Reading these stories has me both excited and anxious. I am a recovering heroin addict. When I got clean and started methadone, I gained about 60-70 pounds and am having a hard time taking it off since I still take 30 mg of methadone daily. I work out anywhere from 1-5 days a week, depending on my schedule. I'm worried about the tiredness some people have experienced because I do love to work out. Also afraid of losing the ability to recall words, as speaking and grammar are my strong points. I guess we'll see. I plan on getting on Adipex as soon as my doctor says it's safe to do so. I will update. My starting weight today is 225 lbs, and I am 5'5. Wish me luck!"

• Pelixue
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 2, 2019

"I was put on topiramate for bipolar disorder after a consultation with a psychiatrist. I started on a low dose of 25 mg twice daily, which increased to a maximum dose of 100 mg twice daily. I got side effects of brain fog and forgetfulness, mainly with word recollection. I also felt tired quite often. The main side effect was my lack of appetite, though. I was already quite slim, around 140 lbs, but went down to 118 lbs. I just had no appetite or interest in food. This started immediately after beginning the meds and started to wear off maybe a year to 18 months into taking it. After a 2-year break from topiramate, I am now on a daily 100 mg dose again, and the weight loss side effect has returned."

• MN Girl
• August 17, 2019

"Started taking 2 weeks ago at 25 mg Topamax, 1/2 phentermine tablet. Nothing. No change in anything. Increased to 50 mg a day as directed for second week and also decided I needed to change my diet and eat whole foods, mostly protein and vegetables/salads, which are my favorites anyway. I’ve dropped a pound a day for 6 days. On the 4th day at 50 mg, I got a cough and started to get asthmatic symptoms. Dropped back to 25 mg and upped phentermine to 37.5. Ate crappy yesterday and still lost another pound. I see my doctor on Monday. I’m happy to lose this quickly for the first 20-30 pounds (I’m starting at 286), but I will need to cut back on the meds to slow it down after that. I don’t feel it’s healthy and I don’t want sagging skin. I also need to be able to maintain my weight loss. I recommend with caution, be aware of the side effects."

• lissa...
• October 26, 2015

"Was given this due to daily headaches. I'm not one to take pills, so I started slow. One morning and one at night. Stayed like that for two weeks. I started exercising around that time also but only about 3 times weekly and dieting pretty well but lost quite a bit of my appetite. I weighed myself and after two weeks, I'm down 15 pounds. I ate a lot of yogurt and drank a lot of coffee and water. That's all. I can't believe it was from this pill. I'm more motivated than I ever was! Starting weight was 189. Now I'm down to 174."

• Bmiller
• May 7, 2020

"Have 100 lbs to lose. I started taking topiramate along with phentermine. I started on Saturday, March 7th. I was like a zombie on this medication, even with the phentermine. I stayed on it for nine weeks. I lost a total of 18 pounds in the first 4 weeks and absolutely no weight at all the last five weeks. I did, however, lose 8 inches around my tummy. I believe the last four weeks I was on it, but in nine weeks I was on it, I did not exercise much. I felt like I had a black cloud hanging over my head every day. I became very angry and hateful and completely unmotivated. It definitely changes you, but my doctor took me off of it because I was no longer losing weight, even though I thought I was losing inches. I do know I feel better and that now I think I might be motivated to exercise. I am taking the phentermine only and it seems to be working really well for me, with no side effects at all. Other than loss of appetite, which is the goal."

• Rache...
• February 13, 2016

Topamax (topiramate) "I suffer from migraines and also am overweight. So the Dr. prescribed me Topamax for both. I weighed in at 209 on Feb 2, 2016, and today, Feb 12, 2016, I am 203. So far so good with the weight loss. I'm not too pleased with the side effects, however. I feel fuzzy all day, like I'm on a cloud. Dizzy, tingling, and numbness in my fingers and toes. Hasn't helped my migraines at all either. It does, though, not make me hungry at all. I have to force myself to eat because I know I have to. I don't see myself taking this medication long term. I'd rather try and lose the weight naturally. Not worth all the side effects."

