Community Forum Archive

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by s2k on Sat, 2006-09-16 - 18:09

A friend of my mother's had a daughter who took Topamax and actually suffered the exact opposite side effect; weight gain. She also had some hair loss. I guess side effects really depend on the individual. That girl later ended up taking the same medication that a doctor gave to me (Keppra) and she was fine after that. I don't know what type of epilepsy your daughter has, but I'd ask your doctor about Keppra and whether it could work for her. The side effects, at least for me, have been non-existent. Though I'm not sure whether that could help the weight loss. I'd look into the weight loss issue a bit further, but that's just my opinion. I know what it is like to be teased at school, so I hope your daughter can get through it.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by trentonbest on Fri, 2010-10-22 - 08:09

I agree, it does depend on how tall she is.  BUT, I have taken Topamax, and in seventh grade,  I was 95 or less pounds.  I was 13 then.  I am 14 now and weigh about 150, hehe.  I would take her off of that medication, or she will be 80 pounds and 5'7, or however tall she is... the point is it will be bad.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by ashabash on Thu, 2008-05-15 - 10:42

 when i first started taking topamax I too lost a ton, about 35 pounds. i was only 145 to begin with. it really sucked i had to get new things to ware all the time because nothing ever fit, and when you are in college and on meds you cant go shopping all the time. People kept asking if i was eating or if it was because my boyfriend and i had split up. but i was eating like a horse to try and put on some pounds. but Now i can say after 5 years of being on it i have put about 15 pounds back on and its not hard to stay at this wait. from what i hear thats normal.

 so maybe if she can stand it and its what works for her stick with it. that is unless its unless she gets so thin that you know it going to hurt her body.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by sgar on Thu, 2008-02-07 - 16:35

i have just started on the tablets 50 mg twice a day and have been eating like crazy!!! Any suggestions??? I am 5'3" 130lbs and do not want to gain any more!

Am One of the happiest man on

Submitted by kate42 on Wed, 2017-09-06 - 07:49

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Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by wd123 on Mon, 2013-12-02 - 05:12

I lost weight on tompomax, lost taste and had strange sensations in my hands and feet. I had difficult time concentrating/memory and mood swings involving anger and crying. I got sick of the side effects and came off of it after like 8 months or so. I could not live with the side effects. I was not getting seizures. The weight issue was not one for me, it was the mood swings I would get. Once coming off of this one, I was fine. I returned to regular eating and mood quickly. I just did not feel like eating, plus I felt my adrenaline levels were raised and I felt active and wanting to do things. Thanks

Re: topamax and Migraines---and unborn fetus.

Submitted by Frey136 on Sat, 2009-01-31 - 13:12

Hi everyone, I have a deliema, can someone tell me what this medication does to an unborn child developing in the mom's womb???  Why I ask is I was unknowingly pregnant when my doctor put me on these meds, it got my migraines under control, but when I found out I was pregnant I was scared!  I am wondering now if my little girl (soon to be 4 months) is not getting the effects, she started seizuring on January 7th on Ukrainian Christmas Eve of all times.  She had the petit mal (fluttering eyes, limpness) took her over 30 seconds to come out of it and stopped breathing until my husband brought her out of it gently.  She had these kind of seizures for 2 wks then they changed after they started her on 5ml's of Phenobarbital.  (be honest i don't think it is working) It has been 2 and half weeks and they siezures have not slowed down.  At the hospital they did a Cat scan, and eig (she hated those electrodes on her head!) chest x-rays as well, blood work, and genetic blood tests (which still have to come back), the only thing now that has to be done is the mri which i hope shows something.  It is heart wrenching to see a little one that small to go through siezure... =(

The other seizures she has now is the what looks like a tonic-clonic, but she trembles and tightens up her arms and legs.  Please let me know what that might be.  The petit mal she had was lasting only for less then 10 seconds, but the ones she gets now is over 20-30 usually. 

Please tell me what the effects from topamax(topamirate) has on an unborn fetus, and would the child get epilepsy from this, because i found out later that they also use this for seizures.  So I got scared in reading this.

yours,

Frey136 

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by JuJu904 on Fri, 2010-05-21 - 09:01

Hi Amy

My name is Ashley,im 18 and I've been taking topamax w/ lamictal since  i was 14.I use to take 450mg 2xaday of lamicatal but now taking 200mg2xaday and 200mg2axday of topamax and now taking 75mg2xaday.With topamax I had extreme weigth loss but at that time I was over weigth(214lb) but now I'm not losing the weigth anymore.I never had tingles or hairloss but have had the stupids and the studders occasionally but also never experience zombie like feeling.But these two meds work wonderful together.Its been atleast 2yrs since I had any episodes.I hope this helps in any kind-of way....

