What dosage of Topamax causes weightloss?

[tiff423]

I just started Topamax.  I'm on 25mg/day and will increase by 25mg/week until I reach 100mg.  I heard the weightloss effect depends on the dose.  So, what dose did everyone here have their success?  And what type of diet/eating plan and exercise plan did you do to help it along?  I'm desperate to lose 40 lbs (half of which I gained on Zoloft-no longer taking).  PLEASE respond if you had any weightloss on this drug, I'm very curious.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!  :)

[heidivonh]

Hi! I have been on 100mg of Topamax since the end of April. I immediately experienced the loss of appetite. I seaked the advice of a naturopath to use it to my advantage because I had about 80 pounds to lose. I see him every Friday and since then, I have lost 43 pounds...:-) It has not been difficult. It seems like he weight is coming off on its own now. I don't crave anything. I'm hoping to reach my goal by January. I'm not worried about the holidays because I have been turned off all food and I don't think it will be difficult to continue following what the naturopath has told me to do. By the way...eat a lot of yogourt..it really facilitates weight loss. I eat about 500g of yogourt per day and drink 2-3 glasses of milk per day. Topamax alone won't make you lose the weight, it will just make it easier for you to do it on your own.

I hope this helps you!! Have a great week!!

Heidi

[tiff423]

Hi!  Thanks for the response!!  That was so encouraging!!!  I have noticed so far that I'm not craving the usual foods that I eat, mainly Taco Bell!! ;)  Did you start out on 100mg right away?  I have to make my way up to 100mg.  Great idea on the yogurt because it's great for getting rid of bloat caused by yeast overgrowth as many of us women have in our bodies.  Great tip!!!  Great job on your weightloss results!!!  Do you do any kind of exercise too?  If so, what kind?  I'm thinking about pilates and maybe taking up kickboxing as a stress reliever.  I am so excited that my DR has put me on this (for migraines), i PRAY I'll get the loss of appetite side effect!!!!!  I so badly need to lose 40 lbs!!  Thank you so much for responding!  Anyone else with any advice is greatly appreciated!!  Have a great week!

[heidivonh]

Hi! My doctor also put me on it for migraines. I was getting them 2 to 3 times per week. Now I get them once every 3 to 4 weeks. That is quite an improvement. He started me on 25mg last November and slowly increased it until the end of April when he had me on 100mg. I didn't experience any change in appetite until I hit 100mg. It seemed to happen over night. I should exercise more than I do because my father owns a health club (and I work there too..lol), but my mindset is not there yet. I will get there though. I'm sure if I did, the weight would come off faster. My naturopath checks my body fat percentage every Friday to be sure I am eating enough and not losing any muscle. So, be sure you eat the 75g of fat per day that your body needs. If you do, you won't crave the fatty foods. He also told me to eat lots of fibre. I could tell you all night what he has taught me, but it I'm too tired and you would probably get bored reading it...just be sure you eat 3 meals a day and 3 snacks a day.

Take care...Heidi

[sky74]

You have been on topamax since last november.I was wondering if you have had any trouble with hair loss ? Im on 200 mg a day for migrains.I'v lost 48lbs. now ,but I'm haveing major hair loss.The Dr. has blood work and says everything is normal.

[heidivonh]

Yes I have had some trouble with hair loss, but my hair is so thick and curly that I'm fine with it. 200mg is a high dose. Does it afect your appetite more is there no difference from 100mg? I never even thought of mentioning the hair loss to my doctor...maybe I should...but he'll probably come up with same results as your dotor did...

[sky74]

I have no difference in the appetite loss with the 200 mg than I did  with the 100 mg.I also have ,well had very,very thick hair in june I donated to the locks of love for the 4th time in 6 years.Its so thick they got 2, 12" ponytails.now since aug 22 i have filled 3/4 of a gallon baggy with my hair .Its fallig out fast .Does your hair loss seem normal or like its more than normal after about 7 or 8 months on topamax? thanx

[heidivonh]

Hi, Well, this morning I really paid attention in the shower and I think that's when my hair falls out the most. It seems to fall out a lot when I run my fingers through my hair when I rinse it. I also noticed that the hair gets caught in my anklet. It's funny how you don't notice it quite as much until it's pointed out. I knew it was falling out, but didn't pay much attention to how much it was.

If you want to send me an e-mail, that would be fine. It would be easier to talk. ***@****

Have a nice weekend!

