Topamax Help Lose Weight

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Is Topamax approved for weight loss? | Dosage | Safety | Risks | Weight gain after Topamax | Other ways to lose weight | FAQs

Topamax is the brand name of a generic medication called topiramate . It’s an anticonvulsant medication that’s used to treat conditions like epilepsy, migraine headaches, and alcohol use disorder. Topamax is great for treating conditions like this, but many people who take it will experience weight loss as a main side effect. Let’s take a more in-depth look at how safe and effective Topamax is, and see how it’s related to weight loss. 

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Topamax is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) to treat epilepsy and migraines , but the drug is also well known for causing weight loss. Even though weight loss may be a positive benefit of taking Topamax, the FDA hasn’t approved it for weight loss alone. 

Topamax causes weight loss because it affects the appetite. People who take it and have a reduced appetite may feel hungry less often and eat less because of this. Studies have shown that Topamax may also speed up metabolism, which means that the body would be digesting food quicker than normal. 

 Clinical trials have shown that about 6%-17% of people who take Topamax will experience weight loss, and while many people may see this as an added benefit, losing too much weight isn’t a good thing. Dr. Kuldeep Singh , a top weight loss surgeon in the Baltimore Metropolitan area and Director of The Maryland Bariatric Center at Mercy Medical Center, says that most people will experience moderate weight loss from Topamax. Losing weight rapidly can be unhealthy, and it may be time to see a doctor if you’re taking Topamax and this happens to you. Maintaining a healthy weight is important, and the best way to find out what target weight is best for you is to ask your doctor. Falling below your target body weight because of Topamax would be another sign that it’s time to talk with your doctor. 

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Because the use of Topamax for weight is off-label and truly a side effect of its use in clinical practice, no specific dose can be specified for this indication. Topamax’s weight loss side effect has resulted in its off-label use to treat binge eating disorders in adults, and the dosing for this indication does not differ greatly in comparison to other approved indications, ranging from 25mg per day to a maximum of 400mg per day. If used off-label for weight loss, the dose will likely begin low at 25mg to 50mg once daily and increase slowly over weeks until a benefit of weight loss is noted – balancing this desirable side effect with those which are less desirable. It is unlikely the dose of topiramate for the indication of weight loss needs to exceed 200 mg per day, as clinical trials have not demonstrated additional benefit in percent body weight lost beyond this dose. An extended-release formulation of topiramate co-formulated with phentermine is available as a product called Qsymia , which is indicated for chronic weight management. The dose of topiramate in this co-formulated product ranges from 23 mg once daily to a maximum of 96 mg once daily. 

Sometimes Topamax can be prescribed off-label to help someone lose weight. Off-label prescribing happens when a doctor writes someone a prescription for a medication that’s approved by the FDA to treat a condition that’s different from what their patient has. This is legal and frequently happens in the medical industry, with an estimated 1 in 5 prescriptions being written off-label. 

A doctor may choose to write someone a prescription for Topamax to help with their weight loss or to treat eating disorders like binging and purging that lead to weight gain. According to Dr. Singh, someone must have a body mass index (BMI) that’s 30 or higher in order to be prescribed any weight loss medication, including Topamax. 

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Studies have shown that people who take Topamax for weight loss lose about 11 pounds in comparison to placebo groups if they take the drug for at least four months, and that the weight loss effects of Topamax increase with both duration of treatment and dosage. Studies have also shown that topiramate treatment can increase the chance of statistically significant weight loss by more than sixfold . 

Even though Topamax can be very effective for weight loss, it isn’t safe for everyone. The following groups of people should talk with their doctor before taking Topamax because they may have an increased risk of experiencing serious adverse events if they take it: 

It may be safe for pregnant women to take Topamax if the benefits of taking the medication outweigh its potential risks. Topamax can cause fetal harm and oral birth defects if it’s taken by pregnant women, which is why it’s prescribed with caution. It’s also excreted in human milk, but it’s unknown whether or not it will negatively impact breastfeeding infants. Topamax can make birth control pills less effective, so it’s important to talk with your doctor about using non-hormonal birth control methods if you don’t want to become pregnant while taking Topamax. 

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People who aren’t pregnant and who don’t have any of the health conditions mentioned above can safely take Topamax, but they may still experience side effects from taking it. Here are some of the most common side effects of Topamax aside from weight loss: 

Although it’s rare, Topamax can cause more serious side effects that may require medical attention like confusion, memory problems, trouble concentrating, and trouble speaking. Some people will also experience mental health side effects like depression, panic attacks, mood changes, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you have any of these symptoms, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. 

The other rare side effect of Topamax that’s worth mentioning is eye problems that can lead to vision changes and blindness, which is why it’s so important to call your doctor if your vision starts to change. This list of side effects is not comprehensive; if you’d like a complete list of Topamax side effects, you can always ask your doctor or pharmacist for a medication guide. 

Weight Loss Management

If Topamax is causing too many side effects for you, know that you have other options. The active ingredient in Topamax, topiramate, is the main ingredient in the weight loss drug Qsymia , which also contains phentermine. According to Dr. Singh, Qsymia is one of the best medications to use long-term in combination with diet and lifestyle changes for weight loss, especially for obese patients with class 1 or class 2 obesity. So if you’re not able to take Topamax because of an underlying health problem or because you’re experiencing too many adverse effects, you might try asking your doctor about Qsymia or other ways to lose weight. 

Topamax can be taken to promote weight loss and help control binging and purging, but it’s important to remember that it isn’t a substitute for going to a doctor and creating a well-rounded weight loss plan. If you’re interested in taking Topamax, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your doctor to see if it’s right for you. Your doctor will do a complete physical exam and ask about your medical history. If you and your doctor decide that Topamax can safely help you lose weight, then you may receive a prescription for it.

If you do receive a prescription from your doctor, it’s important to know how to take Topamax to get the best results. The starting dose of Topamax for weight loss is a low dose of 25 mg per day, but this dosage strength can be increased on a case-by-case basis based on each individual’s medical history and how much weight they have to lose. 

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In a study done by the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry , bipolar and schizophrenic patients who were given an average dose of 195 mg of topiramate per day lost about 22 pounds over time. This just goes to show that the range of Topamax dosages can vary from low to high and that doctors may increase or decrease the amount of Topamax that someone takes over time-based on the results they are or aren’t getting. 

It can take some time to see weight loss results from taking Topamax. Some people may not notice a difference until they’ve taken the drug for at least four months , while other people may start to lose weight in their first month of taking it. Weight loss results from topiramate are proven to increase over time. 

Topamax can be taken with or without food and is generally taken at the same time each day. It shouldn’t be taken at the same time as certain other medications because of the potential for drug interactions. Here’s a list of medications Topamax shouldn’t be taken with:

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In addition to these medications, Topamax shouldn’t be taken with alcohol because this can cause sleepiness, increase the risk of