Topiramate and Phentermine for weight loss

Posted by riana1 @riana1, Oct 26, 2023

I had gastric bypass surgery in 2016.
Over time I regained the weight. Went to a gastric bypass doctor on referral by primary doctor.

He prescribed me Topiramate 50 Mg and Phentermine 15 Mg for weight loss management.

I am on the fence about taking these drugs even though he assured me it’s safe. Topiramate is a drug used to treat epilepsy and Phentermine is used to lessen appetite.

Has anyone in this group tried weight loss pills, if so which ones, were useful, and did you experience side effects.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss Support Group.

I've used topiramate twice as a migraine preventive. Worked beautifully each time until I started losing feeling in my right arm -- that sort of numbness is a known side effect, but it's disturbing to experience. In both cases, getting off it was really hard. I had to taper very, very gradually, and the insomnia was terrible. Just one person's experience, but if you try this, I would encourage you to ramp up and down with care.

Basically, it's not a surprise that an anti-convulsant drug intended to target someone's neurology would have neurological side effects, right?

REPLY

I have a two part comment/question:
The doctor had me taking Topiramate for years for avoidance of migraines. I had a Gastric Sleeve done in 2013. I lost 100 pounds afterwards; but since then have gained back about 45 pounds. I don't know if the Topiramate I have taken since about 2015 has helped with any weight reduction, but it doesn't seem to have had an effect. However, I cannot eat much due to my sleeve anyway.
I admit that over the years since my surgery, little-by-little I have begun to eat much less healthy foods. I also returned to eating sweets about 3-4 years post-surgery. (I've always had a big sweet tooth.) But whatever I eat, it is limited by the amount my sleeve can tolerate - which is not much.

I now am mostly confined to the bed; so I get very little exercise. I want to lose at least 30 of the gained pounds, but I really don't know how to do so in my current situation.

Now for the second half of my question/comment:

I have recently come to find out that my daughter-in-law (DL) , whom I dearly love, but who doesn't communicate well with me, has begun taking the prescription drug, "Phentermine" for weight loss. I am not sure my son even knows.

My DL is very overweight and has been ever since I have known her. She and my son were divorced a little more than a year ago and she went onto antidepressants. Since then, she has gained even more weight. I can understand why she would want to do something to try to lose the weight, but I am very, very concerned. My DL has had a long history of IV amphetamine drug abuse. She has been clean for 10 years (since she and my son have been together and she got pregnant with my granddaughter). I am very sure she has not told her physician about her dependency issues. She has custody of my little granddaughter. (Drugs caused her to lose custody of 3 previous children before my son.) Neither she, nor my son, take advice from me or my husband well at all. And I sure don't want to risk the ability to have contact with my little granddaughter; especially, if I need to make sure she remains safe.

I would like to know the thoughts from those of you who have experience in this area (professionally and personally) of how I should deal with this matter. Thank you!

REPLY
Profile picture for pattertp1 @pattertp1

I have a two part comment/question:
The doctor had me taking Topiramate for years for avoidance of migraines. I had a Gastric Sleeve done in 2013. I lost 100 pounds afterwards; but since then have gained back about 45 pounds. I don't know if the Topiramate I have taken since about 2015 has helped with any weight reduction, but it doesn't seem to have had an effect. However, I cannot eat much due to my sleeve anyway.
I admit that over the years since my surgery, little-by-little I have begun to eat much less healthy foods. I also returned to eating sweets about 3-4 years post-surgery. (I've always had a big sweet tooth.) But whatever I eat, it is limited by the amount my sleeve can tolerate - which is not much.

I now am mostly confined to the bed; so I get very little exercise. I want to lose at least 30 of the gained pounds, but I really don't know how to do so in my current situation.

Now for the second half of my question/comment:

I have recently come to find out that my daughter-in-law (DL) , whom I dearly love, but who doesn't communicate well with me, has begun taking the prescription drug, "Phentermine" for weight loss. I am not sure my son even knows.

My DL is very overweight and has been ever since I have known her. She and my son were divorced a little more than a year ago and she went onto antidepressants. Since then, she has gained even more weight. I can understand why she would want to do something to try to lose the weight, but I am very, very concerned. My DL has had a long history of IV amphetamine drug abuse. She has been clean for 10 years (since she and my son have been together and she got pregnant with my granddaughter). I am very sure she has not told her physician about her dependency issues. She has custody of my little granddaughter. (Drugs caused her to lose custody of 3 previous children before my son.) Neither she, nor my son, take advice from me or my husband well at all. And I sure don't want to risk the ability to have contact with my little granddaughter; especially, if I need to make sure she remains safe.

I would like to know the thoughts from those of you who have experience in this area (professionally and personally) of how I should deal with this matter. Thank you!

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@pattertp1 - wondering how things are going with your (former) daughter-in-law and taking phentermine?

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