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Top Questions and Answers
Can someone tell me what Topamax is used for? I just found a bottle of Topamax in my GF's drawer (200mgs). I tried to look it up online but it only said it was for epilepsy, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't have epilepsy. Is it used for anything else?

Katie P loves metal replied: "Typically migraines, but also can be an appetite supressant"

The Reset Button replied: "No, it is used primarily to stop seizures."

disaster girl replied: "I took it for migraines"

likn my life replied: "migraines and epilepsy."

Lola replied: "Epilepsy and migraines. I take it for both."

Candy M replied: "it is also used to treat migrain head aches"

Whitters replied: "Hey hey... I've been taking Topamax for about a year now (350mgs/day). Yes it is used for epilepsy, migranes and one of the major side effects is that it may reduce your hunger... BUT, I'm bipolar and this drug was prescribed to me as a "mood stabilizer"... A very affective one at that. I take it along with Lithium (another mood stabilizer) and Prozac (anti-depressant). Hope this helps. And stop snooping... Your girl may not want you to know all her issues just yet. :)"

Have you heard of topamax being used as an appetite suppressant? I've been on a host of medications for quite some time bipolar 2 and borderline personality disorder and they've made me gain quite a bit of weight. Has anyone heard of topamax being used as an appetite suppressant the counteract the affect the meds have on the body?

linrod replied: "nope,just to help prevent migraines,at least that's what my doctor prescribed it to me."

pcchocoholic replied: "Topamax was given to me by my psychiatrist for the exact same reason. I had very bad reactions to the medicine. (Loss of Balance and also visual and audio hallucinations) I did lose weight but I lost 13 lbs. in 1 1/2 weeks and ended up having a gall bladder attack and a month later when they finally figured out what was wrong (Not Stomach FLU) I had surgery. Please be careful. I am also Bi-Polar. They are now giving this med to people with migraines. Just be cautious and talk to the doc about the side effects."

super_friendly_aviator replied: "One of the side effects of Topamax is appetite suppression, and many people who take Topamax for various indications enjoy the fact that they lose weight. Unfortunately, Topamax is not indicated for weight loss, and mixing it with your other medications may be dangerous. Please speak with your physician and pharmacist about your weight gain and ask what they recommend. This way you will be sure to get help that will be effective and SAFE."

Ade replied: "Yes I have. Wellbutrin and Topamax both caused weight loss."

Firebox replied: "I have heard of topamax being used to counter the effects of other antidepressants that typically cause weight gain. There are studies being conducted for Topamax as a diet aide. I was on Paxil and gained 40 lbs. After coming off Paxil and working out religiously, and taking a combo of topamax and Wellbutrin (neither cause weight gain) for Bipolar 2, I lost all the weight. I have to FORCE myself to eat for fear that they will take me off of it for becoming too thin. I went from 170 to 110 but much of that was exercise induced too not just meds or diet. after being on Topamax for 2 years I still have very little appetite, but not as severe as the beginning where i could hardly eat more than a bite or 2 of each thing on my plate. If anything it is a concern for malnutrition because I could go all day and drink nothing but coffee, and become very unhealthy. You really do have to be careful on Topamax. If it does have that side effect for you. I think Vitamins are necessary. And certainly not for anyone with an anorexic history."

txsassybbw replied: "Topamax is an anti-epileptic also used as a mood stabilizer for Bipolar Disorder. It has also been found helpful with migraines for some people (though not for me). One of the side effects of the medication can be weight loss or appetite suppression, though not everyone experiences the same side effects or the same rate of effect. Other side effects include tingling of the extremities (like "ants crawling"... Benadryl helps with that), cognitive dulling, taste change, nausea, and diarrhea. I have been on Topamax for almost 5 years, used as a mood stabilizer for Bipolar Disorder. I have not heard of it being prescribed as a main source of appetite suppressant. Remember, everyone reacts differently to medications. Even persons within the same family can have different reactions. Speak with your psychiatrist or PCP about your concerns and questions."

keltillos replied: "If you are a borderline for real, its probably not your medication making you gain weight. Its probably your pattern of self destructive behavior that is inherent in borderline personality. How much soda do you drink? How much candy, cake, and other junk do you eat? How many people do you hurt in an average week without caring about it? How much sugar do you put in your cereal, coffee, tea? I have seen topamax used as an appetite suppressant. Its an unlabelled use. But you'd be better off with a triple bypass... Bypass the junkfood Bypass the sugary drinks Bypass the red meats"

