Topiramate can help with weight loss by reducing calorie intake and affecting reward pathways related to eating.
Doctors may recommend medical weight loss treatment when diet and exercise alone don’t work.
Topiramate has become a possible option for this. While it’s approved to treat seizures and prevent migraines, doctors often use it off-label for mood, eating, and alcohol use disorders.
Topiramate may help with weight loss in several ways. It can lower calorie intake, reduce body fat, and improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It may also affect brain pathways linked to food cravings.
Many clinical studies show that topiramate works well for weight loss. It helps reduce body weight at different doses and helps maintain the weight loss over time. In fact, it often works better than other weight-loss methods.
Also, most people tolerate topiramate well. Clinical trials report only mild side effects in many cases.
In short, topiramate shows strong potential as a weight-loss option. It can be a helpful tool for treating obesity.
Being overweight is a complex condition. It often needs several types of treatment, such as changes in diet, regular exercise, medications, and behavior programs.
First, doctors define overweight as having a BMI between 25 and 29.9. In contrast, a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obesity.
Next, topiramate may be prescribed alone or with other weight loss drugs. This usually happens after a full consultation with a healthcare provider.
Finally, people using topiramate may expect to lose between 4.8% and 9.7% of their starting body weight.
Topiramate alone is not FDA-approved for weight loss. However, some doctors may still prescribe it for patients with seizures or migraines who also need to lose weight. Still, its effectiveness by itself may be limited because of possible side effects.
On the other hand, Qsymia—a combination of topiramate and phentermine—is FDA-approved for weight loss. Phentermine works as an appetite suppressant and is similar to amphetamines. Doctors often
Topiramate, by itself, is not FDA-approved for weight loss. However, some doctors may suggest it for weight reduction in patients with seizures or migraines who also need to lose weight. The effectiveness of topiramate alone for weight loss may be limited due to possible side effects.
On the other hand, Qsymia is a combination of topiramate and phentermine. It is an extended-release medication that has FDA approval for weight loss. Phentermine, an appetite suppressant similar to amphetamine, works alongside dietary changes and exercise to help with obesity or overweight conditions. This treatment is typically recommended for people with additional risk factors, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes.
The average cost of Topiramate without phentermine ranges from $100 to $200, while the cost of phentermine/topiramax combination averages between $200 and $400 per month.
