have worked my way up to 150 mg. a day over 2 months. i am losing weight like crazy. 10 lbs in 6 weeks, eating anything i want. no side effects like speeding or anything except having to get up in the night to pee. (once, which isn't too bad....) is this the norm ? how much weight is too much. my neurologist said " you can never be too thin " which i thought was a little off the wall. i started at 135 and i'm now 125. i'm 5' 5". don't get me wrong, i love it, but eventually, i'm going to look anorexic...... thanks.
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Q: i just started taking topamax for a preventative.
Answers (4)
4/23/10 8:59pm
Hi roxanne f.
It can take up to three months for us to adjust to new medications. At that point usually any potential side effects that are going to be a problem (or not!) will have lessen. Typically, patients taking topiramate lost, on average, 3.8 percent of their body weight. It weight loss continues to be an issue, please discuss it with your doctor. Whatever you do, do not stop taking Topamax suddenly. This is a medication that needs to be tapered down slowly.
Good luck
Nancy
4/ 8/10 10:46pm
I didn't lose a pound! lol. Medicine effects people differently though--is losing weight one of the side effects. I was on it for awhile but it stopped being effective and I got a lot of cognitive side effects (I was basically struck stupid while I was on it)
4/ 9/10 11:09am
I know my body takes awhile sometimes to adjust to new doses. I often get strong side effects the first too weeks and they gradually taper off. And yes, being thin can be good as so many of the meds seem to cause us to gain weight! It's hard to eat healthy for me. I have so many days where I'm in pain, it is hard to not find comfort in food.
4/19/10 4:56pm
yes that is very normal. topamax is also used as a weight loss drug. I believe you will start to level out eventually.
5/15/10 11:54am
Hello,
I am on topirimate, an I have also experienced weight loss. I am now up to 100 mg and have lost 30 pounds, of course I have also accompanied this with diet and excersise, but this has been over the course of 3 months. I have a question for other woman taking this medication. I have not experienced my period since I have started taking the topirimate. I was taking the topomax years ago and then stopped and did not experience the lack of period as a side effect, is this a side effect that other woman are experiencing? I am considering stopping taking the medication because I feel it is effecting my body negatively if it is stopping my monthly flow.
thanks!
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By roxanne f.— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 04/08/10
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thanks, pandorable. yes, losing weight is a side affect. they said if you lose weight, tell your dr. i said, if i lose weight, i'll double the dose. ( in jest ) now it's worrying me. but we'll see what happens. i'll give it a little more time. i'd rather be thin than in pain.