Topiramate and Weight Loss: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Bus...
• May 1, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "5/1/2017 - I was on Bystolic for BP treatment, and it caused me to gain 30 lbs. I suspect the high blood pressure was due to the use of e-cigarettes. I put the e-cig and the Bystolic down!! Dr. put me on Topamax 100 mg and Wellbutrin 300 mg to help with the headaches and weight loss. As I ramped up from 25 mg to 50 mg of Topamax, I noticed significant changes in my behavior, as did others. I cried continuously and at the most ridiculous things. I was short-tempered and wanted to be left alone (to cry). Side notes: it made my face feel numb, carbonated drinks tasted funny, vision was funky, and did zero for weight loss. As a mom of 4, I can't continue this medication. 30-40 lb weight loss is not worth living this way."

• Anonymous
• June 4, 2009

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I used Topamax for 3 months after working myself up to 150 mg/day. It brought my migraines down from 3-4 a week to 2-3 a month, which is great, however, after having been in and out of hospitals with horrific abdominal pain, my doctor cycled me off of it. I had also lost 20 lbs in a 3-week period but had not noticed a change in my appetite. I am very fit and eat 5-6 times a day to keep up with my metabolism and workouts, so the weight loss was extremely irritating, considering it was nothing but lean tissue. I also could not drink carbonated beverages and was extremely depressed and emotional (which is very out of character). I did not think the side effects I experienced were worth the benefit."

• NLJ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I believe a lot of the negative side effects can be attributed to lack of food and water. Once I started to eat and drink (even though I didn't feel like it), the foggy brain, dry eyes, and other side effects went away (I am still losing weight though :) ) and still no migraines. I also split my dosage, 50 mg morning and night, and this has also helped minimize side effects."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 30, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have been a migraine sufferer for 15 years and have been on and off Topamax throughout that time. I just started it back up again 3 weeks ago because I fell into a really bad migraine/headache spell. I feel trapped at the bottom of a 10 ft pool with a workout band around my head. The pressure and pain are intense, and I'm not sure if I can equate it to the starting of the Topamax again. I am going to wean myself off again and see if that makes a difference. I started the Emgality injection last Thursday, and apparently, that takes a little while to take effect. Really hoping things ease up soon. It's been hell. Little weight loss with Topamax, and only with a high dosage will you feel the tingles in your extremities. I am on 1x100mg in the morning and 1x100mg at night. Good luck to everyone out there. You're not alone."

• NJj...
• March 6, 2008

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have been taking Topamax 50 mg, 2x daily for over a year now and found that it has helped me a lot with a few exceptions. They are weight loss, kidney stones, tingling in hands and feet, and frequent urination. I found that other medications didn't help (Depakote). I also take this with Inderal (B/P med) and Catapres TTS Patch (B/P med) because I also suffer from high blood pressure, and these two medications also are good migraine-fighting meds. I do recommend Topamax."

• tsj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Besides the tingling in the feet and hands or weight loss, I can't think of any other side effects I've had. This was an absolute miracle drug for me for the first two months I was on it before a string of horrible tension headaches started to ruin its effectiveness. My neurologist just increased my dosage. I was taking 100 mg once a day. I'm now at 150 mg. I'm in a size of jeans I haven't thought about for almost 20 yrs. I did find that drinking more water cuts down on the tingling, too."

• My ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I wasn’t given Topamax for bipolar disorder but for migraines, but it made a major positive impact on my moods. I treated it a year ago, and the side effects were so intense I honestly couldn’t handle the medicine and ultimately stopped it. I recently began taking it again due to bad migraines again, and when I got the medicine filled, it had a note on it saying that the look of some ingredients has changed, but it’ll have the same effect as it did before. It seems to work so much better with hardly any side effects at all. Weight loss is a side effect, but a very welcomed one, as I am overweight and a bad binge eater. It’s helped my moods improve a lot since I started it. One thing I will say is to take or drink magnesium and potassium supplements/drinks to lessen side effects, and you’ll be fine. I've been on the medicine 3 weeks, almost 4, and the migraines have calmed down a lot already."

• ama...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2019

Topiramate "I'd been on Xanax for years, 1 mg at bedtime. New shrink comes into where my G.P. is. She says I have to get off of Xanax. 'You are an addict!!!' So, I cold turkeyed off Xanax, and he prescribed Topamax to help me sleep. Yeah, that's what I said! After a month of taking it, my body just dried up! My eyes and mouth were always parched, and my skin got reeeeealy, baby powder smooth. Plus! I'd lost 6 lbs!! I was so dehydrated that I have permanent scarring in both of my eyes! I am looking for a lawsuit, as when I told this doc what was happening, she said, 'Oh really? Well, let's double the dose and take it for another month and see what it does!' I think she was crazy, and I walked out. My eyes are NOT getting better. It's been a year, and no change. Pay attention to your body closely when starting this drug. I wish I had!"

