Topamax

Have any of you heard of or tried using Topamax after regaining weight?  I have done some research because not only am I dealing with weight regain, but also compulsive eating and Bipolar II.  According to some of the info I have read Topamax can help to diminish your appetite and cravings and thus leads to weightloss to the point that some now have to make sure they keep up their weight.  I am thinking about trying to convince my psychiatrist to try me on it to see if it works. 

Any suggestions, info or opinions on this?

I have a cousin who is on Topamax for her migraine headaches.  She also has MS.  She's one of the ones that has to adjust her medication to keep from losing too much weight - but...

I also know another that takes it and hasn't lost an ounce.  Must be how different bodies process it?   (or at least she said she was taking it)....

Worth a shot to ask... all he/she can do is say no - or maybe yes!

I took Topamax for about 6 months for migraines (prior to my RNY). My doctor slowly ramped me up to the dosage appropriate for my weight. Long before I got to that point, I noticed that my thought processes were MUCH slower. I also found that I started making MANY spelling mistakes. I couldn't do simple math in my head (I have a BS in math). My wife said she also noticed some personality changes.

I eventually told the doctor that I wanted off of the Topamax. I would put up with the migraines instead of losing myself. As soon as I was off of it, I was back to my old self.

It did help the migraines and a side effect was that I did lose about 20 pounds.

My brother is a doctor and he told me that some doctors jokingly refer to it as "Dope-amax" because it can make you dopey.

Yes, I have read/heard about the "dopey" side effects that Topamax can cause as well.  I am hoping to be able to have some time to talk to both my psychiatrist and therapist to see what they think given my past response to medication. 

I would love to have the no appetite side effect alone, but I also know that we don't always get what we wish for.  If I were to go on the med and experience the side effects you mentioned I know that I would have to discontinue use because of my job and school work. 

Thanks for sharing your experience with me.

I am so sorry that you had such trouble with Topamax. I have been taking it for years for my migraines - actually just had my dosage increased post op because I had to go off verapamil(my other preventative) due to low BP and heartrate. I have never had any side effects and my migraines have gone from daily, lasting 3 days to getting them maybe 2 or 3 times per month. I call it the wonder drug. What dosage did you take? I take 150mg at bedtime.

I got up to 200 mg/day after completing the ramp-up.   The dosage was supposedly calibrated to my size/weight.   I started seeing the side effect immediately at the lower doses but they would clear up after a few days until I would jump up to the next higher dose.    Once I hit 150 mg, they never went away and got worse at 200 mg.

Don't get me wrong -- the Topamax definitely helped with the migraines.   I just couldn't handle the "dopey" side effects.

I have taken Topamax for years for migraines.  It works great for migraines but I have had no side effects. I never lost an ounce on it and it never lessened my appetite or cravings.

I know I'm coming in late on this so please forgive me ... I've been on Topamax for about a year now for migraines, and while it has helped with them, it hasn't decreased my appetite or helped with weight loss at all (especially, since at my check up yesterday I was faced with the fact that I've gained 12 lbs in the past year). I'm at 50 mg twice a day.

I have, however, noticed the dop a max effects. I actually have to use spell and grammar check now, and I forget words in the middle of sentences, among other annoying mind blips, but the migraines had gotten to the point that in a 60 work day time period last year I missed 14 days with migraines, so we accept the lesser of two evils as the best choice.