I'm still pre-op and have around 6 months to wait. Yesterday I saw the doctor and she gave me a diet sheet (similar to the diet I'm already following), and offered me xenical - which I refused because of those horrible side effects, and then offered me Topamax instead. I took the Topamax. When I got home I researched it on the internet. I can't believe she gave this to me! It's for epilepsy and migraines. Also used to treat bi-polar disorder. There are some serious side effects like hair loss, memory loss, acne, numbness and tingling. If you stop taking it cold-turkey it can bring on seizures, regardless of if you're epileptic or not! I've taken 2 tablets - one yesterday and one this morning, just to see how it is, but am not taking any more because I'm feeling really spaced out and dopey. Ok - I'm not hungry, but it's not worth this strange feeling.

One very weird thing - I read in the forums last night that people were complaining that after taking it that soda tasted flat. So I tried it as an experiment - and it's true! 3 hours after taking a tablet I tried a can of pepsi and it tasted totally flat. So weird!

My mother-in-law was on Topomax for bipolar disorder and she did end up losing quite a bit of weight but she was a zombie when she was on it. I'm really surprised the doc gave it to you. As you mentioned, it really does have some nasty side effects.

I hate seeing docs pushing meds for weight loss. There is no miracle pill out there and a big part of our problem is that we need to learn to eat correctly. pills can't do that.

I was on topamax for years for my migraines. That stuff is wicked. Baaaaaaad side effects for me and awful to get off of. And, I never lost a pound that I could attrbute to the med.

I was in topomax for 2 years. I had so many dental problems because of it and my mouth and head hurt all the time..Its off label use for weight loss did nothing for me. I would suggest to anyone unless you medically need it don't use it

I was on Topomax for years because of my migraines. During the month long 'getting up to full strength' incremental dosage increase I developed a severe stutter (thank god it only lasted for a few weeks), memory loss (that's never fully come back, btw), and my taste buds totally changed. Soda tasted flat, apple juice tasted like what I imagine pine sol to taste like, etc. My family actually called it being TopoStupid because I would forget what I was in the middle of saying. Unfortunately it was the only drug that made my migraines go away. I finally decided that I would rather be in pain then continue to take it. Oh, and I never lost any weight on it.

Topamax is the worst! I was seeing a psychologist and I gained weight on Lexapro and Abilify and he gave me Topamax and told me to just eat fruit all day and one meal at night. WTF. I think I was only on it for one month and felt soooo stupid. I heard it's also called Dope-amax. In my line of work I can't afford to be that stupid. So I tapered off and never looked back. After the majority of my life struggling with weight and pills, I never want to take another "weight loss" pill again. So glad I'm sleeved!

I take it for my migrains, but I got it down to just 50 mg. The lowest dose and that is all I need. Yes. It does effect your memory and I NEVER lost one pound from taking it. It also helps my fibromyalgia and has fewer issues than some of those other drugs. I would never take it just for weight loss. I have been off it cold turkey since surgery. If I can keep the head pain at bay, I will never go back. Never effected my taste that I know of.

I was on it for migraines. OMG! I hated this stuff but I had no migraines.lol I had joint pain in my knees to the point I couldn't walk and thought I was going to die but not Migraines. Oh I also couldn't think through a whole sentence while I was on it either and lost 0lbs. When I found out that it was making my knees hurt... I did quit cold turkey and threw those things away! Now that I have lost over 80lbs... no more migraines . Amazing how that works. I think it was just the spikes in my blood pressure that cause them in the first place.

I would ask for something else. Just saying.

It truly is terrible stuff. I've thrown it in the bin now. I had to go home from work today because I was feeling so ill on it. I can't believe a doctor would prescribe this just for weight loss. I do suffer from migraines, and I really sympathise with those of you out there who've been taking it for years because of your migraines.

I'll stick to regular dieting and exercise while I'm waiting to be sleeved. No nasty pills for me!

Diver diva good for you!! I have never taken Topamax. But I had a doc a couple years ago that decided I was bipolar and gave me like 5 pills a day to take plus I was on Ambien and Xanax to boot. I was a complete zombie all day and I was acting very strange all the time. After a few mths of that I went to a new doc and got a second opinion. My husband was very scared for me because of how I was acting on all the meds...the new doc weined me off all the meds and instead gave me a light dose antidepressant for anxiety. I was never bipolar. Just depressed due to some life stresses and had lots of anxiety issues. I can recognize a doc that's going to be a pill pusher now from a mile away and I run for the hills!! Only you know what's good for you!!