What is a good migraine medication that is comparable to Topamax, without the side effects? I had been taking Topamax for migraines. I was on 400mg a day and it helped really well, but recently found I have a kidney stone due to using Topamax so I am trying to find a different med. I can take for it. For those of you that don't know, Topamax is used to prevent migraines, not to help with the pain. If anyone has personal experience I would prefer your answer. I don't want answers like imitrex, maxalt, zomig, as these are to treat the pain after you have gotten a migraine. I want an answer for a med to prevent the migraines. Thanks in advance.

hindu_shade replied: "WeeeeeeeD....aka dope...aka ice...aka candy..."

brittenybryant replied: "most likely, if its comparable to topamax, it will have the same side effects"

DAZY M replied: "Headache is a pain in the head, scalp or neck. Headaches can becaused by minor problems like eyestrain, lack of coffee or moreserious reasons like head injury, brain tumors, encephalitis andmeningitis. Taking painkillers continuously can have harmful side effects, so it is better to modify your lifestyle. More information available at"

Some Dude replied: "http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr_feb04_foramen.html"

Has anyone had any problems with their kidneys while using topamax? I've been on topamax before for 2 yrs, because of not being able to afford it for awhile I had to stop taking it for about a year. Then my insurance started paying for it so I've been back on it for 7 months now. It has really helped my backpain, and I loved it. I didn't have to take pain pills. I recently found out that I have gotten a type of acidosis in my kidneys because of the topamax, and I was wondering if anyone else has had any problems with it where it affected their kidneys.

Jen replied: "Topamax is known for causing kidney problems. I have been taking it for about a year now and it has caused kidney stones.Right now, I have 4-5 stones. My urologist said that sometimes the medication can cause more problems that what you are using it to treat. I have quit taking it. It helps my migraines but the other problems just aren't worth it. Talk to your Dr. about another treatment for your back pain. It may be worth it in the long run. There are alot of side effects that are not listed on the Topamax information, too. You can read more here.. Good Luck!"

Holly H replied: "I havent had any kidney problems. I do drink a Ton of water, I mean, I am constantly drinking. I believe that lessens all of the side-effects for me."

Starting using Topamax. How common is the weight loss side effect? I suffer from persistent migraines. I'm 15 years old and my doctor has recently prescribed me Topamax. She told me weight loss is a side effect and that I have to come in in about 6 months to check on my weight. How common is weight loss in teens while using this pill? Will the pill Imitrex push weight loss to occur even more? (My doctor put me on Imitrex as well.)

иι¢σℓє[[ice cream]] replied: "My mom takes Topamax for her epilepsy. When she first started it, I didn't notice she had any kind of weight loss. So I guess its not that common. she's been on it for a few years I think."

jcp_wings replied: "i got put on both of these as well! Its actually all about your dose. they warned me too and made a big fuss about having to get my weight checked because i had to get my dose upped a few times (ive been on the topamax about two years now) the thing is, it can effect you, but it might not. do you want to loose weight? at first I wanted to, but I had an ed, so you know. Im up to 200mg 2x a day (that wasnt my start though, I dont know what your on?) I felt pretty nauseous at first, but because I knew that I had to eat, I could, so I dont really think it has that much of an effect. apparently for the weight loss to be a side effect, you have to be on the seizure dose (or the weight loss dose for obese people) and thats 600 or 800 mg 2x a day, depending on your starting weight. but my doctor still monitored me pretty carefully because i had an ed when i started, and i did notice i didnt crave anything really, i just ate because i knew it was time to eat. that might just be me though, because my metabolism is weird because of my ed and whatnot. anyway, it pretty much depends on your dose. the imitrex though does nothing to add to weight loss, thats not a daily medicine. it does have weird side effects though that actually bothered me alot more than the topomax, like my throat muscles would relax and id involuntarily move my head like a weirdo. haha but they really work! good luck!"

Can you use Topamax and abortive migraine medicines together? I was just prescribed Topamax for preventive migraine treatment and was wondering if anyone knew if you can still take abortive medications (like Maxalt) with the Topamax, or does it have a negative reaction together? What do you do if you get a migraine while on the Topamax?

NoniMan replied: "first of all ask your pharmacy about the medications. what helps my wife with her migraine, and she gets them so bad, she has to be in a dark room with no sounds, i can't even cook anything, because of the smells get to her.i used to have to take her to the emergency once or twice or more a month.all hours of the day.she would throw up, till she would throw up bilo, green stuff.what help her was when she start taking....Noni juice"

baseballmommy replied: "I take topamax everyday and then I take the Maxalt right before I feel a migraine coming on...this is what my Doctor gave me and it has been wonderful so far."

Halle replied: "No idea."

