HAS ANYONE HEARD OF THIS PILL??

[SADIE2005]

I HAVE BEEN USNG ADIPEX FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW WENT FROM 187 TO 164 I AM NOW BACK UP IN THE 170'S I TOOK ADIPEX FOR THE FIRST 5 MONTHS AND WORKED MY TAIL OFF AT THE GYM 5 DAYS A WEEK FOR 2 HRS A DAY FOR 2 MONTHS OR MORE AND DID SOME DIETING HERE AND THERE WENT BACK TO THE DR A FEW MONTHS AGO AND DID NOT LOOSE A THING SO MY DR GAVE ME 2 SAMPLE BOTTLES OF TOPAMAX WHICH HE TOLD ME ONCE THE PHEN WAS NOT WORKING FOR HIM ANYMORE HE STARTED THE TOPAMAX I LOOKEDIT UP ON THE INTER NET AND IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EPELEPSY SEZUIRES BUT THE ALSO GIVE IT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BAD MIAGRAINS AND DEPRESSON. IM GUESSING THIS PILL IS GIVEN TO PEOPLE FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.. I TOOK IT FOR 2 DAYS BUT I ENDED UP WITH A UTI.. AND THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE KINDA SCARY FROM READING UP BUT WHAT PILL DOES NOT HAVE SCARY SIDE EFFECTS IF ANYONE HAS HEARD OF IT OR KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT IT COULD YOU PLEASE GET BACK WITH ME IM RUNNING OUT OF ADIPEX AND HE WILL NOT GIVE ME ANYMORE UNLESS I GO TO VISIT... SO IF ANYONE GETS A CHANCE PLEASE LOOK THIS UP OR ASK AROUND FOR ME I HAVE 2 BOTTLES OF IT LAST FOR 2 MONTHS ACCORDING TO HIM IT IS REALLY GOOD AND WORKS REALLY WELL... THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

[coco-pebbles-aholic]

they also use it for MS patients.

Be careful because some epiletic meds can destroy ur gums.

[*Malynda*]

My son has autism and was prescribed topomax by his psychiatrist to help with his violent tantrums. In the beginning, it ended up making things worse though (it is SO impairative to find the right dosage) and also caused him to drop 12 pounds in 1 week. Granted, my son is overweight, but 12 pounds in one week?!?! That's a bit extreme for anybody, let alone a child. After I weighed him I immediately called his doctor and was frantic. He said to lower the dose and try it for one more week. I am happy to say that he is doing very well now. His behavior has stabalized for well over a month now and his appetite is still somewhat decreased from the low dose of topamax. He is not losing any weight, but at least he's not raiding the kitchen every hour anymore.
Yes, there are some serious side effects to watch for. Pay attention to your body and if you notice any changes that are bothersome, notify your doctor immediately!
I have done quite a bit of research on this drug and one thing that is common with most of the reports is that weight loss is a major side effect.
Also~ I see a lot of doctors prescribing it for migrain headaches. I think this is what it was originaly meant for, but it is commonly prescribed as an "off lable" use, as is my son's case.
Be careful and good luck!

[erchicky]

Dear sadie...weight loss is a continual journey..I have found just recently in fact..and being older have come to find out it is ALL on me...if I want it I have to own it...exercizing and watching everything that goes into my mouth, writing everything down and water....water...water..this is how it is...I have been on every diet...every pill...have been to almost every "diet" clinic..and have made every excuse...now since June ..have made a committment,,,to me,,,and not anyone else, to do this and FEEL good about it and I am. Do it for you and no one else and you will feel good inside and feel healthy as well....good luck

[dumbfox]

Sadie,

Please DO NOT take the Topamax. It targets the front temporal lobe of your brain. In people that do not have "mis-firing" problems in the lobe like those with epilepsy, bipolar, MS, etc...it can cause PERMANENT damage to your memory. I am on Topamax for epilepsy which was just recently discovered. Please DO NOT take this drug lightly! I am appalled that your doctor would so eagerly hand this out to his patients to drop a few pounds. The company that makes Topamax ended their weight loss study on Topamax after just 13 weeks because the "healthy" participants began having such awful side effects. Even though I need this med to keep my seizures under control it has not been without side effects even for me. Only a neurologist or highly trained psychiatrist should prescribe Topamax. This drug has SERIOUS consequences, including CAUSING seizures in those without epilepsy after long-term use and then stopping the medication. Phen is so much safer than this to lose the weight.

Have you thought about alternating with Didrex or Bontril or Tenuate? I used to do that and found it quite effective. I wish you luck! I know how frustrating it is to start gaining and have Phen not be working like it used to. I just would hate to see you have bad side effects from a drug that you're not meant to take.

Also, I'm not sure the dose your doctor gave you of Topamax, but it's a med that must be started VERY slowly and gradually increased until a correct level is found. Everyone is different. Most patients don't get the weight loss effect until after 200 mg or more and I hate to burst anyone's bubble but I personally know some patients in my neuro's office who take that are on 400 mg and have never lost a pound. You also can not just STOP taking Topamax. It must be tapered off to avoid a serious crash and side effects.