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by sharon abney on Sun, 2011-01-16 - 06:16

Yes Topamax is used for weight loss, but some peopole experience serious side effects. I take she is on Dilantin as well. By the way I have a degree in Pharmacy and just got the news myself. Id like you to find out why Topamax instead or just Dilantin and Phenobarbital. I had a very alylytical nuerologist that decided I needed to be on Keppra or Topamax in addition to the other two because" Dilantin and Pb do dont work well on partial complex or other non grand mal seizures. There is a study when you look under refractory epilepsy that deals with the problems of polypharmacy and that addin addition stuff will only decrease your seizures about 10 percent,Ihave heard less than that. My experience with these two new generation drugs not only caused me to return to the ER 3 times in 3 weeks but I was literally on the toliet sick from them, so I jumped the gun and threw them away and am on good old Dilatin, which has been aroud for ages as well as PB and Ativan, Ive never felt better. I think sometimes some of these " new and improved meds they got these reps pushing and literally paying them to write for thier patients( yes I was also a Pharmaceutical rep fr 11 years and thats actually does hap-pen at times unfortunatately, and in my case and Im sure many others have been made out to be human guini pigs. If the drug makes you sick , stop taking them. The older antiepileptics are much better and safer. By the way after I changed my medicine regimine to get my Dilantin levels up, my blood tests reveal they were in great range. I hope your daugerter is careful on that Topramax, because I have freinds that have been prescribed this for weight loss aand have felt really terrible after taking it. To me its like taking Amphetamine(aweight loss aid) for epilepsy and they cant even tyell you how the drug works!!!!!!!!!and worse yet giving it to a child with anorexia!!!!! Get a second opinion. IBEG YOU  Sharon

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by gingerbread8 on Fri, 2012-05-04 - 07:16

YES!!! That is why i had to go off of it. It has also been used primarily in some just for weight lose.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by JenniferBoucher on Fri, 2011-08-19 - 23:12

I'm currently on Topamax and Depakote. I think the Topamax is making me lose weight. I'm 24 and at 92 lbs. I'm VERY petite. Going to get a 2nd opinion at an Epilepsy clinic. Hopefully they don't take me off the Topamax, I've been on the medication since 2008. We will see. Sorry to hear about your little one.

No weight loss

Submitted by kmcclendon on Fri, 2008-01-11 - 11:56

I'm 37 year's old and I've been on 100mg of Topamax for my migraines. It's been about 4 months now and I haven't lost an ounce. I'm overweight and I was hoping that I would  lose some weight but, I guess my Topamax dosage isn't high enough or something else is wrong with me.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by babzy on Fri, 2012-05-04 - 22:07

hey alexia, Keep reminding your Alexia, that there is nothing wrong with her weight and it is in fact a side effect of the topamax. I too am of a small build and topamax didnt help my scenerio either. I think it curbed my appetite too much which is double sworded because nutrition depravation can cause seizure activity..

If the drug is working to control her seizures, that is the most important issue here, I would drink a protein drink like ensure or boost once or twice a day not to gain weight but to add the nutritional value  i wasnt getting due to the lack of appetite. peanutbutter & crackers  every nite was great also.

Talk to her dr. and see if there is a drug of equivelance that will add a few lbs to her body not making her over weight .good health & good luck  babzy

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by soundwav on Tue, 2012-01-03 - 19:48

my doctor wants me to change to that medication...do you lose weight really fast and how much do you lose? and btw, who care what the others think at school, I'm 17 in my final year of high school and as long as your daughters health is ok the other peoples opinion don't matter, if they can't accept her for whom she is and why she is so skinny then they aren't true friends and not worth her time, tell her keep her head up because other peoples opinions shouldn't matter,it is hard but people who are worth sticking around in her life would not make nasty comments to her. everyone is beautiful, and your daughter is too and if people can't accept that tell your daughter put her head high an keep walking, it took me six years to realise that. but yeah how mu h weight do you lose coz i have been told i will lose weight

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by soundwav on Tue, 2012-01-03 - 19:48

my doctor wants me to change to that medication...do you lose weight really fast and how much do you lose? and btw, who care what the others think at school, I'm 17 in my final year of high school and as long as your daughters health is ok the other peoples opinion don't matter, if they can't accept her for whom she is and why she is so skinny then they aren't true friends and not worth her time, tell her keep her head up because other peoples opinions shouldn't matter,it is hard but people who are worth sticking around in her life would not make nasty comments to her. everyone is beautiful, and your daughter is too and if people can't accept that tell your daughter put her head high an keep walking, it took me six years to realise that. but yeah how mu h weight do you lose coz i have been told i will lose weight

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by amy71 on Sun, 2009-05-24 - 10:56

Hi.  I wanted to know if anyone has ever taken this w/ lamictal? I'm on 525mgs of lamictal per day. My Dr. just put me on topamax also. Starting w/50mgs the 1st wk moving up to 200 mgs by wk 4. It's been 11 days now, and I have lost 4 lbs, but no tingles or hairloss. I've always had the stupids and the studders probably from the the lamictal.  But, does this zombie feeling wear off???

