Topamax

Anybody know any anything about this med?  I understand it is for sizures, but can help with weight loss.

Ruby
RNY  3/2005
262/122/139
hi/lo/today 

I am on Topamax for migraines and did lose a little weight with it becasue some foods tasted funny for a while, Especially sugary drinks.

I was given it by a neurologist for my weight, I had had a mini stroke and he was worried that my weight was putting me at higher risk for another. I started taking it shortly after starting work at Lane Bryant...so I was on my feet at least 2-3 days a week...and I was losing weight...had been stalled for 18 months. I did notice that I didnt' think about food as much no bored grazing etc. Sometimes I would go from my day job to LB without dinner, would eat a little something when I got home after the mall...or I'd grab a quick lean pocket or something quick and head out. I went off of it in 2007 because I was having concentrating in my college chemistry course. Well since then weight has crept back on....I've considered going back on it but have mixed feelings about needing a pill all my life to control weight. I joined gym in July and have been going 2 a week at least...sometimes 3x, but I only work from home now so I even with gym I've gained weight.

They call it the "dull" pill because it can make you have a kind of brain fog. It is good for some weight loss and really does work on migraines. If you take it start slowly and take the lowest dose, would be my thought

I took Topamax prior to my RNY for several months. It did quell my appetite but I had to stop taking it because it had some nasty side effects including the "dumb" effect mentioned in one of the other posts. Not everyone has the side effects though so it is worth a try.

I took it for about 6 months for migraines (prior to my RNY).  Couldn't wait to get off it.   It worked well for my migraines but I felt like I lost 30-40 IQ points.   I couldn't do simple math in my head.  I couldn't find the right word to describe things.   People (including my boss and my wife) were noticing that something was different (and not in a good way).   Everything went back to normal as soon as I got off it.

My brother is a doctor.   He said there is a nickname for Topamax running through the doctor circles -- "Dopamax".  

I *did* lose weight while I was on it but I immediately put it back on as soon as I was off of it.