• laz...
• February 21, 2012

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "First off, my dosage 200 mg twice a day, 26 yo male. It works, in fact, the only anti-seizure medication that has worked for me. I have noticed weight loss of 15 to 20 lbs under my natural weight (135 to 155 at 5'11') from being on the meds to off (but that could be lack of exercise). Other than that, it keeps me going in my daily life. Just don't miss too many."

• nat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2017

Topiramate for Seizures "I started taking this medication as soon as I was diagnosed with an inherited seizure disorder. Although I haven't had a seizure ever since I began to take the medication (which is good because the meds are working), the side effects were horrible. I would often feel very disoriented and saw a great amount of weight loss. This may not apply to everyone because everyone is different, but that was my experience with this medication."

• Rob...
• July 27, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "This medication has been a lifesaver for me. After the initial side effects of tingling hands and feet, funny-tasting carbonated drinks, loss of words, which lasted only a couple of weeks and a massive weight loss of 30 kg (60 lb approximately), everything settled down nicely. I have been taking Topamax for over two years now with no problems whatsoever, and in those two years have only had one migraine that was not nearly as bad as what I used to experience. For me, this is the best medicine I've ever been prescribed."

• Pre...
• August 7, 2008

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have used Topamax off and on for the past 5 years. Off due to pregnancies. I am once again on and love the drug. Although the side effects are something to get used to, tingling in the hands, etc., those can be corrected with the correct dosage. The best side effect is the weight loss, which certainly helps. My migraines have completely gone away. I have been a migraine sufferer since I was 5 years old, some 27 years. Topamax is a wonder drug!"

• Enk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on this medication almost two weeks, started out on 25 mg and working my way up to 100 mg, currently at 50 mg. No headaches at all so far, and I was having 2-3 crippling migraines a week. I have lost 5.2 lbs so far, but note I am really paying close attention to what I am eating. I have a lot of weight to lose, and if weight loss is a side effect, I want to help it along as much as I can. Now, other side effects, they are there. The word recall issues exist, the memory issues, the worst of it seems to be the vision disturbances. There have been times I have just not driven because I'm sure it would not have been safe. The good news is it seems to be wearing off... I have tons of energy, and I am in a great mood."

• Anonymous
• July 6, 2010

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I suffered from chronic migraines misdiagnosed as tension headaches for 10 years before being sent to a neurologist who started me on topiramate right away. It was very hard at first to get over the fatigue, but the immediate improvement in my headaches was a life-changing experience. The weight loss was an added benefit. My hair has thinned a bit, the taste changes are mild, as are the tingling in my hands and feet (a few seconds here and there like they fall asleep-except it's in the middle of the palm or the sole). The chronic migraines (4-6 days a week) are now down to about 3 days a month, and the fatigue is no longer bothersome."

• Ama...
• March 12, 2011

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I suffer bilateral migraines and have been on Topamax for several years off and on now. I have mixed reviews. I LOVE Topamax because nothing else works for me. In fact, I was given Maxalt and Propranolol together and wound up in the hospital almost dead. You can NOT take those two together. All medicines have side effects, so does Topamax. I liked the weight loss in the beginning, but be careful with it. I lost 80 lbs and couldn't stop. I forgot to eat. Topamax makes me just not hungry. I have it fixed now and watch out for it, but it was very scary. The memory loss has been a problem at times, but has been funny too. I have not experienced the HOT they spoke of... I FREEZE ALL THE TIME!"

• jus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2016

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Topamax for a little over 6 years. I started at 25 mg and slowly went up to 250 mg. I experienced the weight loss, tingling, and the other minimal side effects at the lower dose but was encouraged to stay on the meds. As I increased the dose, I started having hair loss, dizziness, and 'white outs' where I would not be able to see at all for up to 20-30 seconds at a time. I also started having the memory issues. I started seeing a new neuro and we dropped me down to 100 mg. The hair loss stopped, but I still get the vertigo. I am now down to 50 mg. I suffer from eye pain in my left eye and still the random dizziness-which is horrible. Weaning off of this, I do Botox injections now for preventative with some relief."

