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Topamax Weight Loss. Topiramate or sometimes called Topamax is a seizure medication, additionally called an anticonvulsant. Topiramate is used to treat specific sorts of seizures in grown-ups and kids who are at least 2 years of age. Trokendi XR is for grown-ups and kids who are at least 6 years of age.
Topiramate uses
A few brands of topiramate are additionally used to forestall headache migraines in grown-ups and adolescents who are in the age range of 12 years. These prescriptions will just forestall headaches and cerebral pains or decrease the number of attacks. However, it won’t treat a migraine that has just started.
If there’s a method securely drop some lbs while sitting on the sofa and watching desperate stay-at-home parents, that is unquestionably something we need to think about.
Well, a few people say Topamax is that enchantment weight reduction slug the world has been hanging tight for.
The medication should treat and forestall seizures and headaches, yet individuals who took it saw that they likewise shed pounds on it. Indeed, the creators of Topamax explicitly list “weight reduction” as a typical reaction to taking the medication.
This is a medication that is made to help control seizures and headaches—not weight reduction—which unquestionably raises a warning in case you’re considering taking it just to get more fit.
Topamax Weight Loss
IF You Take Topiramate to lose weight, You’re Going Off-Label
The medication is endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration as being ok for treating seizures and headaches—yet it is anything but a medication that weight reduction doctors would typically suggest, says Peter LePort, M.D., a bariatric specialist and clinical overseer of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif. “It’s a genuine medicine,” he says. “Regardless of whether it’s sheltered to use for eating fewer carbs is truly uncertain at this moment.”
Worth calling attention to: Topamax comes with a bunch of other potential side effects that you really don’t want to mess with. We’re talking an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, vision problems that can lead to blindness, an increase in the level of acid in your blood (which can lead to soft bones and kidney stones), and birth defects if you take it when you’re pregnant.
Topamax symptoms
Individuals Who Take topiramate to lose weight Do Lose Weight—But There’s A Huge Catch
A couple of studies have taken a gander at Topamax and weight reduction. One, which was distributed in the diary Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, dissected existing exploration and found that Topamax prompted a normal of seven and a half pounds of weight reduction in large patients with type 2 diabetes.
However, and this is a major yet—it improved the probability that a patient would have “genuine unfavorable occasions” like the reactions we referenced previously.
Another meta-examination of 10 investigations distributed in the diary Obesity Reviews found that large patients lost a normal of 12 beats on Topamax, contrasted with the individuals who took a placebo. The individuals who took the medication for 28 weeks or longer had more noteworthy weight reduction than the individuals who took it for a littler measure of time. Yet, once more, the investigation end makes reference to that symptoms of topiramate to lose weight should be thought of.
“This isn’t a weight reduction that will occur in up to 14 days.”
What’s more, a JAMA meta-investigation and survey of a few medications that could cause weight reduction found that Topamax drove obese patients to lose at least 5 percent of their body weight after taking it for one year.
Worth Noting: Topamax or topiramate to lose weight hasn’t been read for weight reduction in a long term, twofold visually impaired, fake treatment controlled preliminary, which is the highest quality level for research. It’s additionally just been concentrated in individuals with stoutness, so it’s difficult to state how it may affect somebody who simply needs to drop a little weight. Furthermore, once more, there are those reactions, which each examination appears to caution about.
Something else you should know: It would take some strong effort to shed pounds with this medication. “This isn’t a weight reduction that will occur in possibly 14 days,” LePort says.
Concerning whether this could work for long term weight reduction, LePort says that “no one truly knows.” But, he brings up this, “what has generally been found with weight reduction prescriptions is they may work while they’re being taken—however the thought isn’t to take them until the end of time. A great deal of patients restore the weight after they quit taking it.”
Would It Be A Horrible Idea To Still Be Interested In Taking It?
Potential symptoms are the big deal here. While a lot of individuals take Topamax for its planned as topiramate to lose weight reason and have no issues, others have entirely significant ones. Likewise, you need a medicine for this, and it’s really impossible your primary care physician is going to adore recommending this for weight reduction when it’s intended to treat other wellbeing conditions.