Heidi

[Anneeee]

I had horrible hair loss from taking topomax for only 2 weeks.  The sad part is, it didn't stop falling out when I discontinued it.  My daughter is a cosmetologist and she told me the topo causes the hair follicles to close.  What has fallen out, wont grow back, but the hair loss should stop when you discontinue the drug.  The Topo really messed up my cycle too. I think my  adrenals took a hard hit from just two weeks on the drug.  For me it was not worth it.  I was stupid, depressed and started having panic attacks on it.  I would loose blocks of time. Huge blocks.  I would get in the shower and when I got out look at the clock and realize I had been in there forever............was I just standing there? I would stare at the computer screen for long blocks of time and not realize it. It was scary. For migrain sufferers, if this works, its a wonder drug for those people, but to take it for weight loss alone, I would never do it again.  Just my experiance. Of course, everyone is differant.....

[sky74]

i take topamax for migraines. if you read up on it most people start haveing hair loss after a couple of months . are you sure it was the topamax after only 2 weeks ,thats realy scary !i read in another post of yours that you are still haveing hair loss .is that still going on ?Im wondering what im up against because this med does help with the headaches so much .thank you and good luck. sallie

[Anneeee]

yes, still hair loss.  I started taking evening primrose oil about 10 days ago. I have some hope this will help.

My sister in law has had a great deal of hair loss w/topo also, but after living with a head ache everyday of her life, its worth it to her.  She cycles with the drug.  Works her way up, then starts decreasing dose again.  Seems to work for her ...

[tiff423]

Hi again!

Well, I'm at 50mg/day now and I will be at 75mg on Saturday.  I feel like I'm doped up on Benadryl all day-sooooo tired!!!  Hope this will pass!!  Also getting some pressure behind my right eye.  Almost feels like a bad muscle twitch, yet no twitch, just feels like it wants to lead up to a twitch.  Does that make sense?  I dont know myself b/c this med is making me not make any sense at all in a lot of stuff I say.  Which really sucks because I talk to customers all day long in person and on the phone and they are beginning to look at me strangely.  They probably think I've lost my mind or on drugs! Hope that will pass soon too!  Havent really noticed the hairloss side effect yet, because I lose a lot of hair each day anyway.  I actually have to run my fingers thru my hair in the shower to get the loose ones out-and there is a lot of them-so they dont clog the drain everyday.  Draino is our friend in my house! (sad, huh?) ;)  So, it probably wont be much of a difference to me. All in all, I hope these side effects are worth it!  I hope I see a difference in the migraines and maybe even the loss of appetite (hopefully)!  If not, I'm definitly stopping this.  I dont like feeling like I'm staring into space all day!!!  Have a great weekend!! :)  Tiff

[heidivonh]

Hi! The dopey clumsy feeling does go away. As long as you are increasing the med, you will feel it. Once you are on a dose that is stable, the feelings should subside after 2 to 3 weeks. I didn't notice a difference in the appetite and the migraines until I was at 100mg. Everyone of course is different...You have a great weekend too!!

[msvicky]

I have been on Topamax for 2.5 years now for Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD). The current dose is 400mg for more than half that time. Many years ago I was on Lithium and gained 200lbs during the 6 year period that I was taking it. But after I went off the drug and went to a natural regimen, found that my body would not allow me to lose any substantial amount of weight without gaining it back. I carried this weight for 15 years. Two years ago, I was seeking help in the summer as I was having difficulties with my SAD cycle. New research had been released at that time linking the weight problems to SAD. So my doctor put me on Topamax, which is also used as a mood stabilizer, to help release the lock on the weight. As far as the weight, the first 50 lbs. seemed easy with moderate lifestyle modifications of diet and exercise. I have lost a total of 140 lbs; but have had to make permanent lifestyle changes to diet and currently workout an hour 5 days a week.  

Now the side affects: the dopiness mentioned was more of a drugged out stupor for me and only occurred at dosage changes.
Tingling in the fingers or toes lessens over time; occasionally have bad days. I do tend to have numbness in the tips of my
fingers most of the time. These things I've gotten use to. What I've finally discovered from reading here, is the cause of the hair loss which was extreme over the last six months. I've slowed it down to a tolerable level using a hair product called Nioxin, that you can get at a beauty supply store. I have lost half the fullness of my hair-I'm not sure about regrowth as of yet; luckily, I have a lot of hair. I've had some other stumbling
blocks associated with this med and my eye doctor told me this year it listed associated possible side affects as Glaucoma. So everyone needs to weigh the risk they are willing to take. For me, after carrying 200 lbs for 15 yrs,  I willing to take the risk. Unfortunately, none of my doctors have given an answer to what happens when I actually lose the weight, as I'm thinking I may have to stay on a maintenance dose.(This is probably based upon my situation w/SAD).
Eye twitching: tried to explain this one to the doctor as I thought it was from a severe fall that I had taken in which I
hit face down on the cement. What I discovered is that it is not actually your eye twitching. It only happens to me when I am overly stressed or very tired. The twitching is actually in the eyelid. I'm not sure if it is a nerve or vessel that twitches making it feel like the eye itself is twitching. I had to stand in front a mirror to figure it out because no one else could see it. I have not followed through with the doctor on this.

