Topamax and weight loss

[littleurchin]

I just went on Topamax this week for strictly weight loss. Ironically, two yrs. ago I had problems with migraines and the doc prescribed relpax and topamax and they mysteriously went away. In the past year I've gained about 30-40 lbs. I work the night shift and I think a lot has to do with that. In the past three month, I've gained 25 lbs. I ride my bike for 1/2 hour a day and weight train for the same. I follow a strict vegan diet and don't go over 1200 cal. So I am getting very frustrated with my weight gain. My doc prescribed Topamax 25mg./day for my weight gain and she wants to see me in a month. Then she wants to put me on an amphetimine if that doesn't work - which I was surprised at her willingness to do this. I'm 29, and weigh 133 with a BMI of 124. I know, I know, everything's normal. I'm just used to weighing around 100 because I'm a semi-pro cyclist. What I've done is increased the Topamax to 125 mg. on my own because I've read that the weight loss effect starts with this dosage not 25mg. like she prescribed. I'm worried about hair loss and actually getting migraines from this because when I took it before, it actually made me feel like **** and I have to take 1000mg. of Motrin to battle the headaches I get. I know you'll all think I'm crazy. Anyone actually feel worse from taking a higher dosage of Topamax? The things we do to stay thin...

[Harvestb]

Hi there! I was prescribed Topamax 6 wks ago for headaches which I have had my entire life it seems.  I can't remember having a day without one - they would usually run days at a time or be full blown migraines.  I started out at the 25mg dose and went up 25mg weekly until I got to my full dose of 100mgs.  I felt a difference immediately!!  I sleep great, no headaches, I feet like myself again (not to mention I started losing weight right away), I lost 10lbs by week 4.  As of today the Dr. is upping my dose because I just started getting some dull headaches (probably do to some stress in my family right now but just to avoid the migraines better to prevent than treat) plus my weight loss has tappered off and it seems that as I add the mgs it jump starts the weight loss again which is a bonus - more worried about the headaches but loving that side effect.  As for the other side effects, in the beginning I had some tingling in my fingers and toes (not bad though) that's gone now and I had pretty bad case of the "stupids" (loss of words, loss of thought and even studdering).  I felt pretty silly especially since I have to talk to a lot of people during the day for my job but they all understood.  That side effect has lessened but is still present.  I don't notice any hair loss.  What I'm wondering is are the "stupids" going to hit me full force since my dose is going work up to go to 200mgs a day instead of 100?

[Harvestb]

ok evidently I have already been hit with the "stupids" as you can see by the last sentence I wrote in my previous comment.  lol So lets try that again - My dose is working it's way from 100mgs where I have been at for the past couple weeks to 200mgs where I will stay.  Will my word loss and such get worse again?

[derbytime]

Are doctors really prescribing this med for weight loss? When did this start?!?! This is SO DANGEROUS! The side effects are not worth it on the high doses, why would you all deal with this medicine if you didn't have to? I don't get it. I thought it was only approved to seizures and just recently for migraines...maybe I'm just out of the loop...someone educate me.

[abauers1]

This medication was perscribed to me for weight loss by my psychiatrist.  It also has added benefits of calming your nerves and is used to treat people with bipolar disease and depression which I have.  So you see there are other uses for this medicine but they aren't advertised as such.  There are probably a few other things it is used for as well but I'm not sure what they are.  
To the people that are trying to lose weight on this here is an update:  I have been on this since Thanksgiving, 150 mgs and have currently lost 20 lbs.
Harvestb- it will go away - the "stupids" that is.  I only have the tingling in my hands as a side effect.  Hope that helps.  Autumn

[pulledcurtain]

Have you changed the way you ate/drank at all? Or was that weight lost by no changes and just taking the Topamax alone?

[steffers86]

I started taking Topamax when I was a senior in high school (2005). My migraines were incredibly bad when I first started after 3 years of being on the medicine my migraines finally subsided. I never had any of the side effects, I had always been a small person, 5'1" and about 110 lbs. At the beginning of the summer, I was taken off of Topamax, Over the course of the summer (3.5 months) I gained 35 lbs. My doctor told me that it must have been some physiological effect, but test after test revealed nothing. I've tried exercise and diets and nothing is helping. Is it possible that going off the Topamax made me gain the weight and should I go back on it?

[mchipalla]

I think the Topamax does something with your brain chemistry to shut you down or off earlier when your would typically continue to keep eating or drinking.  

[Sandilicious990]

I stopped taking Topamax about a year ago after being on it for 4 years and I've gained 15 pounds that I can't loss. I'm considering going back on it simply for the weight loss but mentally/emotionally I feel better now than when I was taking it so this worries me. I'm not sure I want to risk the negative side effects.

[braykaz]

I was diagnosed with peti-mal seizures @ the age of 9,then as i aged this developed into Grand mal seizures.I have been on Epilim 1000mg daily since then (about 23 years) Having given birth to 2 kids and a migrane sufferer im compelled to try this medication has anyone else transitioned from Epilim and if so what are their findings?

[scarlette23]

My doctor recently prescribed me Topamax for my debilitating migraines which I've had ever since I gave birth to my son, who is now 2 yrs old. He also said it would help with my anxiety and insomnia. But, he didn't tell me about the possible weight loss. I know for some people that might be a good thing, but not for me. I'm 5'3" and 100 lbs- underweight. I can't really lose any more weight. When I got pregnant I was 92 lbs and I looked sickly. I hear about people taking this drug and losing 20+ pounds. Anyone know how it effects women who are already underweight? I'm dying to get rid of my migraines, but not what little fat I have

[cottoncandy99]

I have had eplipsy ever since I was 16 years old and have been put on all types of meds to control them and can tell you that once that I started chemo and experience these extreme mirgraine headaches as I would just drop to the floor holding my head wandering what is going on and is there something else wrong.  Went through MRI's & CAT scans & x-rays that showed nothing , as I would just cry.  My Nurologists has me on  Dilantin 5 times a day as well as Phenobarbarbital 2 grs 2 times a day and then he tried to give me Imitrex well I took that 4 days and started seeing things abnormal and then  then he said that could try the Topamax as we started  out at 25mg for the first wk and then I went 50 mg 2 wk  and the up to 100 mg as I also have lost weight with this medicine but I am not complianing as my headaches are gone and that is the part that I have prayed for.  I go to see him on a regular 4 month check up as he monitors me very close on this medication.  I am glad that I was able to lose weight as I was in accident yrs ago which  left me in a wheelchair and now at least I am able to walk with a walker.  

I know that my PCP had me on Celbrex for pain and this Mobic for the artrithis that had set in but nothing would really make back pain and upper arm & back of which that I could feel go away, so they asked if I ever taken Advil and really never heard of it at that time so I tried it and then I broke out in hives and so that was the answer to us all as I went back to Tylenol just out of the store and  they told me after a while it would kill my kidneys plus cause other damage  so then he gave me a prescription for Hydrocodone and Soma.

I was told that if I stay away from all caffiene products and the fatty foods that would help reduce a few of these attack as as well. I lost 220 lbs since 2004 to present but this is a good thing for me as I needed to for the sake of my back since the surgeries as I think that is what help bring me out of the wheelchair as well as the help oof the man upstairs.   I know that I eat 8 to 10 times a day as they are small meals but that is what the liver specialist has me doing so that is to my benefit as well.

I am 5'5'' and weigh 120 right now as I think this is a good weight for me and want to stay here but then there are others that say I need to gain as they were usedd to looking at me being heavier.  At this point I don't know what I am going to do if I lose anymore as I am sure that my Nuro knows what the best as  I haven't a seizure for almost 6 months now.