What Is Topiramate Used for?

When used in combination with Phentermine, Topiramate is used to help people lose weight. It offers a potential solution for people who have struggled to lose weight and keep that weight off. Our experts at Simply Slim Medical in Bethesda, MD and Falls Church, VA can prescribe this combination medication to help you reach your weight loss goals.

What Is Topiramate Used for?

Primary Uses

On its own, without the additional component of Phentermine, this drug is labeled for the treatment of specific kinds of seizures, including primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures or grand-mal seizures, and partial-onset seizures. Additionally, it is also prescribed to prevent migraine headaches, even though it cannot treat pain that results from migraine headaches once they’ve already occurred. One side effect of this medication is weight loss, which has triggered interest in using it as a weight loss solution.

Secondary Uses

After this medication indicated a weight loss component, it was researched for use as an appetite suppressant, and when combined with Phentermine, was found to not only decrease appetite, but also reduce cravings for carbs, salt, and sugar, three main causes of weight gain. Patients who take this medication combination have reported feeling fuller for a longer time after eating. We have found that this combo is great for people who have hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, or sleep apnea.

As such, this medication is safe for patients who suffer from various conditions associated with obesity that may prevent them from taking other weight loss drugs. Additionally, if you have trouble sleeping, this medication combo may also help resolve that issue as well. It has long been known that a lack of sleep or poor sleep habits can lead to weight gain. Therefore, this drug can help solve multiple problems related to being overweight: sleeping poorly and eating poorly.

How To Take This Medication

This combination of drugs comes in the form of extended-release capsules that are taken either with or without food in the morning. They should be taken at relatively the same time each day and must be used exactly as directed. In most cases, patients are started on a low dose of this medication for the first two weeks and then are given an increased dose for the next 10 weeks. At this point, your weight loss will be measured.

If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight in the first 12 weeks of taking this medication, we will probably discontinue it for you. However, if you still have more weight to lose, your dose may be slightly increased again for another two weeks, and then one more time for up to 10 additional weeks. This will be the maximum time that you will be allowed to take this drug to achieve the best possible results.

Exercise and Diet

Along with this medication combination, you will need to follow a sensible reduced-calorie eating plan and a reasonable exercise routine. We will help develop those plans to ensure you are able to reach your weight loss goals. There are two reasons for this. First, it will increase the amount of weight you lose while taking the medication, and second, it will help you develop good habits to help you keep the weight off after you’re done taking the medication.

Included in your diet will be copious amounts of water (as with any healthy eating plan), and plenty of fiber, protein, fruits, vegetables, and alkalizing foods (almonds, chestnuts, cinnamon, curry, ginger, mustard, chili pepper, stevia, and various herbs). You will be required to avoid simple carbohydrates, sugar, alcohol, and acidifying foods (soda, coffee, butter, ice cream, and other white flour products) while on this medication. These foods are known to increase cravings and cause weight gain.

FDA Approval

This combination of medications was approved by the FDA in 2012 to treat obesity as part of a low-calorie diet and exercise plan. It is indicated for patients who have an initial BMI of 30 or greater or who have a BMI of 27 with at least one condition that is related to their weight, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Missed Doses

If you miss a dose at your regular time, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s a couple of hours before the next day’s dose. In this case, you should skip the missed dose and take the next one on time. You shouldn’t take a double dose of this medication and should try to maintain a regular schedule for taking your prescribed dose. This regularity helps your body have time throughout the day to burn more calories.

Storage

This medication should be stored at room temperature and away from areas that are humid (i.e. the bathroom). It shouldn’t be frozen or kept in the refrigerator for the best results. Ensure you keep the bottle in a place that cannot be accessed by children or pets, and be sure no one else in your household can mix up their medications with this one. Keep track of the number of pills you’ve taken so you can determine if any are missing.

Get the Treatment

This medication is an excellent option for people who are overweight. Contact us at Simply Slim Medical in Bethesda, MD, and Falls Church, VA to see if you could benefit from this treatment.