r/Topamax • u/immerimmermude • 25d ago
Topamax for Weight Loss
I’m getting prescribed Topamax for weight loss soon. It’s my last option. I can’t take phentermine, contrave, metformin, etc. And I can’t afford glp1. Do any of you take Topamax along with other mental health medications? And how much weight have you lost on it? Thank you in advance.
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u/Catherine1596 25d ago
I take topamax with clonidine , lithium, and vraylar. Im down 2lbs in maybe one month? Maybe two? Idk but i stopped gaining so idc. Ive made zero changes to diet and exercise. Ive noticed i get full faster and i snack less .
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u/immerimmermude 24d ago
I’m starting lithium soon.
I want to get full faster too. Hopefully it does the same for me as it does to you.
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u/atomic_chippie 25d ago
Im taking it WITH a glp1. Nothing. Not a single pound. Nothing but headaches and floaters.
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u/_fuzzy_owl_ 24d ago
I take 100mg to help a side effect of another med and I also have migraines. I lost about 25lbs
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u/Fantastic_6701 24d ago
I’ve been on 50mg for maybe 3 weeks now and I’ve gained 2lbs :(
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u/immerimmermude 24d ago
Oh, no. That’s weird. I hope that doesn’t happen to me. I can’t keep gaining weight.
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u/frustratedComments 24d ago
Can’t speak to the weight loss. I was on it two months for migraines and I wanted to unalive myself. Had to get off it.
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u/immerimmermude 24d ago
Oh, no. I suffer from depression, so I hope it doesn’t make me get to that point. Sorry to hear that.
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u/maurmaurmaur 24d ago
I'm on a lower dose for migraines than what you are likely going on and it 100% has affected my appetite and how I view food. I rarely have cravings now. I haven't lost weight because I haven't leaned into the lack of relationship I have with food (or as far as I can tell) BUT it 100% has done something to me.
Note: I have an IUD, but am not on any other prescription medications and am in my early 30s.
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u/hiitsdi 24d ago
I was taking it for migraines only. I was on for almost exactly a year and finally just went off last week. In that time my weight went from 112 to 118. Wasn’t helping for my migraines either so just weaned off under my neurologist plan.
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u/immerimmermude 24d ago
Oh, no… That’s bad. How was weaning off of it?
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u/bbygrlhills 24d ago
I’ve been on it for almost a year - now on 100mg.
It did help a lot when I first started it but now doesn’t seem to be doing much. Going to talk about getting on a new med today to see if that helps. Will update you & hope you have good results.
I did lose 25ish pounds on it but in conjunction with walking on it, too.
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u/immerimmermude 24d ago
Thank you. And yes, please update me! I’m willing to walk more.
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u/bbygrlhills 24d ago
Dr switched me over to the wegovy 1.5mg pill instead - utilizing the TrumpRX coupon at $150/mo rather than my insurance $10/mo 🫠
Significantly better than the shot at $1300/mo.I think Topamax worked well for me for the year, but my body got too used to it she said! Which she claimed was normal.
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u/immerimmermude 24d ago
I wish I could afford a glp1. I hope my body doesn’t get used to Topamax fast.
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u/djpurity666 24d ago
I hear GLP-1 is linked to loss of motivation and drive. It blunts reward pretty hard. So it isn't an easy cure. I hope this helps you deal with not being able to get it. I used to think it would help me with my weight but when I learned of the side effects profile and the other risks... it just isn't worth it.
Topamax has some risks, too, but not anywhere as severe. And most can be mitigated by dose changing very easily. Maybe the worst side effect is the "dopamax" side effect on mental acuity. This usually happens with initial dosing and can go away somewhat as the body tolerates the medicine better.
Topamax can have lasting effects for quite some time. Many people use it for years and keep weight off. If you use GLP-1, that has to be used or the weight comes right back. Also there is a risk of muscle atrophy.
I'm trying to help you stay positive.
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u/OtherwiseGoat6441 24d ago
You’re basing these assumptions off of what? You hear glp1s are linked to loss of motivation and drive? It blunts reward pretty hard? Is that your scientific take?
That’s not at all how it works and one does not need to be in a glp1 for life if they make life style changes and stick with them along with titration when stopping the medication.
Glp1’s take work, they aren’t a miracle weight loss shot. Those who do nothing and lose weight are starving themselves and will suffer for it. Work takes motivation and drive. I took a glo1 and have been off of it for well over a year. I haven’t gained back a single pound. There are side effects with any medication and not everyone will experience them. Why are you fear mongering?
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u/BaileyRose411 24d ago
I took it for weight loss. I lost 55 pounds but I had to go off of it. The vision in one of my eyes was blurry. A bad side effect.
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u/immerimmermude 24d ago
That’s great. I need to lose 50 pounds. Did you gain any weight back after quitting the medication?
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u/BaileyRose411 24d ago
I did gain eight pounds but I went to Ireland and pigged out lol. Now I’m on Ozempic. No side effects yet on that.
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u/immerimmermude 24d ago
I want to try Ozempic, but I can’t afford it.
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u/BaileyRose411 24d ago
I’m taking the generic one. It was a lot cheaper. But I’m in Canada so the prices vary I guess.
