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Topamax and Weight Loss
Fri, 04/01/2005 - 21:46I began taking Topamax for partial seizures in January, 2005. I have since lost 25 pounds (I am 5' 2" and am down to 102 lbs.). I just really have no appetite most of the time. I am wondering if others have lost weight like this on Topamax and if so, has the weight stayed off, or did you gain it back? I am 42 years old and was diagnosed with TLE in March of 2004. I took Keppra for awhile, but had breakthrough seizures and when my dosage was increased, my hair started falling out. So my neurologist switched me to Trileptal. I had terrible headaches on this med, so started the Topamax this past January. It seems to be working, though I'm a little concerned about the weight loss.
Comments
RE: Topamax and Weight Loss
Submitted by johnsus on Tue, 2005-03-29 - 06:07
Hello...my son has been on Topomax and Carbatrol for about two years. He' s 18
now. During that time he has lost a good 40 pounds . I would say he is at the
normal weight now for his size. It is very obvioius that he eats smaller portions
and a little less junkfood. I would tend to assume that the meds had a lot to do
with this despite that he eats healthier meals because he doesn't get very much
exercise. Best Wishes.
Hello...my son has been on Topomax and Carbatrol for about two years. He' s 18
now. During that time he has lost a good 40 pounds . I would say he is at the
normal weight now for his size. It is very obvioius that he eats smaller portions
and a little less junkfood. I would tend to assume that the meds had a lot to do
with this despite that he eats healthier meals because he doesn't get very much
exercise. Best Wishes.
RE: RE: Topamax and Weight Loss
Submitted by pj83157 on Tue, 2005-03-29 - 10:52
When our neurologists put my daughter on topamax she said you have to watch very carefully for weight loss as this is the greatest side effect of this meds. One of my friends was on it and didn't realize how much she wasn't eating and almost dehydrated. Lack of appetite is one of the most common side effects of this med.
Watch carefully as you may not be aware of how much weight the person is losing. My daughter is 18 and has been on this for 2 years along with lamictal. She was still having lots of break through seizures so we added Tranzene and it has made a world of difference and we have been lowering her topamax.
Tranzene is an anxiety med that also works well for seizures. She has been on this for 2 weeks and hasn't even had an aura of a seizure. Yipee!!!
When our neurologists put my daughter on topamax she said you have to watch very carefully for weight loss as this is the greatest side effect of this meds. One of my friends was on it and didn't realize how much she wasn't eating and almost dehydrated. Lack of appetite is one of the most common side effects of this med.
Watch carefully as you may not be aware of how much weight the person is losing. My daughter is 18 and has been on this for 2 years along with lamictal. She was still having lots of break through seizures so we added Tranzene and it has made a world of difference and we have been lowering her topamax.
Tranzene is an anxiety med that also works well for seizures. She has been on this for 2 weeks and hasn't even had an aura of a seizure. Yipee!!!
RE: Topamax and Weight Loss
Submitted by KRDiamond on Mon, 2005-03-28 - 13:49
Actually, I was thinking of asking my neurologist to switch me from Tegretol *to* Topamax for that very reason! I was just recently diagnosed with TLE - for the past 4 years I have been on Effexor and Prozac for depression and supposed panic attacks. It turns out the "panic attacks" were really partial seizures as I was having deja vu with an overwhelming sense of fear. Many say that Effexor and Prozac make it very difficult to lose weight or pack on the weight - whatever the case, I'm now quite overweight and have had a heck of a time trying to get it off. I'm hoping by weaning myself off the Prozac (the doctors took me completely off the Effexor), I will be better able to attack my weight problems and that Topamax may work for me as it has for others. (I Googled 'Topamax and weight' and found that for some it causes weight loss and for others it doesn't.)