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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