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by rsorrin on Thu, 2008-07-31 - 10:19

I was taking Depekote for 5 years and I gained about 70 or 80 pounds. I then switched to Topomax and lost 70 or 80 pounds. I was not aware, at the time, of the weight loss or weight gaining properties of the two drugs. I was also not warned of the potential problem. I now have vowed to always ask about the side effects of the drugs I'm taking. I have to weigh the possibility of negative side effects vs. that of seizures. While I was taking Topomax I had kidney stones because it is, according to my dr., a dieuretic. I play handball and I lose a lot of sweat which resulted in the stones. I think that I never felt full while I was on the depekote and I never felt very hungry while on the topomax. I just wanted to give you my view of the drug. Your daughter is lucky because she has you to help her through the problem. By the time I was taking the drugs my parents were already gone. 

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by Catsissie on Wed, 2013-06-26 - 17:29

Yup, Alexia, that's one of mine, and Zonegran, its cousin, is my other one. It shares that side effect. I would not have cared until I had colon cancer and lost major weight. I dropped to 102 lbs. and at an average height, in only a matter of months, for not trying. My internist gave me an antidepressant, whose name I don't recall, but the major side effect, and why many people didn't like it, was that it caused weight gain. I did gain the weight back after that, and seeing a dietician. Of the two, though, I believe the dietician was the most helpful. For one, I really had no other support. I also was prediabetic at the time (no longer am) and the two are not best buddy conditions. I needed a win-win. And, as your daughter probably found out by now, no website really supports accidental underweight people. We're not your average...whaaaat, our meds made us do it??? The dietician had me write down what I ate the day before my appointment, but she also wanted to know about what else I ate, when I ate, what snacks and meals I ate at other times, what favorite foods I had, and was interested in my skills in food and interest in food. I imagine that for your daughter, a dietician's approach would be different from the approach for a 60+ lady like me who's been cooking forever and now lives with a cat. And she or he will no doubt want to talk to you as well. If the meds are working, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But you may want to give neuro-doc a heads-up. I hope she knows, she's not alone in this. And she may want to connect online with others she could communicate with, with your permission, of course. Maybe you could scope it out and find some good places a young lady could go safely. If your family belongs to a faith group, it may also be a place she could go. Just my thoughts...Best of luck and happy eating to you and your daughter.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by meags7 on Thu, 2008-07-31 - 18:49

Ive been on topamax for 5 months now because i have Juvenile Myoclonic Epi and have grand mals.  I havent had a seizure since ive been put on it.  Only in the past month i have been feeling the side effects of it and have started to get dizzy...ive lost 20 lbs but that is great because i needed to.  Hair loss as well but i think that is because i am taking meds for my thyroid as well...my appetite is definitley coming back though and i bet you if i didnt work out as much as i do i could put the weight back on..so dont worry, i think within time the weight will come back..meds arent miracles..they just are there to stop what is happening to you at the time, they arent cures.  Unfortunatly.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by loni.prouse21 on Sat, 2011-05-21 - 21:55

I took topamax

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by craigknowles on Mon, 2012-12-17 - 12:29

Craig knowles

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by kncarmichae2 on Thu, 2009-09-24 - 23:58

I have the same problem with topamax but it controls my seizures and my migraines, nothing else works. My doctor told me to start drinking ensure 2-3 times a day. I'm getting back to a healthy weight and not getting sick as often. I hope this helps.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by johnnortredamme on Wed, 2011-11-02 - 14:52

I really don't think it's a good idea to give a 16 year old Topamax. I don't care what the doctor sais, there are other alternative ways to get rid of migranes. Yes they take more effore but anything beats taking drugs. She might end up having a fatty liver diet at 25 if she continues taking meds like this.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by johnnortredamme on Wed, 2011-11-02 - 14:56

I reall don't think it's a good idea to give your 16 year old daughter such heavy medication. I'm not judging you, not at all. The doctor probably told you to give her Topamax. There are always better ways to deal with migranes then heavy meds. She might up having a fatty liver diet at age 25 if she takes to much medication.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by mynathan on Mon, 2009-02-09 - 21:37

