Topamax and weight loss

[bobbiek]

I have digenerative disc disease and my neirologist just prescribed topamax,
he said it would help with the pain and tingling but could result in weight loss.
  I am wondering if prescribing topamax for ddd is common among neurologists? I can't seem to find any other information related to topamax as a pain med, only information I have is that it's a powerful drug with lots of side effects, most not so good.
The weight loss aspect is the only plus...also could this drug alter my brain function since I know it is used for bi-polar and seizure disorder... I'd like to know more about this med both from a neurologists view and from a weight loss specialists view. before I make a decision to take this medication
Thanks in advance for any/all responses

[VitaliaSteele]

Even though it's helped me a lot, there are side effects to Topamax. The biggest one I've noticed, and this might sound weird, is being disgusted by food because of the smell. It's like my smell has been enhanced. I can smell food better than I could when I wasn't on Topamax. I'm more aware, painfully so, of how it smells and also how it tastes. It's overwhelming at times and depending on the food can make me nauscious. This is what results in the side effect of loss of appetite, at least for me. It makes food seem repulsive and I don't want to eat. *If any of you also experience this appetite loss, please remember that it is very important that you still eat. Do not skip meals! You'll get sick.* Sugary sweet food is another thing that makes me sick. I can't eat anything like candy(even without my diet restrictions)or sometimes just simply things that are naturally sweet like peaches because the taste is too strong. I end up eating a lot of bland foods. I eat way more vegetables than I ever did before(and not just because of my diet) but they usually have to be raw because the smell when they're cooked is too strong. I also eat a lot of soup. If you're having trouble finding something to eat, I recomend soup. Try making your own. It's fun and that way you can cater to your own individual tastes. And soup is veryeasy to eat on Topamax. It's part liquid so your stomach handles it better. A blander chicken broth is usually best. A more acidic broth like tomato might upset your stomach but it's all trial and error. See what works best for you when it comes to food. If you make you own soup, or meals, you get to put whatever you want in it. Make sure to eat a lot of protein. On Topamax you tend to eat less. Filling up on junk food or carbs is a bad idea. Eat protein and vegetables first and if you're still hungry then have that dinner roll and dessert. This way your stomach won't be upset, and you'll continue to lose weight and your body will be healthy while doing it. Also, I know how tempting it is not to exercise while on Topamax since you tend to lose weight without needing the physical activity. But your body still needs exercise to remain healthy while you lose the weight. Even just a simple walk around the block is good for you.
So that's the biggest and pretty much only side effect Ive had to deal with. I hope my tips and advice about how Ive dealt with it help any of you out there who also are experiencing the same side effect! ^_^

[VitaliaSteele]

I first took Topamax at age 17 for migraines, which I suffered terribly from. Along with a combination of birth control(Seasonique) I quickly gained control over my constant(sometimes weekly)migraines and only got them during the time of my period when I was off my birth control. The combination of hormones and Topamax worked extremely well. I also went from weighing 150 to 125, an extreme accomplishment since I had always struggled with weight during high school after I could no longer be in sports due to an injury. It was decided during the fall semester of my freshman year of college that my birth control suppressed my migraines well enough that I no longer needed Topamax so I was taken off of it and kept the weight off easily.  
I also suffer from bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety and take Prozac and Lamotrigine. At age 19 during my spring semester of freshman year in college, I was put on Remeron for my depression and anxiety. Unfortunately Remeron has a side effect of extreme weight gain. In 3 months I gained 50 pounds, weighing in at around 175. I was horrified. I demanded to be taken off Remeron but the damage was already done. Remeron not only put weight on by making me crave and eat sugar and junk food(it's a terrible drug, never take it, I would eat junk food until I threw up and then eat more, it was like a compulsion I couldn't stop)but because of all that junk food and sugar, my blood sugar and pressure spiked to an unhealthy level.
Desperate for help, I went to a weight loss clinic as soon as school ended. I went in June and they put me on 100 miligrams(50 in the morning and afternoon, if taking birth control it's very important to take Topamax at a different time because it weakens the effect of the bc and can result in break through bleeding)of Topamax and a diet that consisted of basically just vegetables, lean meat, water, and absolutely no carbs or sugar. I'll admit I never exercised. But I still lost 25 pounds in a little over a month. I now weigh about 149 and am still dropping pounds! I feel great and my blood sugar and pressure are all back to normal, healthy ranges. And I have Topamax and an easy healthy 'diet'(it's really not that hard, hardest part for me was cutting out fruit)to thank!

I would recomend Topamax to everyone! It's changed my life for the better twice now! It's truly been a miracle.

[Vealla]

Hi,

I have started taking Topamax this week for migraines - starting on 25mg working up to 100mg. I have been suffering with migraines now for 2 years but things got worse in April this year when i was addmitted into hospital after being paralized for 6 hours - after many tests the doctors have finally diagnosed migraines - i have been reading through all the previous posts and find all the information really useful.

i have had the pins and needles and troulbe sleeping but so far so good - i'm hoping to have on benefit from all of this losing weight! how long until people have noticed a difference??

Thanks :)

[Angela69]

Hello!  I love all the comments...they have all been very helpful!  I recently started using Topamax.  I started at 25 mg once a day, then twice a day.  Now up to 50 mg's twice a day.  So far my migraines have not gotten a ton better, but they have subsided some.  I have, however, lost 5 pounds so far!!  Woo hoo...I can live with that!

As for tastes changing.  I had taken myself off most sodas a while back, but at the movie theater the other day I decided to get a Diet Dr. Pepper.  I got one and immediately mentioned to my husband that it tasted really horrible to me.  I don't know if that is because of the fact that I haven't had one in a while or the Topamax or what...just thought it was interesting that it had been noted above by other users!

So far, so good with Topamax.  Keep  posting your successes, it is interesting and helpful!  Good luck everyone!

[lincolnsfriend]

It is now july 15th. i have lost 8 lbs since being on the 200mgs of topamax. i'm very pleased about that. no headaches so far. i usually had one every week or more. the topamax seems to make most food seem repulsive to me. all i want is liquids. if i try to eat anything it tastes strange and i end up sptitting everything out. havent had any of the hair loss side effect that i've heard about. i do take msm and biotin daily for my hair though. i hope the weight loss continues and that the headache frequency continues to lessen. i go back to my neurologist in november 2010. i'll keep everyone updated. good luck to everyone.

[lincolnsfriend]

update: I'm taking 200mgs a day of topamax now for one week.  makes me sleep alot better so far. no noticeable change with decreasing the frequency of migraines yet. no weight loss either. it does make foods taste different. i hope to see some weight loss soon but am worried about the hair loss side effect. i'll keep you posted.