Hope this info was of help.

Vicky

[missyhair]

First of all I am not a nurse ot doctor but I wanted to comment on the hair loss. I have also been prescribed topamax for pain, mood stabilizer and weight loss so I have been looking a lot on the net. I have seen a few things about hair loss. I wanted to comment on that. I have been a hairstylist for 24 years and one thing that I have noticed without doubt is that when one of my customers loses a significant amount of weight (25 lbs or more) they always have a loss of hair. When your body suddenly changes the amount of calories it takes in it also is getting a change of nutrients. Our body will go in survival mode and the nutrients will go to the essential organs and the other organs will get the nutrients left over (so to speak) being the hair, skin, nails. Which usually results in hair loss, acne or dull skin and brittle nails. that is why you MUST talk to your doctor or pharmacist about a good supplement to help off set the hair loss. I hope this all makes sense to you. Like I said I have been a stylist for 24 years and NRVER fail when someone loses a significant amount of weight they also lose some hair

[Chopa's Girl]

I have been on 400mg twice a day of topamax for at least a year or year and a half. I have lost 165 pounds (in about 2 years).  It killed my appetite and I barely ate anything until just recently.    However, over the past few months I have noticed my hair falling out excessively throughout the day and coming out in big clumps in the shower.  It is getting increasingly worse. The past few days my scalp or perhaps my hair follicles have started hurting too. I used to have extremely thick, healthy hair. People are always picking hairs of my clothes and my boyfriend told me last night that it is getting visible. My hair is everywhere, on all my clothes, all over the house... but not on my head. Great. I am  getting ready to go off the topamax especially now that I have just learned that this is a side effect.  I didn't know.  Had I had known would I have gone off it?  I don't know...  I had been fat all my life and it was so exciting to watch the pounds drop off so fast and change sizes so quickly.  But now I am seriously going bald at age 35 and I am really freaking out.  It isn't worth it anymore to be thin.  I want my hair back.  I was a happy fat person.  I am a miserable size 12 now.  I am so scared it won't grow back and I am so broke I would never be able to afford a wig.  Can you imagine... wearing a wig at my age?  All because I decided to lose weight?  And my doctor keeps telling me my hair is falling out because of stress.  I am furious with him.  He didn't even suggest that I take vitamins while I was losing the weight.  I also don't enjoy all the loose skin that will never bounce back... Weight loss isn't always worth it, especially when you take a pill to do it.  I found out the hard way.

[Love4me]

I have been on Topamax 150mg for 1 1/2 years and recently went off because of hairloss. I did have 25 lbs. weightloss but also noticed in past 6 months that my hair was falling out! If there was just one thing that I do take great care of it is my hair. I am afraid to wash or style it at all! However, I do! It is now about 50% the thickness that it once was prior to Topamax. I have started to take Biotin 1000mcg about 2 months ago but did take a multivitamin the entire time. I had great success expecially at first and then my weight stayed the same which was fine. I am now using Minoxidil at night.
Aside from the hair loss I have definetly found that since discontinuing the drug I have immediately put on 5 lbs but also noticed that I retain water which is not something that I did when on Topamax. I do work out reguarly.
Has anyone elso experienced the weight gain and water retention upon discontinuing Topamax? Also I have been reading more on how others like myself who have lost their hair....any other remedies or suggestions?

[Mercury1951]

I take 100 mg. of Topamax daily for migraines.  Hasn't really helped at all with weight loss, but does help the migraines.  Just wanted to add my two cents on the hair loss issues.  Add a daily biotin supplement.  And take a very high dosage. It's water soluable so it isn't toxic to your system.  I take the highest dosage I can buy which is 5000 mcg, once a day.  Topamax keeps the body from absorbing biotin which is crucial for hair growth.  It might take about eight weeks or so for you to notice regrowth, but it does help.  Keep using the Nioxin products too.  There is one called Follicle Booster which is expensive, but helps a lot.  And drink tons of water.  Topamax is dehydrating and water will help the tingling sensations you get, along with the brain fog that comes with it.  A couple of gallons of water a day will help.  That's a lot, but you'll notice the difference.  Plus you need to replenish your electrolytes with an occasional sports drink.  Again, speaking from experience here.  Good luck!

