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Topiramate and Weight Loss

Wed, 12/29/2010 - 01:23
I had this discussion with my doctor and he was not too concerned, as I have always been a little overweight; but I am a little worried because of the quickness of my weight loss since I have been on Topiramate. I was 165 pounds when I started taking this drug. Now I am sitting at just below 140. I started the medication less than two months ago, and I am on a dose of 100 mg. twice a day. I have fought with my weight for most of my life and have never had this type of weight loss in this time frame. Usually for me to lose this amount of weight, it takes me at least five months of hard dieting and exercise because of my bad gene-pool. My diet has not changed (aside from me eliminating more meat and adding more fruits and veggies, and incorporating more juice), and I am not taking any other medications that might have caused this weight loss. Is this weight loss going to continue or is this just a temporary side effect until I fully adjust to the medication? Should I be worried? How much weight loss is too much with this drug? Any advice is appreciated and happy new year :-) Regards, Kat

Comments

Re: Topiramate and Weight Loss

Submitted by bluestarKate07 on Wed, 2010-12-29 - 03:45

Hi I'm Kate, I started Topamax about 2months ago too.  I had the same side effect when I started the medication. The most weight loss I had was during the transition time when I was changing medications. After I transitioned and adjusted, my weight was fine. I'm nearly to my full dose, and my weight has leveled out pretty well with 5lb lost here and there.

I would let your doctor know you're rapidly dropping weight. 

Hi I'm Kate, I started Topamax about 2months ago too.  I had the same side effect when I started the medication. The most weight loss I had was during the transition time when I was changing medications. After I transitioned and adjusted, my weight was fine. I'm nearly to my full dose, and my weight has leveled out pretty well with 5lb lost here and there.

I would let your doctor know you're rapidly dropping weight. 

Re: Topiramate and Weight Loss

Submitted by Katianna on Wed, 2010-12-29 - 13:24
Kate, Nice to meet another Kate :-) I have let my doctor know and he wasn't too concerned. But that is where I am worried. His lack of concern bothers me. I have never had a weight loss this rapid in my life. And my diet changes are too recent to merit such a fast drop in weight. I only made these changes a week ago, so there is no way that this weight would be dropping this fast on diet alone. I weighed myself today and I am at 137. I stand 5'6, and I do not look good at this weight. I am going to monitor my weight for a few more weeks and see what it does before I speak to my doctor again. He spoke of possibly upping my dose again at the next visit, and that should be an interesting experience. I do not want to get my weight down so low that I begin to look like a stick figure and my shoulder bones start to stick out. At Christmas my family was making comments about me needing to eat more, and asking if I had an eating disorder; which really bothered me. They like to see me healthy and they are not used to seeing me under 150 pounds- my average weight. I had to actually wear bulky cloths to try to hide it so my Grandmother didn't worry too much. Is there anything I can do to maintain the weight I am at? Maybe a supplemental drink, like the ones bodybuilders use? Regards, Kat

Re: Topiramate and Weight Loss

Submitted by bluestarKate07 on Wed, 2010-12-29 - 15:34

Research the drug and its side effects. If you are really concerned about the weight loss, go to another doctor for a second opinion. This site is a great network and can really benefit you.

 I've heard some people take another supplement or medication of some sort for weight gain to balance out the weight loss side effect.

Research the drug and its side effects. If you are really concerned about the weight loss, go to another doctor for a second opinion. This site is a great network and can really benefit you.

 I've heard some people take another supplement or medication of some sort for weight gain to balance out the weight loss side effect.

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