redtoenails
11-13-2008, 08:35 PM
Does anyone have any good methods for losing/staving off medication related weight gain? I want so badly to lose the weight I gained from the medication. I might be going on a new one with this side effect as well. I want to prevent myself from gaining any more weight on it.
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ldsfriend
11-14-2008, 01:36 PM
I'm with you. I don't have any suggestions for you but I sure will be listening in on this thread. Thank you for posting this concern.
katlin09
11-15-2008, 12:09 AM
I've been dealing with this dreaded disease for 18 years and have never heard of anyone being able to avoid weight gain from meds that cause it. The onlly thing is to research meds that don't and suggest them to your pdoc. Also make sure you eat right, avoid junk/sweets, get lots of excercise.
Kat
Kat
brendajune
11-15-2008, 06:16 AM
i also gained alot of weight untill my dr put me on topamax and i have lost 10lbs in 18 days. she didnt put me on it for the weight loss but because some of my meds were just not working and this was a last resort. so far so good no side effects and it seems to be working but we will see in a few more weeks
brendajune
11-15-2008, 06:24 AM
I too have gained alot of weight, my dr put me on topamax about 2/12 weeks ago as a last resort thing and i have lost 10 lbs. but i have also been taken off 2 of my other meds because of the bad side effects they were having on me one being weight gaine the other being bad headaches and a rash. so i done know if its the topmax with the weight loss or not but i do know i dont feel hungry during the day anymore and i have more engery and i have started waking everyother day. its only been a few weeks so lets hope this med works for me....
Madymom
11-17-2008, 05:58 PM
Brendajune, you have my curiosity up....my doc prescribed me topamax as well for this reason. I gained loads of weight from effexor...now I am on Wellbutrin and topamax combo. I was on 25mg of topamax the first week, now this week I am taking 50mg, this is my first day at that dosage. At what point did you notice a loss of appetite? My luck I will be the .001% this does not happen to! :)
Madymom
11-17-2008, 06:02 PM
brendajune...you have my curiosity. How long and at what dosage did it take to start notice the loss of appetite and loss of weight? I am at my first day of 50mg of topamax and still nothing. I was prescribed this with wellbutrin for the weight I gained on effexor.
Thanks!
Thanks!
katlin09
11-17-2008, 07:59 PM
Okay, I feel the need to speak about this topic. Yes, Topomax will make you lose weight and rather quickly...BUT and this is a large but, this is a very serious drug and is not meant to be used as a weight loss medication. Topomax can have very serious side effects. It can cause Kidney Stones, dyskinesia, and severy neurological impairment. I've been on Topomax for 2 years now as a treatmet for Cluster Migraines and a Seizure Disorder, which is what it's for. I lost 46 lbs. in 6 weeks which through me into medical malnutrition, my skin suffered, my hair fell out, it was bad. Within 4 months of starting it I had to have a 13mm kidney stone surgically removed from my bladder, and now have another stone in my right kidney which has to be monitored by CT Scans every 6 months, and will eventually have to be surgically removed. I used to have a near photographic memory and now I'm lucky if I can remember my chldren's birthdays, I have to live by my Blackberry. The dyskenesia is very severe, you know what you want to say, you can picture the words in your head, but you just can't make your mind make your mouth say them. It's very very frusrating, and embarrasing especially if you work in a professional field, which I do.
So please, anyone who reads this, Do Not Take This medication lightly. Topomax is not meant as a magical weight loss drug. Please just be very careful.
Kat
So please, anyone who reads this, Do Not Take This medication lightly. Topomax is not meant as a magical weight loss drug. Please just be very careful.
Kat
tigger5150
11-17-2008, 10:33 PM
Katlin,
It's interesting you say that as when my doctor prescribed it a few years ago it was being touted at the next possible thing to use for the morbidly obsese to lose weight. I was only on it a short period of time as it just wasn't working for me.... after reading what you wrote..... i'm kinda glad it didn't work :)
It's interesting you say that as when my doctor prescribed it a few years ago it was being touted at the next possible thing to use for the morbidly obsese to lose weight. I was only on it a short period of time as it just wasn't working for me.... after reading what you wrote..... i'm kinda glad it didn't work :)
katlin09
11-17-2008, 11:52 PM
Tigger,
The FDA shot that down quickly because of all very serious side effects. Believe me if I didn't absolutely have to take it, I wouldn't. But my cluster migraines last for anywhere from 10 to 16 days and I was getting them once to twice a month, so I was pretty much non-functioning. Plus it handles the seizure disorder so I don't have to take a seperate pill.
And I really don't mean to sound preachy to everyone, it's just that I hear alot of people using this med as a weight loss drug, and I truly worry about them.
Kat
The FDA shot that down quickly because of all very serious side effects. Believe me if I didn't absolutely have to take it, I wouldn't. But my cluster migraines last for anywhere from 10 to 16 days and I was getting them once to twice a month, so I was pretty much non-functioning. Plus it handles the seizure disorder so I don't have to take a seperate pill.
And I really don't mean to sound preachy to everyone, it's just that I hear alot of people using this med as a weight loss drug, and I truly worry about them.
Kat
brendajune
11-18-2008, 09:05 AM
I just need to let you know I was not put on topamax for the weight loss but because I am bipolar. i have been on it for about 6 weeks now and havent had any side effects. make sure you drink alot of water. i noticed a difference in my self in about 3 weeks my moods leveled out i wasnt so depressed all the time I had more engery during the day. and i did notice a difference in my eating habits i wasnt so hungry all the time and soda tasted bad so did sweets and junk foods. i have changed my eating habits and i drink more water i think that has helped me lose the weight so far as of today i have lost 11 lbs. but i dont thinkk it is all of the topamax doing it it just helped give me a start on my eating habits. i know alot of people say your just on it for the weight loss but that is not the case for me
Madymom
11-18-2008, 10:25 AM
I was NOT prescribed this for weight loss alone. I am depressed and anxious and have mood disorders. My doctor prescribed this in hopes that it would help my mood along with the added benefit that I might drop some of the many pounds I gained from all of the other meds I have been. Very frustrating to say the least.
I understand your concerns and thank you for the warnings. I really do. I will drink my water and hope this helps my moods and well as helps me drop my many pounds I need to lose.
I understand your concerns and thank you for the warnings. I really do. I will drink my water and hope this helps my moods and well as helps me drop my many pounds I need to lose.
katlin09
11-18-2008, 12:32 PM
That's why you lose the weight, it effects your taste buds, you'll start to notice that lots of foods don't have much taste at all, and it curbs your appetite to almost non-existant.
katlin09
11-18-2008, 12:37 PM
and also with the kidney stones drinking water is tricky for me as I'm only allowed to drink filtered bottled water, but I do drink plenty of it. I have to watch pretty much every liquid that I put in my body as I'm not allowed to have oxilates, and most juices, teas, sodas, and even unfiltered natural water sources contain them.