Topamax for Weight Loss

Another side note. I just got a word and a new diagnosis from this thread for something I knew happened but didn't know was anything beyond general cognitive impairment! My aphasia is just from generally being mentally ill, though I wouldn't be surprised if my time on quetiapine exacerbated it a bit.

GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »

Edit: This is why you'll see frequent edits on my posts. I often type the wrong word.

Same problem, and I won't even know I've done it until I go back and read what I've written. It's bizarre.

GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »

TheGaudyMagpie wrote: »

I get aphasia (forgetting and substituting words) from my current med (Nortriptyline) but the cognitive impairment on Topamax was profound. I'm talking about forgetting the next step in tasks I had performed millions of times, being unable to form sentences, not being able to reach logical conclusions, difficulty driving or responding to emergencies, etc. I was as impaired by the Topamax as I was by the daily chronic migraines. I gave it a considerable amount of time as I went on disability for about six months. It did help the migraines, but I was also a shell unable to complete more than the simplest of tasks. My hands burned and tingled pretty much randomly, no matter what I was doing.

That said, I've met a number of people that tolerate it well and I've met people that don't tolerate the nortrip well, though I have very few side effects other than the very mild and tolerable aphasia. There's nothing wrong with trying it to see if it can be tolerated, but the potential significant side effects are well known and suffered by a lot of people that use it (and are known to be sometimes long-term or permanent), and should not be minimized.

Interesting side note: I have aphasia from a benign brain tumor, so... eh, Topomax? Hardly noticed the difference

Edit: This is why you'll see frequent edits on my posts. I often type the wrong word.

I do a lot of editing too and I have no excuses! You're good gottaburn!

Dalceridae wrote: »

With any medication, you'll always hear more about the people who took it and had problems than the people who took it and found it helpful. No one can predict what side effects you might have or how much they might affect you, so it's worth taking the advice of your doctor and trying it.

First time poster here who feels it is important to chime in and say that I am one of the ones who is taking topiramate and finding it helpful. Currently 250mg a day. I've been around MFP for years but only recently serious since around Sept/Oct. In the fall I was 245lbs and am currently 180lbs -- Female, 5'2" with no goal weight, just a goal of being fit and healthy. I drive, yes there are side effects but they are worth it so far, no there is not an alternative rx for me (we've tried), yes there has been a bit of touch and go with taste perversion and appetite fluctuation (that stabilizes). It's important to note that I have also done a major lifestyle overhaul and eat AIP to help heal my gut and injury symptoms (will switch back to Paleo soon) which means I have cut all grains, dairy, sugar and processed foods alongside CICO, weighing food, meal prepping and adding cardio. It's about lifestyle too I've learned... wellness yo. I have plateaued in various stages as well.

Don't give up after a plateau that lasts a few weeks. It might go on for two or three times that or maybe it'll end tomorrow, it doesn't mean that you are done losing weight (for what it's worth I'm currently in a plateau of 2.5 weeks that feels like FOREVER). On the flip side of that, just because a side effect is a listed side effect, it doesn't mean it's going to be an issue for you. There are good drugs and bad drugs and drugs that are good for some people and bad for others. You don't know why I take this medication and you don't know why it is working for my health just as we don't really know what is going on with you and your specific symptoms so it's important to get as much information as possible and review it with your own wellness team before you make a decision to continue/discontinue.

I realize I'm late to the game but wanted to make sure future readers know that not all prescriptions are awful for everyone.

Using a supplemental green tea or Ginseng can help with that as well.

According to Mosby's 2012 Nursing Drug Reference, ginsing decreases the effect of topiramate.

Common side effects include:
dizziness, fatigue, memory loss, tremor, anxiety
vision abnormality
nausea, anorexia (which is why some use it for weight loss)

I'm on a fairly low dose for migraine prevention, and it's worked well for me, though I have seen some less than great side effects. (I'd say anorexia would be a good side effect, since I need to eat less, but haven't experienced that.)

A short-term plateau isn't worrisome. If it continues, change something. Do sprint intervals, try a different more challenging form of cardio, decrease calories 50-100 a day & see what happens in 2 weeks.

jomariewill wrote: »

I need to lose 140 pounds. I'm 5'11 and 287 pounds. I have bipolar I disorder but I am already on a medication for it. My weight loss has stopped. I actually gained 4 pounds. I'm eating 1600 calories per day. I do 30 minutes aerobics in the morning and walk/jog 2 miles every evening 5 days per week. I have not slipped on my diet. Even Thanksgiving I didn't exceed my calorie goal. He thinks the medicine will make me want to eat less and get me out of the slump.

If u are bipolar and take Quetiapine for example (not sure if u do) it is not uncommon to be prescribed topamax for weight control