So… it’s presumably best to converse with your PCP about different alternatives.
Topiramate side effects
Topiramate warnings are 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.
Mental problems such as confusion, slowed thinking, trouble concentrating or paying attention, nervousness, memory problems, or speech/language problems may also occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: signs of kidney stones (such as severe back/side/abdominal/groin pain, fever, chills, painful/frequent urination, bloody/pink urine).
A small number of people who take anticonvulsants for any condition (such as seizures, bipolar disorder, pain) may experience depression, suicidal thoughts/attempts, or other mental/mood problems.
Tell your doctor right away if you or your family/caregiver notice any unusual/sudden changes in your mood, thoughts, or behavior including signs of depression, suicidal thoughts/attempts, thoughts about harming yourself.
Tell your doctor right away if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: rapid breathing, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, bone pain, broken bones, loss of consciousness, unusual bleeding/bruising.
Rarely, topiramate may cause a very serious eye problem, generally within 1 month of starting treatment. If untreated, this eye problem can lead to permanent blindness. Therefore, get medical help right away if any of these side effects occur: sudden vision changes (such as decreased vision, blurred vision), eye pain/redness.
This medication can rarely cause a serious metabolic problem (high amount of ammonia in the blood), especially if you are also taking valproic acid. Tell your doctor right away if you experience sudden/unexplained tiredness, vomiting, or mental changes (such as decreased alertness).
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US –
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Related Links
List Topamax side effects by likelihood and severity.
How to take topiramate for weight loss
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage form (extended-release capsules):
- For weight loss:
- Adults—At first, one tablet of 3.75 milligrams (mg) of phentermine and 23 mg of topiramate once a day for 14 days. After 14 days, your doctor may increase your dose to 7.5 mg of phentermine and 46 mg of topiramate once a day. Then, your doctor may increase your dose as needed up to 15 mg of phentermine and 92 mg of topiramate.
- Children—Use is not recommended.
- For weight loss:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking phentermine and topiramate,
if you use Topiramate to lose weight and you have some problems:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to phentermine (Adipex-P, Suprenza); topiramate (Topamax); sympathomimetic amine medications such as midodrine (Orvaten, ProAmatine) or phenylephrine (in cough and cold medications); any other medications, or any of the ingredients in phentermine and topiramate capsules. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients for you to be able to acknoledge taht it is topiramate to lose weight.
- tell your doctor if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or if you have taken one of these medications during the past two weeks. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take phentermine and topiramate if you are taking one or more of these medications or have taken one of these medications during the past 2 weeks.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention other prescription or nonprescription medications or herbal products for weight loss and any of the following: amitriptyline (Elavil); carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as acetazolamide (Diamox), methazolamide, or zonisamide (Zonegran); diuretics (‘water pills’) including furosemide (Lasix) or hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ); insulin or other medications for diabetes; ipratropium (Atrovent); lithium (Lithobid); medications for anxiety, high blood pressure, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, motion sickness, Parkinson’s disease, ulcers, or urinary problems; medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproic acid (Stavzor, Depakene); pioglitazone (Actos, in Actoplus, in Duetact); sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you have glaucoma (a condition in which increased pressure in the eye can cause vision loss) or an overactive thyroid gland. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take phentermine and topiramate.
- tell your doctor if you have had a heart attack or a stroke in the past 6 months, if you have ever thought about killing yourself or tried to do so, and if you are following a ketogenic diet (high fat, low carbohydrate diet used to control seizures). Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had depression; an irregular heartbeat; heart failure; seizures; metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood); osteopenia, osteomalacia, or osteoporosis (conditions in which the bones are brittle or weak and may break easily); ongoing diarrhea; any condition that affects your breathing; diabetes; kidney stones; or kidney or liver disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you take phentermine and topiramate during pregnancy, your baby may develop a birth defect called cleft lip or cleft palate. Your baby may develop this birth defect very early in the pregnancy before you know that you are pregnant. You must use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment. You must take a pregnancy test before you begin your treatment and once every month during your treatment. If you become pregnant while taking phentermine and topiramate, stop taking the medication of topiramate to lose weight and call your doctor immediately.
