Question:
topamax for weight loss

Has anyone else taken the drug topamax for weight loss and seen results? Even though it isn't yet approved by the FDA for weight loss, my dr. prescirbed it to me probably two months ago, and I've lost 15 lbs. It is an anti seizure medication, but can be used for depression or headaches. I've also been trying to prepare for surgery, cutting portions down, and not eating any fried foods. This has curved my appetite quite a bit I think, and of course I've cut out fried foods before without seeing really any results, so I was just wondering if anyone else has taken this medication. Also, this pill cannot be smashed, it says so on the bottle, so this mean after surgery I won't be able to take it?    — Mandy K. (posted on November 16, 2003)


November 16, 2003
I'm BiPolar and my psychiatrist prescribed Topamax for me as it is one of the few drugs on the market that promotes weight loss and helps me with my mental problems ;) -- but, unfortunately, I never saw any weight loss wight it. I wasn't really trying to lose weight and I didn't notice it curbing my appetite. It could be "all in your head" - i.e. you think it's curbing your appetite -- which is great. Or, it could actually be working -- which is great. You've lost 15 pounds, which ... is great ;) I wouldn't complain. I am post op and I still take the medication. I was taking it just a few days post op as a matter of fact, but if you are just taking it for weight loss and not for depression or BiPolar, I don't see why you're going to need to be on it after surgery.
   — Lynne D.

November 16, 2003
Hi Mandy! I am a pre-op, and my neurologist prescribed Topomax for my migraines (to help prevent them). He did say that a side-effect (and not a bad one, IMHO) is weight loss. I have noticed that it has begun to curb my appetite a little. As far as crushing it goes, mine is a very small tablet (25 mg) that I take twice a day. I don't see where you would have any problems swallowing it. Good luck and best wishes on your journey! Blessed Be! Sherry
   — SherryWeber

November 16, 2003
I am bi-polar and take a variety of meds for this. The mix of the meds have caused major headaches so the Dr. put me on Topamax to counter act the side effects of the other stuff and I lost weight on it also. Funny thing was it didn't help the headaches. I stoped taking it about 2 months ago. Weight loss or no weight loss the less meds I take the better. I wasn't learning new eating habits I was just not hungry. As soon as the pills stop, the weight usually comes back.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 16, 2003
Hi Mandy! One of the things that I wish I had studied more closely before I had my surgery - and I was SO fortunate about - was medications. I have degenerative joint disease in my back and bilateral grade 4 degeneration in my knees. Before my surgery I was in a wheelchair because of my structural problems - and in pain ALL the time - horrible pain. I didn't stop hardly a moment to think through the fact that I will need to take pain medication and muscle relaxants - probably for the rest of my life - and they are HUGE pills. If I didn't have the DS (we have a normally functioning stomach - just smaller) I would be seriously in trouble given my ongoing need for meds - now only occasionally, but when I need em, I really need them! I would really urge you to think through - carefully - which surgery will work best for you - there are 5 that are most commonly done. Think seriously through the quality of life and lifestyle ramifications that each of them will have - for the rest of your life. My hope for you is that you would end up with a surgery that allows you freedom from having to take any sort of medication to deal with your weight - one that will allow you a freedom of lifestyle to really and truly enjoy your life! You're so young and you have so much of your life ahead of you - I'm so excited and happy for you, and hope the very best for you! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

November 16, 2003
Mandy, Topamax does have a side effect of weight loss, my son took this for his seizures, he lost about 20 pounds, but another side effect was that it slowed his brain and thinking down too much. It took about 2 months for the slowness to show up, he has that problem anyway and the meds made it worse. He liked the weight loss, and seizure control. The dr took him off because of the side effect was adding to his promblems. I wonder sometimes about dr's who prescribe a medication for a side effect of a medication (weight loss), rather than a medical condiction.
   — acluff

November 17, 2003
Hi Mandy, Boy there are a lot of uses for Topamax. I use it for a mood stabalizer. I take 400mg a day. I am able to swallow it whole with no problems. (I am 19 months post-op. I have lost 185 pounds) I was able to reach my goal in about a year. I think at first that it helped with my appetite but now it is hard to tell because with having the surgery I don't get "hungry." I just know it is time to eat because I feel weak but I don't have hunger pains, I don't know if that answer helps or not but like I said, I think it did help with my appetite when I first started to take it before the surgery. Good job on the 15 pound weight loss! Good luck to you and if I can be of any help, let me know.
   — cdiss

November 17, 2003
I have been on topamax for over four years. I love it. It does help with food cravings for me. i remember that when i first started taking it it made everything taste like cardboard but that passed with time and food now tastes normal. There are a few side effects that can be bothersome at first the most bothersome is the fact that it seems to affect the way the body absorbs fat. I.E. if you feel like you have to go to the bathroom RUN. the other effect is that for me when it was raised 50 to 100 mg i would sleep nonstop for two weeks. my body had to adjust to the dose. but then i would be fine. This is one medication that can not be crushed. it should say that right on the bottle. if it does not then talk to your pharmasist or doctor. you should not crush it because it is VERY bitter. these warnings should always be listened to. I asked my psychiatrist and she said i would have no problem with taking this medication. the sergon said the same thing. there is a liquid availible if you absolutly can not swollow pills. there are medsites on the web that you can check out to find information out on. here is one website that i find really helpful. http://medlineplus.gov/ it can be used to look up medications and to see if there is a liquid or sprinke form. you can also look and see if there is a reason why a pill should not be crushed or split. There is even a place to check for interactions of medication and you can look up herbs there as well Jade
   — Jade G.

November 18, 2003
They put my little one on it too at 9 years old. They said she has Post Traumatic Stress and chose it because like me she has a weight problem. It was total bad news for her. Like the other woman's boy it had adverse affects. She was like in this dazed world, glassy eyes at times, couldn't be woke up in the mornings, etc and it was impossible to get her to choke down anything to eat. It sure wasn't healthy. Turned out it was a THYROID imbalance and not PTSD. Anyone considering using it for just the weight loss / control should be aware of what type of side affects this drug can have as well as that it doesn't usually work long term for weight loss. In many people, not at all.
   — Shelly S.

November 20, 2003
I use it for migraine prevention and it works great - when I take too much I call it "Dopomax" ;)
   — kultgirl




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