Has anyone ever taken topamax and it help with mood swings during menopause? My sister is starting to go through menopause and her doctor put her on an antidepressant. It is helping, but my sister is also morbidly obese and I know that Topamax is used for other things than just epilepsy and migraines. It is also used for bipolar disorder along with other things. Does anyone know personally or if this is medically possible to be treated with topamax for mood swings associated with menopause?

obscuremagic replied: "im on topamax, for headaches. i have heard of it being used to treat the seizures, because thats what it was originally made for, and i know that in some cases they use it to treat binge eating ive heard? but... i havent heard about mood swing treatment during menopause. you might try calling a pharmacist or a doctor, they would probably know more."

dragonchopper replied: "I have been taking Topomax for years now, for epilepsy, I have not noticed any change in my daily headaches. I haven`t hit menopause yet, everybody I know that has bipolar disorder disorder, has never mentioned anything about taking Topomax."

cutie_p_2t replied: "Topamax is often prescribed as a mood stabilizer for those with bipolar disorder (manic depression). It can also cause mood swings. Topamax should be tapered up slowly until the therapeutic is reached. The side effects of Topamax cause a lot of people to stop using this medicine. It is known as "Dopamax" by people that are or have been taken this because it makes many people feel "dopey". Topamax can make people experience "brain fog" and cognitive problems. And there are some very SERIOUS side-effects to watch for when using it. If you notice ANY eye problems, your doctor should be contacted IMMEDIATELY. It has been linked to acute myopia and glaucoma. Topamax can also CAUSE kidney stones. It is recommended that you drink lots and lots (and lots) of water while using this medication. Topamax should NEVER be stopped abruptly. It can CAUSE seizures even in people that have never had seizures before. To avoid this, it must be tapered off of slowly. The second site below is a link to a really good message board for people that use or have used Topamax."

What should I use for hair regrowth after losing half of my hair from Topamax? I am a high school senior and am taking Topamax for headaches and have lost about half of my hair. I used to have thick and wavy auburn hair and now I have very thin and limp straight hair because I have lost so much of it. Does anyone have any suggestions to help regrow my hair? I need my confidence back.

Jules replied: "You can try Rogaine. I take Topomax and I have not had the problem with loss of hair though I did have a bout with pancreatitis so I cut my dose back. You might want to find a nice wig, though. Your hair may grow back really nice eventually and you want your senior pictures to look nice so get yourself a really good looking wig. I had a closed head injury in 1980 so I know what a drag it is to have to take medication for headaches and stuff like that. I hope things work out for you."

What is a good form of birth control to use while taking a prescription like topamax? My doctor recently put me on Topamax and told me that it will reduce the effectiveness of the bc I am currently taking. He also told me about the severe birth defects that can occur if there is conception while on Topamax. I was thinking about an IUD but I don't know much about them. Any suggestions?

dramaqueen062011 replied: "This is definitely a question for your local pharmacist. Not here on YA. If you're embarrassed, they a nurse help line, they are confidential."

What do you think about Topamax? used for bi-polar? was diagnosed with bi-polar tendency and was put on Topamax. For those of you taking Topamax what do you think? And what do you think of its weight loss plus, meaning have you lost weight on it as well? Thanks Christy

riptide_71 replied: "I am suprised that you were only put on Topomax. Usually it is combined with another mood stabilizer like lamictal or lithium. It has a very slight ability to act as a mood stabilizer. Also, it is generally used to help prevent the weight gain associated with the other mood stabilizers. Most people I know did NOT lose alot of weight. Alot of people don't like Topomax because it makes them feel dopey hence it's nickname "Dopamax," I was on it combined with Lithium and some other meds. It did nothing for me. I did not lose weight and I did feel dopey. I was taken off of it. Good luck. You might need a stronger mood stabilizer in time because Topomax is not a first line medication for mood stabilization."

frenchfrysamurai replied: "I take it, 100 mg a day. I haven't lost weight but it does curb my appetite somewhat. It also did strange things to my tastebuds. I could not drink diet Coke for months. It just repelled me. Even know, I really have very little taste for it whereas before I liked it. It does make me a little dopey. Higher doses are worse, I can't take more than 100 mg. I get real forgetful. Like I'll be sitting on the couch and just lose my train of thought completely. At random moments. It'll just be gone, I'll forget what I was just thinking about. Fortunately thats not to bad at as long as I stay at 100 mg a day. The flip side is that, it does help me a lot with racing thoughts. I take a cocktail of meds for Bipolar disorder which include Ritalin and Provigil, two stimulants for focus and energy. But without the topamax my thoughts just race out of control."

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