[KimberlyP]

Hi Everyone!

For the past few weeks I have found myself binge eating like I used to before Weight Watchers. This terrifies me because I feel like I'm taking a step back and all of the hard work I've put in these past 20 months is for nothing. I need to update my ticker because my home scale says I'm back at 167 this morning. That's still a 100lb loss but I was so close to goal a few months ago and at this point I'm not sure I'll even get there. For example, yesterday, I worked out and burned 1000 calories at the gym only to ruin it by having the all you can eat shrimp at Red Lobster. It's days like that, that make me believe I'll never make it to goal.

I spoke to my doctor about my binge eating issues and she put me on a medication called Topamax. This particular medication is used in the prevention of migraines BUT also helps people not only lose weight but controls the impulse to binge eat. I took it for the first time today (About 30 minutes ago) and am feeling a little anxious because I'm not sure what to expect. Does anyone here take this? If so, did you have any harsh side effects?

[KatRustler]

I took Topamax for about a year to control migraines. It worked, but I found the side effects not worth it. I only get a few headaches a year now and Imitrex does the trick for them. Topamax made me very anxious, made my feet and hands tingle and also made me "foggy". Sometimes I could not come up with the word I wanted to say and it also affected my short term memory. Since I am in sales and communicate over the telephone quite a bit, it's important for me to be extra sharp. I had hoped for the added benefit of weight loss, but for me it didn't happen like it did for others. Hope you have better results!

[KimberlyP]

I am really debating taking this medication any further because of the stories I've read. I heard it's also called 'Dopamax' because of the mental fog it causes. I'm an EMT and I definately have to be on my toes at all times so I'm thinking this may not be a good idea to continue taking it.

[MrsD2008]

I'd suggest talking to your doctor about your concerns, only he or she can give you the best advice.

It seems like you're having anxiety about weight loss even without the Topomax in the equation. Have you thought about seeing a therapist, trying yoga or doing a stress management class? I'm just throwing out ideas to try to help, maybe it will give you an idea!

Good luck!

[JennifersDream]

I personally was put on topamax for epilepsy and migraines and after taking it for only 3 months i began to lose hair like a chemo patient! my hair was down to my butt at the time and started falling out in handfuls----upon talking to my neurologist about it, he said yes there was a 3% chance of hair loss while on medication, sorry but this was not an option for me. Ive been able to control my seizures for over 2 years now on my own with meditation, diet, exercise and stress control. Topamax is a very scarry drug if you ask me.

[carbstart]

I wanted to put it out there that I've been on 100 mg of Topamax for a month with absolutely no side effects, no effects whatsoever. It seems to be doing nothing. No appetite suppression. I'm getting off of it.