Topamax/Belviq

phloxflamingo22 · January 2017

Anyone have experience with this medication?

Psychiatrist prescribed it to me to help with bipolar and also to help with weight loss that resulted from lithium. Reading lots of great things online but it's been a month and it doesn't seem to have that great side effect for me. No weight is melting off just yet. Luckily, I haven't had any negative side effects and it's completely taken away some chronic pain I experience. I know it's part of the weight loss drug Belviq.

Any experiences are welcome.

GottaBurnEmAll · January 2017

I'm on a fairly high dose of Topamax as part of my migraine protocol. I believe one of the side effects for some people is a decrease in appetite. I think that's how it works to help weight loss.

In my experience, that effect wore off over time.

Emily3907 · January 2017

I took Topamax/Wellbutrin combo a few years back and I lost my appetite. I lost 30 pounds in about 2.5 months. It worked really well for me, but I had to stop because I was starting fertility treatments.

One thing the drug combo did though, was cause memory issues. Not major issues, but I could be standing in the grocery store staring at what I wanted to buy, but couldn't remember what to buy. Or if I was trying to talk to someone, I couldn't find the words for my sentences. This was temporary and only lasted about two weeks, but it was really weird.

GottaBurnEmAll · January 2017

Emily3907 wrote: »

I took Topamax/Wellbutrin combo a few years back and I lost my appetite. I lost 30 pounds in about 2.5 months. It worked really well for me, but I had to stop because I was starting fertility treatments.

One thing the drug combo did though, was cause memory issues. Not major issues, but I could be standing in the grocery store staring at what I wanted to buy, but couldn't remember what to buy. Or if I was trying to talk to someone, I couldn't find the words for my sentences. This was temporary and only lasted about two weeks, but it was really weird.

There's a reason it's nicknamed "Dopamax"

That effect wore off for me, too. Unfortunately, I have a benign brain tumor that grew into a region that gives me the same side effects now

elphie754 · January 2017

I took topamax for a very short period of time and then went back to lithium. The mental fog that topamax gave me was horrible. I couldn't even remember the simplest things and would forget words. It's nick named dopamax for a reason.

While lithium may have increased your appetite causing you to eat more, it doesn't directly impact weight.

phloxflamingo22 · January 2017

elphie754 wrote: »

I took topamax for a very short period of time and then went back to lithium. The mental fog that topamax gave me was horrible. I couldn't even remember the simplest things and would forget words. It's nick named dopamax for a reason.

While lithium may have increased your appetite causing you to eat more, it doesn't directly impact weight.

The lithium didn't cause me to eat more, I was logging at the time. It actually caused me to go hypothyroid and now I have to take synthroid. It caused me to hold on to water quite a bit, too. It wasn't much weight, about 15 lbs, but because I am still obese after losing 45 lbs my psychiatrist was open to prescribing the Topamax.

phloxflamingo22 · January 2017

GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »

I'm on a fairly high dose of Topamax as part of my migraine protocol. I believe one of the side effects for some people is a decrease in appetite. I think that's how it works to help weight loss.

In my experience, that effect wore off over time.

I am on adderall as well, which is a potent appetite suppressant for me already. I mostly walk around not hungry and don't really eat until dinner time anyway (coffee and a protein shake during the day). I find weekends are the hardest with keeping within my calorie allotments because we tend to eat out more.

phloxflamingo22 · January 2017

Emily3907 wrote: »

I took Topamax/Wellbutrin combo a few years back and I lost my appetite. I lost 30 pounds in about 2.5 months. It worked really well for me, but I had to stop because I was starting fertility treatments.

One thing the drug combo did though, was cause memory issues. Not major issues, but I could be standing in the grocery store staring at what I wanted to buy, but couldn't remember what to buy. Or if I was trying to talk to someone, I couldn't find the words for my sentences. This was temporary and only lasted about two weeks, but it was really weird.

I already have this side effect from Latuda, so it will be nothing new

That's a great success, I am hoping to see some progress like that soon!

EatingAndKnitting · February 2017

I'm on 200 mg of Topamax. I lost 7 pounds between August and December without changing my diet before stalling at 301 pounds. Now that I'm counting calories I'm losing weight again.

I've not had the dopamax side effects though, the only side effect I've had is my mild peripheral neuropathy is pretty much gone.

It's been a great drug for me. I'm bipolar I, and on several psych drugs. I gained a ton of weight on them and every time I tried to diet I was just so hungry. I lasted for two months on WW, and lost (and regained) two pounds. I'm crediting the appetite suppression in keeping me satisfied most of the time this last month.

Good luck!

DietVanillaCoke · February 2017

I gained a good 90lbs on topamax. I was using it for migraines, so no weightloss there for me. Perhaps because I was on a fairly high dose or maybe it didn't have any effect on my appetite

I was also on lithium for the first month of weightloss which was 14lbs. (Probably a heap of waterweight) but i also gained weight on it a few years ago... Something like 20lbs every 3months >.<.

So long as you log, you'll lose the weight

if not it might be a good idea to see your gp.

Topamax/Belviq

Replies

Categories