[Rapunzil]

I was very glad to find your comments here. I have been taking Topamax for about eight months as an appetite suppressant.I was also taking Naproxen for joint pain which I discontinued in August. Hair loss can also be a side effect of this drug! My dermatologist confirmed my fears two days ago that my hair is "shedding". I am very depressed. I was not sure what was causing it. I have been very careful to get enough protein and vitamins in my diet. And actually the way I have lost the 50 lbs. (and you won't believe it) was just by weight bearing exercise at the gym three days a week. I didn't change my eating at all, because I've been eating very little for years. The Topamax just made it easier for me to get throught the day. But I don't really care. I just don't want to lose my hair. I'm contacting my doctor tomorrow to go off the drug and I'm going to add the biotin and some Omega-3 Thanks for the tips. I just hope I've caught it in time. I was so happy about the weight loss which I will continue, but I'm not sure how I'll deal with the hair loss. Sorry this is so long. I'm in a panic.

[Luvmooz]

I started topamax 2 years ago for severe migraines.  Last July (2005) I started to notice my hair falling out, on my clothes, my chair at work, in the tub, my combs, etc.  In October, it became so thin I decided to cut 7" off my hair.  I would say I had lost 50% volume.  My doctors all said don't know what the problem is, everything is normal, all tests are ok, including dermatologist.  He mentioned Telogen Effluvium and that I wouldn't go bald.  Well, that was reassuring.  I have only lost 10 lbs on topamax, I needed it more for the migraines than the weightloss.  I bounce back and forth on it because I want my hair more than a temporary cure for migraines.  I still lose hair, but not to the volume that I had, but I don't have that volume to lose.  I remember looking for posts on hair loss for topamax patients last year and no one reported it.  I was wondering if I was the only one.  Thanks for your posts.

[sky74]

THANK YOU !!! For all the post about hair loss due to topamax .I have been looking for input for months! The doctors still say all test are normal. I have been taking biotin for about 4 weeks and zinc. I have been so scaredto lose all my hair at 32 to stop migraines. Thank You everyone and GOOD LUCK!i still take my 200 mg a day .I just wonder if when you go off ,if the hair loss stops.    

                  Sallie

[RSKontos]

My daughter and I take Topomax for migraines.  My daughter takes it for complicated migraines that lead to seizures and topomax is an anti seizure drug.  Her neurologist never mentioned hair loss.  I even called to verify.  She said that hair loss isn't mentioned.  but that everyone's system is different.  If extreme weight is involved then that is the culprit not the drug.  The drug only helps kill the appetite.  YOu still need some will.  The weight loss you are taking about is fantastic.  I have been on the drug for 2 years and I 47 and about to enter menopause and I haven't noticed a large amount of hair loss and believe I would notice since as I have aged my hair has thinned and it wasn't thick to begin with.  I lost 16 lbs.  and haven't continued as I didn't need to lose anymore.  My daughter lost 12 and had to gain 6 back as she is small only 106.  So I believe the hair loss is extreme weight loss and not the drug so much.

[RSKontos]

Oh, I went from 7-8 migraines a month to NONE now!!!!!

[sky74]

I went from 2 - 3 migrains a week to none.  I take 200 mg of topamax a day .I did not start my hair loss untill about 8 or 9 months on it .In over 1 years time I'v lost 53 lbs. Alote of walking and playing softball with my 15 year old daughter this summer.The weight loss is not the cause of my hair loss my doctors have checked my blood levels.I'm not vitamine dificient and my hormone levels came back fine .I'v had a hysterectomy. Like other people on it I'v read about my hair folices hurt.My doctor says my scalp is very dry .I see another doctor in January. I dont have any regrowth.It bothers me alot that my hair is falling out but for now I'm staying on the med because I'm not on it for the weight loss I'm on it to controll my migraines.It does that very well.There are other sites that you can tell about your side effects, good and bad that you can look into.Some people dont say anything about weight loss but hair loss. Good luck !and Thank you!

[pczarnik]

I am taking 75mg. of topamax and also taking Zoloft and Verapamil for migraines.  I am not loosing any weight.  I am so frustrated because I feel that I'm the only one that's not losing.  Does anyone think it's because of the other drugs I'm taking?  Next week I go to 100mg.  Please help