Hi Bigalone,
Topamax/Topiramate is approved in the US and Canada as an
anticonvulsant and anti-migraine drug, not for weight loss. One of
the less common side effects of the drug is weight loss, according to
the USPDI drug guide, but then so are bleeding gums. Memory loss and
eye problems are "more common." I'd conclude that taking this drug
for weight loss is thus a BAD idea.
USP DI: Topiramate (Systemic)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/203085.html
Medmaster: Topiramate
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a697012.html
Both of these monographs about the drug are found in the MEDLINEplus
(www.medlineplus.gov) system from the National Library of Medicine.
Please read them for dosage information (USP DI suggests 50mg/day as a
starter for treating epileptic seizures).
In addition, here are some online sites that talk about Topamax as a
weight loss drug. Note that the drug not only is not approved for
that use - it was actually being tested by Johnson&Johnson and the
trials were stopped because of all the bad side effects. What this
means is not only that it's a bad idea to take the drug for anything
but seizure control, but that no one really knows what dosage would be
safe for weight loss even if it were safe to take it for that.
The Weight Loss Slimmer
http://weightlossinternational.com/newsletter/topamax-as-weight-loss-drug.html
"It ends up that phase 3 weight loss trials had to be discontinued,
because the drug produced significant, unfavorable side effects.
Hence, Topamax is not approved for weight loss."
Topamax Weight Loss Trials Halted
http://www.injuryboard.com/view.cfm/Article=1236
I found the two items from the drug guides by going to MedlinePlus
(URL given above) and searching for Topamax; to find the websites I
searched the Google engine for "topamax weight loss." I hope these
articles are of use to you!
- Librariankt |