- you can use oral contraceptives (birth control pills) to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with phentermine and topiramate. You may experience unusual spotting (unexpected vaginal bleeding) if you use this type of birth control. You will still be protected from pregnancy if you are spotting, but you can talk to your doctor about other forms of birth control if the spotting is bothersome.
- tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking phentermine and topiramate.
- you should know that phentermine and topiramate may slow your thinking and movements and affect your vision. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
- do not drink alcoholic beverages while you are taking phentermine and topiramate. Alcohol can make the side effects of phentermine and topiramate worse.
- you should know that phentermine and topiramate can prevent you from sweating and make it harder for your body to cool down when it gets very hot. Avoid exposure to heat, drink plenty of fluids, and tell your doctor if you have a fever, headache, muscle cramps, or an upset stomach, or if you are not sweating as usual.
- you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways and you may become suicidal (thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so) while you are taking phentermine and topiramate. A small number of adults and children 5 years of age and older (about 1 in 500 people) who took antiepileptics such as topiramate to treat various conditions during clinical studies became suicidal during their treatment. Some of these people developed suicidal thoughts and behavior as early as 1 week after they started taking the medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: panic attacks; agitation or restlessness; new or worsening irritability, anxiety, or depression; acting on dangerous impulses; difficulty falling or staying asleep; aggressive, angry, or violent behavior; mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood); talking or thinking about wanting to hurt yourself or end your life; withdrawing from friends and family; preoccupation with death and dying; giving away prized possessions, or any other unusual changes in behavior or mood. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
Topiramate interactions Medicines
The most frequently checked interactions from interaction reports for topiramate are the medicines listed below.
- Abilify (aripiprazole)
- Adderall (amphetamine / dextroamphetamine)
- Advil (ibuprofen)
- amitriptyline
- aspirin
- Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
- bupropion
- citalopram
- Cymbalta (duloxetine)
- ethanol
- Fish Oil (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)
- gabapentin
- Garcinia Cambogia
- ibuprofen
- Lexapro (escitalopram)
- Lyrica (pregabalin)
- metformin
- methadone
- naproxen
- Nexium (esomeprazole)
- Norco (acetaminophen / hydrocodone)
- phentermine
- ProAir HFA (albuterol)
- propranolol
- Seroquel (quetiapine)
- Singulair (montelukast)
- sumatriptan
- Synthroid (levothyroxine)
- tramadol
- Tylenol (acetaminophen)
- Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
- Wellbutrin (bupropion)
- Xanax (alprazolam)
- Zoloft (sertraline)
- Zyrtec (cetirizine)
Topiramate alcohol/food interactions
There is 1 alcohol/food interaction with topiramate
Topiramate disease interactions (topiramate to lose weight)
There are 9 disease interactions with topiramate which include:
- bone marrow depression/blood dyscrasias
- oligohidrosis/hyperthermia
- severe liver disease
- suicidal tendency
- renal dysfunction
Mechanism of Action of Topiramate
JUst as you all know, topiramate is a medication that is used to treat seizures and prevent migraines not as topiramate to lose weight. It is usually taken in a pill form two times a day. Its mechanism of action is relatively unknown but has been researched to show that it interacts with the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA).
A neurotransmitter is a chemical in the brain that transmits communication from one brain cell to another. GABA decreases the action of nerve cells in order to help control anxiety and fear. GABA also plays a role in behavior, cognition, and the body’s stress response.
Topiramate has been shown to enhance the GABA, thereby helping the mind and body remain calm and less excited.
Topiramate also reduces the action of excitatory neurotransmitters through kainate and AMPA receptors, as well as decreasing the action of carbonic anhydrase not as topiramate to lose weight. Kainate and AMPA are ionotropic glutamate receptors that produce excitatory responses by allowing the passage of sodium and potassium.
The decrease in response from kainate and AMPA reduce the risk of seizures from occurring. Carbonic anhydrase is not directly associated with seizure activity but is involved in transporting carbon dioxide in the blood.
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Andy is intrigued by how topiramate works in the body. He is interested in chemistry and pharmacology so he asks the doctor about the structure of Topiramate as well.