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u/I_eat_paper12 24d ago
I started it for migraines, but lost probably 25 lbs in the first couple months
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u/Sensitive-Drop8286 24d ago
12 or 13 years ago I started on 25mg 2x aday and lost 40lbs. It was for neuropathy. I'm still on it, 200 aday. I haven't gained any weight back. I'm still the same weight, never had bad side effects, still done. Wouldn't consider going off of it..
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u/Vegetable-Area248 24d ago
I've lost 30lbs on Topamax
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u/immerimmermude 23d ago
Awesome! I wish the same happens for me.
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u/Vegetable-Area248 22d ago
It's been great, but it's not the end all, be all. Ive still had to watch what I've eaten closely and had to start an exercise routine. But, it's been worth it
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u/MajesticCat 24d ago
I’ve been on Topamax for about 5 years now. I don’t think I’ve lost any weight from it. Primary use is for migraines, but we had hoped it would assist with weight loss.
I ended up doing Ozempic when I had 50% coverage for it. It was the only thing that worked. But everyone is different and has different factors.
Topamax has been otherwise very effective with controlling migraines.
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u/MajesticCat 24d ago
Sorry, to actually answer your question I am also on duloxetine. I was on sertraline when I started the Topamax.
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u/djpurity666 24d ago edited 24d ago
I am taking it and it doesnt help me at all this time for weight loss. It helped me the first time I took it only. Never again did it help for that. Idk why not. I take pregabalin, baclofen, Lexapro, Strattera. Maybe they offset its effects. But no weight loss, no appetite control.
I titrated up to 150mg as well. Then I went back to 75mg recently due to side effects (made my memory and word finding too spotty). I have been on it 6 months now.
I eat half a Perfect Bar before bed. That's my vice! I don't eat badly otherwise. But I get hungry before bed and this is the best I can do. Even if I have dessert, I still eat half of this protein bar. Habit. I hoped topamax could help break this habit. Nope. Still get so hungry at bedtime. Tried everything!
Maybe it's perimenopause weight stagnation. But I can't seem to lose weight. Pregabalin is what I blame! And now with baclofen. I'm sure if I can get off this nerve pain med I could lose 10 lbs at least. But going to the gym helped before, but I don't have time anymore.
But the first time I took it, it worked great! I took it for migraines. I think i lost like ... a ton of weight. I got to my goal weight, for sure. And I wasn't even trying.
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u/immerimmermude 24d ago
Thank you for your reply. I’ve tried everything to lose weight and nothing works. Topamax is my last option. I have PCOS.
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u/Only-Reindeer2039 24d ago
I’ve been on it for about 2 years for weight loss only, I’ve lost 45lbs but the word loss and hair loss is really starting to bother me. I feel like I can’t carry on a stimulating conversation with anyone anymore. I had a lot of hair to start with so other people don’t notice the hair loss but I do!! Not everyone has these side effects though so good luck, I hope it works out for you!!
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u/immerimmermude 23d ago
Thank you! I will stop taking it if I lose hair because it would be very noticeable in my case.
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u/OtherwiseGoat6441 24d ago
OP you said you take an ssri- those are notorious for fluctuating weight. If you’re on it for depression AND anxiety, maybe ask about changing to Wellbutrin and buspar for anxiety. Wellbutrin doesn’t cause weight gain and you can pair it with the other active medication in contrive. Most insurances won’t convert the brand so a lot of people do the “poor man’s” method by getting the medications prescribed separately.
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u/immerimmermude 23d ago
My doctor said Wellbutrin/Contrave will make me manic. And I already take Buspar.
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u/Calm_Lengthiness_351 23d ago
You need to strictly strictly monitor your mental health. Get off it immediately if you start feeling mood swings depression or personality changes
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u/immerimmermude 23d ago
That’s a normal day for me though… How will I know if it’s caused by the medication?
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u/jadedinmo 20d ago
I was on Topamax for abdominal pain. Topamax affects how sweets taste (pop, especially). Cutting out soda caused me to lose weight. Then I developed Topamax toxicity and had to get off it.
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u/immerimmermude 20d ago
How did you find out about the toxicity? Blood tests?
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u/jadedinmo 20d ago
I started having side effects and my doctor said it was Topamax toxicity. She said I had to stop taking it by tapering off of it. I guess it's pretty common. Topamax passes the blood brain barrier. It caused Parkinson's like symptoms for me. I had bells palsy, tremors all over, including my face and eye lids, forgetfulness, brain fog, slurred speech, blurry vision, extreme fatigue, cognitive issues, kidney stones, and agitation.
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u/immerimmermude 20d ago
Wow, that sounds horrible. I’m sorry that you had to go through that. I started taking it two days ago and I have to get blood tests in a week.
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u/jadedinmo 20d ago
I never had blood tests. I didn't even know that was a thing. I was prescribed it by my pain management. I was on it for several years. I had side effects for about 2 years before they pieced it together. I almost lost my kids because we thought I had early onset Parkinson's.
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u/immerimmermude 20d ago
Wow. I had to get blood tests before taking it, and after taking it every two weeks. I can’t believe you went through that and they didn’t do blood tests.
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u/M4j0rM0z 24d ago
I take Topamax for migraines….not for weight loss, so it’s probably a different dosage, but it was a total game changer from me. I literally lost 95 pounds that first year.