Migraine

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Topamax Side Effects

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Does anyone know why Topamax usually causes weight loss? I don't suffer any stomach upset with it, yet I'm losing weight, so I'm wondering what why the medication causes that. I still feel hungry at meal times, but would have to say I feel full much more quickly.

I'm only at 25 mg per day right now and haven't suffered any cognitive side effects yet. I do notice I'm starting to remember some nice dreams and am sleeping better.

I know I don't eat nearly as much and if I am not preparing a meal for everyone, I don't necessarily feel "hungry," I just know it is a mealtime. I think it is almost a wonderdrug!! and have no problem with a little weightloss.

Bella,

I don't know the pharmacokinetics of the weight loss side effect. Not sure the researchers do either. Most people who experience that side effect say their appetite decreases.

I lost weight on the brief period of time when I was on topamax because it made everything taste bad and I didn't want to eat. The only thing that tasted OK to me was ice cream. Everything else had a "coating" to it, like it was covered in a powder or starchy. I lost all taste for breads immediately. I don't drink sodas very often either but when I would had one it tasted like liquid cough syrup. My specialist told me that happens for some people and it was part of the reason they lost weight.

I was on Topamax for 9 months, several years ago. I lost a LOT of weight. I don't remember food tasting wierd, but my appetite was greatly decreased. Half a sandwich would fill me up.

Gretchen -- gretp

Since you're no longer on Topamax, I'm curious....did it stop working for you?

Hello, sweet Bella,
I was on 200mg of topomax for 2 + years I lost weight. Be aware that My experience is definitly Not the normal because Normally I have o appetite. Withthe top. It fell to the point that I had to force my self to eat. I was drinking most of my meals from a blender, fresh veggies and protien powder. Because I could drink way more than I could eat . The foods that I normally liked did not taste or smell good to me. This is one reason I got off of it. I did not want to get more mal- nourashed.
You probably will not have to worry about that as you are still hungry and eating. If you get to where food relpulses you then you need to do something.
Has your Dr. given you any indication of what dosage he will be willing to ramp you up to? are you seeing any benifit yet? How long have you been on it?
Personally I think It really is a good med for some people at some point. I am going to give it another chance in low doses, short term. I really think you should give it a chance. It helped me for 2 years. If it helps you for 2 Great, somethig new could be out by then. Do you work? Do you have to drive?

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Originally posted by goodqueenbess:
Does anyone know why Topamax usually causes weight loss? I don't suffer any stomach upset with it, yet I'm losing weight, so I'm wondering what why the medication causes that. I still feel hungry at meal times, but would have to say I feel full much more quickly.

I'm only at 25 mg per day right now and haven't suffered any cognitive side effects yet. I do notice I'm starting to remember some nice dreams and am sleeping better.

Just a side note....it seems that my body decided to not be as nice on the "second round" with topamax. I did my first round until I lost my insurance and was without for about 18 months. I lost about 80 lbs during that time. I needed to lose that 80 lbs, so that was fine. I started up again, back at nearly the same dosage, and lo and behold, no weight loss this time. Bummer for me. Because I did gain some back. My fault, not the topamax's. My experience only...so take that with a grain of salt, please!

Don't decline Topamax because of my experience. It actually made my head worse. A benefit was weight loss. But otherwise, I felt pretty terrible. But I gave it the old college try for 9 months.

Gretchen

Hi Bella

When I was on topamax I lost about 20 pounds. I didn't seem to be as hungry as I usually was, thankfully.
Now that I am off it, I have gained a bit of weight back........I'd love to think it is because of the meds.......I hate weight. I like to think of myself as vertically challenged

Bella,

My doc just started me on 25 mg Topamax about 3 weeks ago and I was told (plus literature stated) that weight loss might be a side effect. I have noticed that I am not all that hungry, and like Gretchen I notice that a half-sandwich is plenty. I haven't noticed anything on the scales yet, but if I were to lose 10 lbs I am not going to complain!

Cindi,

Are you sleepy on the 25 mg per day? Does your doctor plan to increase your dose soon?

I took Topamax for almost 5 years, and when it was first prescribed, I was excited about the prospect of weight loss. (I am very overweight.) Topamax did did seem to act as a mild diuretic (I'd get up three or more times a night.), which took off about 10 pounds overall. I never noticed any change in my appetite or taste. However, I've never thought (and my husband agrees) that I eat very much. I'm just very inactive, so I guess that's why it didn't reduce weight. But seriously: Who can be active with almost daily migraine attacks?

I stopped taking Topamax because, even on increased doses, it had ceased to be effective. I am now taking Depakote, and have GAINED almost 40 pounds. So beware. This also seems to be water related as I have pitting up to my knees, even though I'm taking a Bumex every day.

I took Depakote for a year. Just long enough to be weaned off of every other medicine my doctors put me on. I had such severe migraine headaches everyday that the joke was I always had a headache and none of my friends understood. Well I did always have a headache. They were cluster headaches. My doctors tried one med after another - eventually my body needed a constant does every minute of the day. I finally saw a neurologist who placed me on Depakote and even though I gained weight, it was worth it to go headache free. Eventually I was able to take little walks here and there, even for 10 minutes at a time. I've been heavy and I've been light and thinking back on it, being light did not necessarily make me happy. Being able to go without a headache every single minute of the day is well worth enjoying what I do have and at the size I am.

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Welcome to MyMigraineConnection. Being pain free is an absolute joy. I'm glad to hear your attacks have been reduced. Cluster headaches are truly horrible. Do you need any info on them? Here is a link for you:http://www.helpforheadaches.com/lwfiles/family-clust-letter.htm

http://www.helpforheadaches.com/articles/psilocybin.htm

We look forward to hearing more from you. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

I have been using Topamax for the past 2 years for severe migraines and noticed pretty substantial loss of appetite and weight loss in the beginning. Since then it's leveled out, even though my dose has increased to 200 mg per day. I have also experienced horrible short-term memory problems.

I actually have to start weening myself off over the next few months as I plan to get pregnant this summer or fall and can't continue taking the Topamax. Is there another migraine Rx that anyone recommends that you know to be safe for "pregnant and nursing mothers"?