My son is 19 years old and has been on KEPRA and Topomax for a year now. He has lost weight and there are days that he just won't eat and just wants to sleep. He still has seizures..around every other day or so. They have increased the KEPRA to 3,000 mgs a day and Topomax 300 mgs a day. He had childhood epilepsy and at 14 they took him off his meds (he wasn't on KEPRA back then). He did fine for 5 years and then the seizures came back. He is now a candidate for brain surgery because they found a lesion on the left temporal lobe of his brain, where the seizures are coming from. He has the Wada test on Thursday (look it up...it's very invasive but they do this before they schedule the surgery). He wants to drive again, it's been a year. So hopefully the brain surgery will finally give him some relief. He's been suffering too long.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by thomas regnard on Fri, 2009-05-01 - 11:04

Hi,

Being overweight or even obese can increase the risks of diabetes, stroke, heart attack, etc. Believe me I know. Did you know that obesity is responsible for aver 325 000 deaths every year. And as soon as you decide to lose weight, the nightmare began. What program should I use? What are the risks? Why my last diet did not work? What food should I eat?, etc. I have a blog that has some information on some of what I’ve been writing about. If you feel like checking it out. I would completely suggest it. http://guide-to-successful-weight-loss.blogspot.com/

Losing weight while having fun is possible. I did it why not you.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by trulyscrumptious on Fri, 2009-05-01 - 13:59

Im on 100 mg twice a day and I've not lost any weight.

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by bonnieleigh on Mon, 2010-02-15 - 16:52

Just wanted to make a comment in regards to Topamax and weight loss, I myself suffer from Cluster headaches, (my neuro calls them suicide headaches) and was going to try the Topomax to stop the Cluster cycle.  However, I had already at that point been on Prednisone, Verapamil and of course my life safer Maxalt, with a horrible variety of side effects such as weight gain, irratibility, sleepy, muddle head, and horrible acid reflux.  My neuro was a little concerned about how I might react to another med and especially with the side effects he told me about, like forgetting a word that you knew but couldn't for the life of yourself remember, stuttering, hair loss and of course weight loss...which wouldn't have been so bad without all the other crap that went along with it.  I'm thinking a gym wouldn't be so bad after all the stories I've heard on here!!!  I'm in remission thanks to steroid injections in the back of my head, base of my skull, with no ill effects other than half of my head frozen for 5 hrs.  I am so glad I read this, as I won't stay in remission forever and like to have all the info I can.

Thanks to everyone! 

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by wenlee25 on Tue, 2010-09-28 - 20:16

I take topamax and have been on 200mg since 2002. I have started weaning down and I'm now on 50mg. i have decided to stay here until the summer. I want to start taking bee pollen for weight loss. Is this safe to take with topamax?

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by GodivaGirl on Thu, 2006-09-21 - 20:07

Hi There: I am 32, but went on Topomax at age 27. Now, I've added in Keppra (hoping to go off Topomax in the new year) Weight loss is WAY more common than weight gain with Topomax. At my age/height/weight I was glad to loose a bit, but it got frustrating feeling sick all the time. Here's what I did. I drank a TONN (and I mean LOTS..) of Gatorade. It gave me energy, and it put some elecrolytes back in my system. Avoided dehydration as well. Gradually, I worked up from Gatorade to Gatorade+Campbell's chunky soups. Those were okay, and still not too much. Then meals were the gatorade, soup, crackers & a muffin. It takes time, but after a good 6-8 months I adjusted. Are you from Ontario at all? Dunno how popular this place is, but I'd also suggest stopping by Booster Juice - expensive but their energy boost drinks, some of the cookies and power bars might be good. I actually still get a lot of stuff from Booster Juice after I hit the gym to loose weight I'm putting on being on Keppra. Also, pick up a blender (if ya don't have one) and a book on smoothies and fruit juices - you can make some great all natural juices that won't make your daughter feel sick & she'll get some calories out of those. I did that during the summer while on Topomax the 1st year. Dunno where you're from, but it's getting a little cold for that in Ontario. Hope this helps. Erin

Re: topamax and weight loss

Submitted by Stephanie007 on Thu, 2006-12-21 - 03:28

My 6 yo daughter has been on Topamax since October and weight loss has been a huge problem for her. She was thin to begin with - 40 pounds - but dropped to 34 pounds. Her appetite is just non-existant. You know a kid's not hungry when she doesn't want ice cream! We have been using Pediasure and Instant Breakfast to supplement her meals - I give her 8 oz at breakfast and dinner and she's gained a couple of pounds back, but we really have to force her to eat at times.