• nikki
• March 23, 2023

Topamax (topiramate) "I have been taken this medicine for a month on 50 mg a day and so far I have lost 9 pounds. I haven't been able to lose any weight for 12 years. I think this drug work wonders but you do need to take the steps and eat healthier and watch your portion control while you eat. I hope I keep losing its been way to long for being over weight and out of control. You can't just take a pill and hope it's a magic pill you have to put in the work too."

• ZFera
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 14, 2024

"I've been on Topamax for 2 years! I've had my struggles at first with weight because of being on medications like Hydroxyzine, Buspar, Lamictal. I could never lose weight because they were massive weight gain medications. I figured that out maybe years later! And the higher doses of Effexor XR, considering I was diagnosed with the higher end of the autism spectrum with ADHD, GAD, Acute Phobias, PTSD, etc... Well, long story short, I stopped taking Lamictal in 2021. I had been on it since 2015, so it was a 2-year wipeout. By 2023, I lowered my antidepressant dose of Effexor XR from 150 to 37.5 by tapering. I tapered off the Buspar as well. My life did a complete 180. Being a 30-year-old male at the time, weighing 278 pounds in January 2023, as soon as I eliminated most of those medications, it was only half the battle. I stayed on Topamax at 50mg twice a day with Effexor XR at 37.5mg. I started to drop weight and now, at 31 years old, I'm 155 pounds. I hope this helps."

• Aaron...
• October 6, 2015

"My VA Dr. prescribed Topiramate (Topamax) to me for my migraines, and not only has my appetite decreased, but so have my migraines and my weight. He also added magnesium, and the combination has been nothing short of amazing. Topamax has really been great, and I've had no side effects at all. I take 1-50mg tab in the morning and 2 at night, and I've been dropping weight, my migraines are gone, and I'm getting back to my old self."

• Karla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2016

"This is my second check-in. I started Topiramate on July 4th with minor success but high hopes, taking 25mg 2x daily. Now I am at 100 mg, 50 a.m. & p.m. This seems to be the turning point for me. The weight is finally starting to noticeably go down. I eat a breakfast with protein, barely hungry until dinner but make wiser choices and still enjoy desserts. Very thirsty for water all night and still biking. Good luck all!"

• MamaBee
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2017

"Update from 'Chickadee' - been on med for five weeks, down ten lbs without exercising. My eating habits have been better although this week. They changed considerably for about four days. I ate a whole lot of rubbish but still managed to lose two pounds. I've been consistently losing two lbs a week and weigh myself every Monday. Still taking 50 mg at night. Only noticeable side effects now are tingling in feet and hands intermittently, and fatigue at times. Otherwise, nothing noticeable. I am thinking about increasing dosage. I would like to see quicker results but maybe I'm just being greedy. Two lbs a week is a safe, maintainable weight loss. Hope it keeps up. Currently at 230#."

• Ginger
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2019

"I was put on topiramate to help with a plateau on losing weight. I was on it for 4 days and experienced severe side effects. Four days after, I went to the ER for confusion, trouble speaking, dizziness, and headache. An MRI shows I have a brain lesion, not sure at this point if I actually had a stroke."

• Jas
• November 17, 2016

"I started topamax on October 31, 2016. I was at 227 pounds. As far as side effects, I had trouble with finding words to say at times, but it's getting better. I weighed myself today, November 16, 2016, and I'm 219 pounds. I've lost 8 pounds. I can say topamax has helped me with my bad eating habits, especially my craving for sweets that I no longer have and the reduction in overeating. I'm very happy with topamax so far."

• nurse...
• September 3, 2017

"I have had good success with weight loss with 50mg topiramate & a therapist for stress eating. I went from 265lb to 195lb with watching diet in 12 months, walking 2-3 miles/day. Topiramate makes you less hungry, the rest is up to you. (I did get some brain fog.) I took magnesium and biotin, as the reduced appetite can cause nutritional deficiencies in some that can give you hair loss if you aren't careful, and the magnesium helps you 'go'! If you're taking that topiramate at night, a small dose of melatonin every few days (if you take melatonin consistently every night, your own pineal gland will stop producing it and you'll have more sleep problems!)"

