One of the common side effects of Topamax, an anti-convulsant medication from Ortho-McNeil, is weight loss. Therefore, the medication has been used for weight loss in some groups, and some populations have been studied including patients with weight gain related to psychotropic drugs, patients with a binge eating disorder, migraine patients, and uncomplicated obesity. Although the exact mechanism of how Topamax brings about weight loss is not fully understood, doctors and researchers have several theories.
History
The generic name for Topamax is topiramate. This medication is an anti-convulsant, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the treatment of epilepsy and migraine headaches. The drug also has many off-label uses including being used for weight loss and in the treatment of bipolar disorder and addictions. Topiramate was originally being developed as a weight loss compound, but the adverse-event profile in clinical trials was unacceptable to Ortho-McNeil and studies with the conventional drug form were discontinued. Studies with new formulations are now being conducted.
Key Points
The rule with Topamax is to "start low and go slow." This, like many other medications, needs time to build up to the correct therapeutic level, the one that is right for you. Therefore, your doctor will probably start you out with a low dose, typically 25 mg twice a day, and slowly increase it overtime. This allows your body time to adjust. Topamax is available in 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg tablets. According to information found at the Topamax.com website, studies have shown weight loss in patients receiving from 32 to 384 mg per day, and the reported weight loss ranges from 4.8 percent to as high as 16.5 percent from baseline, with 75 percent or more patients experiencing weight loss.
Whether Topamax is being taken for migraines or another reason, weight loss is a common side effect. According to Dr. Brian Loftus with Bellaire Neurology, some patients taking Topamax for epilepsy or migraines lose as much as 15 to 20 percent of their body weight but other patients do not lose any weight. In most cases, the patients are taking between 100 and 200 mg of Topamax per day, and they report that the weight loss is effortless.
Benefits
Topamax is only available with a doctor's prescription. This means you will be under the care of a health care professional while taking the drug. Your doctor will likely require regular check ups that include blood work during that time. This close monitoring helps to ensure that any adverse conditions related to the drug will be discovered quickly and treated.
Considerations
Although even low doses of Topamax usually result in weight loss, it can also result in what most people consider to be some very unpleasant side effects. These include paraesthesia, which is a tingling or prickling sensation in the hands and feet. There can also be memory loss and confusion, difficulty with word-finding and somnolence. Fatigue, anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, taste perversion, hypo-aesthesia, insomnia and mood problems can also develop.
Precautions
Topamax can cause vision problems for some people that results in clumsiness or unsteadiness. It is important to know how your body reacts to the drug before you drive or do anything that requires coordination. The medication adds to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants. Birth control pills containing estrogen may not work properly if taken while you are taking Topamax. This medication may cause you to sweat less, resulting in an increase in your body temperature. Use care not to become overheated or dehydrated.
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