• Pat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 3, 2022

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "40 (F). Started taking 100 mg Topamax daily (50 mg morning, 50 mg at night) as a migraine prevention drug when nothing else worked (I have cluster headaches, migraine with aura, and have experienced seizures during attacks). Works brilliantly for me, and I now get few migraine attacks (I used to suffer severely). Initial side effects included paresthesia (tingling of hands/feet), soda being a bit weird (less 'bubbly'), and some weight loss (2 kg, or 4 lb, a month). Topamax also had a very positive effect on my Bipolar Disorder! I have Bipolar 1, and it is very treatment-resistant. It is often used off-label as a mood stabilizer. I did not know this until others commented on how unusually 'calm' and focused I seemed. Only downside: potential kidney effects. I have had prior kidney infections and stones, but recent scans show benign cysts and tumors. Not sure if it is the Topamax use; so something to consider here."

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started taking Topamax in 2010 for migraine headaches. My doctor slowly started increasing my dose to 100 mg daily. By the time I reached 50 mg, I noticed I had a hard time making simple choices. I did notice that I was losing weight, and this is something I always struggled with, so I looked past short-term memory loss issues. By the time I made it to 100 mg, I was losing 10 pounds a month with no dieting. I was also repeating myself in conversation. I went from 175 pounds to 140 pounds in 8 months. The last straw for me was sitting down for a final exam in college, and I could not spell the word SUGAR. I talked to my doctor and began weaning off over 3 months. Over six months, I went from 135 pounds back to my 175. The memory loss slowly abated, but now I felt depressed about the weight gain. I don’t know what happened to my metabolism during that period of time, but I am a CrossFitter/Peloton rider at least 5 days a week and watch what I eat. It’s been 10 years, and I haven’t lost it."

• Adr...
• November 22, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've been on Topiramate for 3 weeks now, and my migraines have stopped. I had them every day. And I lost 5 pounds in these 3 weeks. Coke tastes weird too, not the same taste. I've noticed I eat less junk food as well. So I'm happy with it."

• CM1...
• November 15, 2009

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I am 42 and have suffered with migraines since I was a teenager. When Imitrex came out, I thought that was a lifesaver, and it was. I used to get a migraine and have to go home and hide under the covers for a day or two, but Imitrex isn't a preventive like Topamax. The only side effects were in the first 2 weeks with subtle numbness and tingles and loss of short-term memory. The longer side effect has been the weight loss, but I had been overweight by 20 lbs anyway, so this has been a blessing! I look great and have only had a few minimal headaches since June."

• Loo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I enjoyed your comments, GOLDCT. I take 200 mgs daily for the past 3 to 4 months, and so far, pretty good. It has me losing weight, so the fact that it makes you shed some is something to watch in every way. I experience several symptoms, but it's nothing I can't handle in exchange for some stability, ya know? The brain fog stuff gets me... yet again, praying the good I get out of Topamax continues. Take care, you all!"

• Anonymous
• March 24, 2009

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I'm 19 and have been suffering from migraines for the past couple of years. I've been taking Topamax for 6 months now, went from 25 to 75 mg daily now, and have noticed some reduced frequency in my migraines. I'm also pretty thin to begin with and can't afford to lose any more weight. I've lost 15 lbs already and noticed the 2 days I ran out of the medicine. I actually felt hungry and ate. I think it's time to consider some other options."

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2009

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I've been on Topamax for 2 weeks now after switching from Elavil. Now I'm seriously questioning that decision despite the problems Elavil caused me. The insomnia is outrageous. I have to set an alarm to take my morning dose at 5 a.m. so that my evening dose can be taken around 3 p.m. This way its effects have kind of faded off by bedtime, and with the help of some prescribed sleeping pills, I'm lucky to get a tiny bit of sleep. Of course, along with that, I have tingling, slight numbness (not enough to even complain about), dizziness, decreased appetite, taste aversion, and weight loss, of course. I haven't had too many experiences with confusion yet. On a positive note, my migraines haven't returned."

• VA...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 26, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I have suffered from migraines since age 15. I have taken Topamax since 2007. The first 2 weeks I lost 15 lbs, and it was very scary, so I stopped. I've always been very active and ate well because I suffer from hypertension, so the weight was easy to manage. But now at age 34, and off the meds for 3 months and 20 lbs heavier, I'm back taking 100 mg a day. After only being on them for 8 hours, I feel the immediate effects. I'm back in the gym and my migraine went away in one hour. I won't neglect my health again. Stay healthy, everyone!"

• Msg...
• September 30, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "Recently started on topiramate for migraines. First week 25 mg at night, no problems, even a little loss of appetite and weight loss, which I can't complain about. Second week 2x 25 mg at night. Second week started to notice sleep problems such as insomnia after taking my dose at night, so took it early evening but still not sleeping till 2/3 in the morning. 3rd week 1x 25 mg am 2x 25 pm... Really not sleeping, appetite is back, but stomach pain when I do eat. I'm hoping if I drop back down, it'll even back out and I will be OK. Quite enjoy losing a bit of weight after being so ill with migraines."