Sorry, I don't mean to sound ranting and raving, I just want you to be careful. You're always such a sweetie on the boards! If you want more information or links to research articles, etc...just PM me and I will email you.

[KathyinPhilly]

Sadie,

I agree with most of what Dumbfox says (gee, I hate calling you Dumbfox!!).

I'm on Topamax, two 200 mg. tablets daily, prescribed by a psychiatrist for mood disorder during a crisis time in my life a few years ago. I'm ALSO on phen and have weighed 250 pounds during that time and am still struggling to get into Onederland (if that gives you a clue!!)

In the beginning, while we were building up the dosage of Topamax (we started at 25 mg. daily and built it up slowly until we reached the dose that worked for me), sure, there were weight loss benefits but it was in the form of not wanting to eat (mostly because I didn't give a crap about ANYTHING -- part of the depression and mood swing stuff I think) ... not something you want to go through!!

AND, you should know, just like the comments above, when my insurance changed, and I had to switch doctors, other doctors weren't so happy about prescribing the Topamax to me (again, like mentioned above, no FDA proven benefits for anything other than epilepsy seizure control) -- but after a year or so, I am not willing to give it up. I feel I need it to stay even and calm because of all the stressors in my life (that's a sad thing really). And when I do decide or am forced to go off it, I'll need to be weaned off of it, just like I slowly increased by dose -- to avoid side effects which also include headaches and dizziness (like I need more stress, huh?)

Bottom line (is it too late to make a long story short???) ... throw out the Topamax and avoid the cycle I've found myself in.

[Bunzilla]

I currently take 200 mgs of Topamax nightly for severe chronic migraines. I have two brain lesions caused from the migraines. I had to ramp up on it slowly, but it's really helped keep the migraines under control. However, I NEVER experienced ANY weight loss from it.

I honestly can't believe that doctors are prescribing this drug for weight loss. It is a serious drug, and in my opinion, not to be taken for things other than what it was originally manufactured for...epilepsy, mood stabalizer, migraines.

I do have some brain fog from it, but the benefits of not having horrid, (vision loss, numbness, speech loss) migraines are worth it to me).

I'd go back on the Adipex, rather than take Topamax. I wouldn't take Topamax if I didn't have to.

[coco-pebbles-aholic]

After reading this I am glad I refused some meds from my neurologist for my MS.Topomax was 1 of the drugs & after discussing the side effects I decided it was not for me.Just becaz a Dr says use this~take this~try this~doesn't mean u have to.U r in charge of ur body!!!!I didn't wanna preach earlier but now that u r armed with info I cannot imagine that the side effects r worth loosing a few pounds for.

U have got to find another way.After speaking to these ladies here about shots & autism I decided arming myself with the correct info is too important.I was recently diagonsed with Multiple Sclerosis & I chose to take control of my treatment not allow a Dr decide all that he felt was right for me.U need to do the same thing.Y pollute ur body with unecessary meds?With side effects that may need to be altered with more meds?U could ruin other areas of ur body just for the sake of loosing a few pounds.Don't trust someone else with ur body!!!!Make ur own informed decisions!

[SADIE2005]

WOW!!! LADIES THANKS AND NO IT IS NOT TO LATE I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TOPAMAX NOW WHEN I FIRST GOT IT I DID TAKE IT FOR 2 DAYS AND IT DID MAKE ME FEEL WEIRD BUT I DO HAVE ALOT OF STRESS MYSELF AND HORRIBLE MOODSWINGS ONE MIN I WILL BE HAPPY GO LUCKY AND THE NEXT I WILL BE EITHER HATEFULL OR DEPRESSED JUST MY MOODS CHANGE THROUGH OUT THE DAY FROM NICE TO MEAN TO DEMANDING TO HATEFULL TO LOVING AND CAREING THEN BACK TO MEAN I STAY TO MYSELF ALOT I MEAN ALOT ALL I HAVE IN MY LIFE IS MY 2 BEAUTYFULL BOYS AND MY LOVING HUSBAND WHO HAS BEEN DEALING WITH MY MOODSWINGS FOR THE LAST 9 YRS.. BUT STILL TAKING TOPAMAX IS NOT WORTH LOOSING VISION AND HAVING THE FRONT PART OF YOUR BRAIN TINGLEING AND HOT FLASHES MEMORY LOSS AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE WINGED OFF I DID NOT KNOW TOPAMAX WAS THIS SERIOUS. I KNOW WHEN I TOOK IT THE FIRST FEW DAYS I DID FEEL WEIRD LIKE STRANGE FEELING!! NOT MYSELF AT ALL THE FRONT PART OF MY HEAD WAS TINGELING AND BURNING FEELING AND MY LEGS AND ARMS FELT THE SAME BUT IT WOULD JUST HAPPEN FOR A FEW MINS I DONT KNOW BUT THANKS ALOT LADIES REALLY I DO APP, THE ADVICE AND I WILL THORW THEM OUT... HECK IF I REALLY WANTED TO LOOSE WEIGHT THAT BAD ALL I NEED TO DO IS WORK OUT AGAIN... LOL