Yes, topiramate (Topamax) has been shown to cause weight loss when used for both seizure control and migraine prevention. Topiramate (used by itself) is not specifically approved by the FDA for weight loss, but some doctors may prescribe it if you have seizures or migraine and need to lose weight, too.
Does topiramate help with food cravings?
Topiramate (Topamax) is a medicine that is usually used to control seizures or relieve chronic pain. This medicine is used to reduce the urge to binge in people who have binge eating disorder . Topiramate also might help a person lose weight. This medicine lowers some people’s appetites.
Does Topamax help with sugar cravings?
The study, published in February in The American Journal of Psychiatry, found that 94 percent of the patients given Topamax significantly reduced the frequency of their binges, compared with 46 percent of those who received dummy pills. The patients on the drug also lost more weight than the control subjects.
Can Topamax cause eating disorders?
Despite the fact that topiramate has been studied for treating binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN), the drug’s appetite-suppressant effect raises the possibility of development of or worsening of disordered eating among young patients.
How long does it take Topamax to suppress appetite?
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.
When will I start losing weight on Topamax?
You can expect to lose weight quickly if you take this drug, but it may be between one and four months before you really start to see the fat loss in yourself.
Can you lose weight on 25 mg of Topamax?
It’s a seizure medication called Topamax (topiramate), that happens to come with a welcome side effect for many people: weight loss. Studies have shown that Topamax can help you lose weight by reducing appetite, so many healthcare providers prescribe it off-label for that purpose.
Does Topamax increase energy?
Topiramate causes weight loss by increasing the expenditure of energy, an appetite suppressant by decreasing caloric intake, and decrease energetic efficiency (Richard et al., 2000) . …
Should I take Topamax in the morning or at night?
You’ll usually take topiramate twice a day. You can take it at any time of day, but try to take your doses at the same time each day. Try to space your doses evenly through the day. For example, you could take it first thing in the morning and in the evening.
Will 50 mg of Topamax cause weight loss?
Weight-loss and loss of appetite are common adverse effects in persons 16 years and older who are taking 50 mg or 400 mg of topiramate per day. Patients using a 50mg/day dose lost 6% of their body weight, and weight loss was found in 17% of patients using 400mg/day.
Is 50 mg of topiramate a lot?
Adults—At first, 25 to 50 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day. Children 2 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
How long does Topamax take to start working?
When will I feel better? For epilepsy, it can take 2 to 4 weeks for topiramate to work fully. For migraines, it can take 1 month for migraine attacks to be less frequent. But it can take 2 to 3 months for topiramate to work fully for migraines.
Does topiramate speed up metabolism?
Topiramate reduced food intake acutely and increased metabolic rate. There were also significant reductions in leptin, insulin, and corticosterone.
Does Topamax make you hungry?
Alters hormone levels: Topiramate consumption reduces the amount of leptin, which is a hormone related to the stress hormone cortisol. Leptin regulates appetite, and when it is low, it can cause you to feel less hungry.
What is the most common side effect of topiramate?
Tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, loss of coordination, tingling of the hands/feet, loss of appetite, bad taste in your mouth, diarrhea, and weight loss may occur.
Can I stop 25 mg Topamax cold turkey?
Never stop taking Topamax suddenly, or “cold turkey”, because this may cause you to have an increased risk of seizures, more frequent seizures, or other serious withdrawal symptoms. This can happen even if you do not take Topamax for epilepsy.
Is Topamax good for anxiety?
Topamax isn’t approved to treat anxiety. However, the drug may sometimes be used off-label to treat people with certain anxiety disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, it’s not known for sure if Topamax is effective for this purpose.
What should you not take with Topamax?
- Valproic acid (brand name examples: Depakote).
- Zonisamide (brand name example: Zonegran).
- Glaucoma medications, including eye drops.
- Birth control pills.
- Any medicines that impair or decrease your thinking, concentration, or muscle coordination.
Can Topamax keep you awake at night?
Does Topamax make you sleepy? Taking Topamax can make you very drowsy and even dizzy. You should avoid driving, using heavy machinery, or doing other tasks that require alertness until you know how this medication affects you. Because it can cause drowsiness, Topamax is often taken at night.
Does Topamax cause hair loss?
Hair loss. It’s possible to have hair loss while taking Topamax. In studies, this side effect was more common in people who took the drug to treat epilepsy than to prevent migraine headaches.
What is topiramate 25 mg used for?
Topiramate is used alone or with other medications to treat certain types of seizures including primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (formerly known as a grand mal seizure; seizure that involves the entire body) and partial onset seizures (seizures that involve only one part of the brain).
What are the side effects of topiramate 25mg?
- Feeling sick (nausea) Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food.
- Feeling sleepy, dizzy or tired. Do not drink alcohol, as this will make you feel more tired.
- Diarrhoea. Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration.
- Feeling depressed.
- Loss of appetite or weight loss.
What mood stabilizers cause weightloss?
- Low risk of weight gain: Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is most likely to cause weight loss.
- Risk of weight gain: Valproate is likely to cause weight gain.
- High risk of weight gain: Lithium is known for causing weight gain.
- Low risk of weight gain: Lurasidone has a low risk of weight gain.
Does topiramate cause loss of appetite?
nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, loss of appetite; fever, weight loss; or. cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.
Why do you take topiramate at bedtime?
Conclusions: Topiramate may be of benefit for patients with NES or SRED in reducing nocturnal eating, improving nocturnal sleep, and producing weight loss.