Topamax for weight loss

[katie865]

Hello Everybody,
I am new to this part of healthboards. I was recently put on Topamax for prevention of headaches. I have had a terrible time with my headaches. I also suffer from depression and was prescribed paxil about a year ago. The paxil had caused me to gain over 30 pounds. I am no longer taking the paxil, though my doctor said that Topamax may help me lose some weight. Have any of you experienced weight loss while on Topamax??

Katie

[mudhound]

I would avoid this med. it can have severe side effects. My wife's eye sight was inpaired with this stuff.

[auntjudyg]

The weight loss from Topamax is not an on-going process. Some people (only about 40 percent of users) experience weight loss when they first go on it; and may loss weight again if/when the dose is increased. So, if you are already on Topamax, and are asking about weight loss, my guess is you are one of the 60 percent who do not lose weight on it.

And I agree with the other poster. This stuff is not to be prescribed for frivolous purposes like weight loss, IMHO.

[Detroiter]

i was put on topamax for bipolar and the dr who prescribed it told me one of the side effects was weight loss, which sounded a-ok to me... but i found that i was incredibly tired on it and also had numbness in my limbs... other people said it was obvious to them when interacting with me that my thinking and speech had slowed down considerably... wasn't worth it for me so i stopped after about 2 weeks...

[seajay88]

To Katie who just started on Topamax and is questioning the weight loss part. I've been on it for two years and lost 30 lbs. (Yipee) That part was easy and great. The worst part for me was in the early stages, say the 1st 5-6 weeks of taking it, I went thru some bad mental problems with it. I had the slow thinking, I was afraid to drive on the thruway, I even got lost once coming home in a very familiar area. BUT. . it was so wonderful not to have a headache anymore I was bound and determined not to give up and I'm glad I didnt. I swear by it, for me it's a miracle drug. I previously suffered all my life (I am 68 years old !) with severe headaches almost daily and since I went on Topamax I have only had a few sinus headaches in two years time. Like I said, I swear by this drug. The weight loss was absolutely an extra bonus, who couldnt stand to lose a few pounds?
I've heard of people with some bad side effects (my GYN had tingling in her hands and couldnt take it) but personally I recommend giving it your best shot if you are suffering from bad headaches.

I do have a question if there are any users out there who, like me have been on this drug for a long time. Very recently (like a week ago) I started to gain weight and wonder if this is common?