Posted by redscarlet on November 11, 2004, at 12:47:20
In reply to Re: Topamax: weight loss and side effects, posted by bridgey1128 on November 11, 2004, at 12:16:44
I don't think there is any doctor out there prescribing Topamax as a weight loss drug to anyone. However if someone is on psychotropic medications and they are/have gained weight from them it is not that uncommon to be given the option to try Topamax or Zonegran. It is important to know with any drug the side effects or possible side effects before you decide to take it.
> Personally, I think it's rather wreckless of a Dr to prescribe a medicine for weight loss that isn't used for weight loss that has so many other side effects when there are so many other drugs out there FOR weight loss. I just don't get it. Honestly, weight loss is a POSSIBLE side effect, so don't get your hopes up. I am on 200mg and still not losing weight because of the Topomax. I am only losing weight because I got back on the Atkins diet. I take it because I am bipolar II. It's true that Topomax is used for many different things but they are legitimate medical conditions. Not that weight loss isn't, I just mean that Topomax isn't prescribed FOR weight loss because it isn't a weight loss drug. THere are too many other side effects to the drug to worry about and I can't imagine it would be a first line drug for weight loss. There are SOOO many other weight loss drugs out there I would really question your Dr as to WHY he decided to go with Topomax and ask him about the numerous side effects. Also, how quickly is he having you go up on it? If it's any more than 25mg every 2-3 weeks, he really doesn't know much about this drug. As for the depression, I guess everyone can have different side effects. By going up too quickly, I lost my eyesight for a few days. NOT FUN!! If you go up slowly enough, you usually don't have too many side effects. I did have the tingling but it went away. I think the weight loss is around 150mg IF you are even going to have it. But then again, I think that depends on the person as well. I don't care if it doesn't make me lose weight, as long as it doesn't make me gain. At this point, that is all I care about. I know it has to be really frustrating to carry extra weight around from taking a medication. I thought mine was from having our second child, but now that I look back, I wonder if it was really from taking all those stupid antidepressants that I shouldn't have been taking to begin with! I am not an overeater. I mean, I can pack it away when I WANT to, but who can't. I can't sit down and eat a whole thing of ice cream or a whole box of crackers or whatnot. Frankly, that makes my stomach hurt to think about it. I guess that is one reason I never had a problem with eating disorders. I do like to eat, so the anorexia would have never been an issue with me. And I absolutely HATE throwing up, so bulemia would have never been an option with me, no matter how bad I felt about when I had actually pigged out. I think I have just come to the conclusion that carbohydrates are not for me. My body does not like them, nor tolerate them well. My tastebuds on the other hand.....that is another story! They say MMMM!!!!! The MORE THE MERRIER!! Of course, they don't have to look at my thighs and butt afterwards, so what do they know! Anyway, 20 morelbs to go for my first goal.....
poster:redscarlet
thread:5053
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041108/msgs/414575.html