• Scottie
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 3, 2021

Topamax (topiramate) "At 5'7", I weighed 208 after giving birth at age 31. Developed what they thought was fibromyalgia. After 6 years, was put on Topiramate - 200 mg per day. Dropped 50 pounds in about 6 months. Went off it, eventually gained the weight back plus another 30. 14 years since the first time: back on it, have lost 40 pounds in 3 months. Still need to lose around 60-75 pounds... The fibromyalgia turned out to be MS. Haven’t been able to exercise in 20 years. I miss that badly... But since I have no metabolism, it’s either starve or take the Topiramate. I’ve never noticed any negative side effects... But then, my resting state is pretty messed up; it would be hard to distinguish any new negative stuff from the plethora of negative stuff I already suffer regularly."

• Les_M...
• September 26, 2015

"I have been on Topamax since May of 2015, and it is now September 26, 2015. I did take it for migraines, and boy did it do its job. I was having them every day, and now I get them maybe once a month. I started at 25mg, went up to 50 twice a day, and at the beginning of September went to 100mg where I will stay at and stabilize. Weight loss! Well, where do I begin? It has been amazing! I weighed in on May 15 at 167.5 lbs. I am only 5' tall (no inches there, lol), and I weighed in on September 2nd at 141.8 lbs. It is amazing to me that I have lost 26 lbs without diet or exercise. I have always done yoga and meditation, but not the hardcore kind, the gentle kind. I really haven't changed a thing except for taking Topamax."

• SHOED...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2017

"I have been using topiramate 50mg for 2 months along with phentermine. When I started, I weighed 200 lbs. I went to my physician yesterday, 07/17/17, and I now weigh 178 lbs. I have also been on a high-fat, low-carb diet, and it is really working for me. I never thought that I would ever see this size again. When I get to my desired weight, I will continue to eat healthy and exercise."

• Nancy
• December 18, 2016

"I gained 60 pounds in under 2 years from being on gabapentin for arthritis and fibromyalgia. I learned I had prediabetes and asked my doctor to put me on it, and she was more than willing. 40 pounds melted off me like butter in less than 2 months, no problem, UNTIL... my long blonde hair was clogging the drain every day in the shower! Long story short, what's the point in being skinny if you're bald? I had pretty hair, now 3/4 of it's gone and still not growing back! Makes me wonder what other damage it's done. Not worth it!!"

• Chron...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2018

Topamax (topiramate) "I gained a lot of weight from depression medications. They put me on Topamax to fix that. I’ve been on it for several weeks. Twice a day, 25 mg. Now the first day, I immediately noticed an appetite change. I haven’t craved food all day, every day. I haven’t craved as much junk or sweets. And I have dropped a little weight. So it definitely works wonders. I am definitely struggling with the side effects, so I think I am going to wean off it. As much as I’d love to continue to eat regular amounts and lose weight, the side effects are too much. Before I started this, I had tingles in my hands and feet, but this intensified a LOT. I’m also having a lot of head pressure, tiredness, and I feel functionally slow. I feel like I can’t think, can’t remember anything, can’t do simple tasks. Hopefully, there is another medicine that can have the same effect for weight loss and appetite without these severe side effects."

• Sunnis
• May 10, 2016

Topamax (topiramate) "After getting a blistering skin rash from Lamictal, Topamax was prescribed. It did decrease my appetite. I went from 209 lbs back to my regular 135, which I hadn't been in 7 years. This took place in about 10 months. At about the same time I started taking it, I was rear-ended and suffered a MTBI and scored very low on my neuropsych exam. My old psychiatrist retired, and the new psychiatrist is against Topamax because of the 'foggy' side effects that are common. Now, a little over a year later, I feel okay about this med considering the alternatives - wish there were better alternatives!"