Normally, the prescription drug, Topamax (or Topiramate), is used for treatment of epilepsy and the prevention of migraine headaches. But another unexpected side effect of taking Topamax is weight loss. A reported weight loss of 16 percent in adults and 21 percent in children has been recorded. Health care providers have started prescribing certain Topamax dosage for weight loss but only for certain situations. But because Topamax is not recommended or even recognized as drug or medication for weight loss by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), this becomes an “off label” prescription or use of drug.

An “off label” prescription of a particular drug is used when the particular drug, i.e., Topamax, used to treat a medical condition or disease is not approved by the US FDA. The US FDA will regulate how this prescription drug can be advertised or manufactured by the producing company. However, these same regulations do not actually prohibit a health care provider from prescribing the drug for different medical conditions.

Prescription of a minimum amount of Topamax dosage for weight loss falls under an “off label” prescription. Topamax is primarily used to treat epilepsy and used, in minimal dosage, to prevent migraine headaches. But side effects have shown themselves in patients taking any amount of dosage and weight loss is one of them. To avoid the appearance of these side effects, health care providers recommend a small dose of less than 25 mg daily, split into two doses, which should be at least twelve hours apart. Do not expect a dramatic weight loss, though, as amount of weight lost is still in proportion with a person’s body weight.

Topamax has been prescribed for treatment of weight loss and obesity and to assist in the decrease of the occurrence of binge eating. However, prescription of Topamax for weight loss has also resulted in several undesirable side effects. Health reports have noted that patients who have used Topamax for weight loss have experienced memory loss and difficulty in concentration.

These side effects make it more difficult to tolerate Topamax and make it harder for the drug to work effectively. This is the reason why Topamax will not be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a recommended prescription drug for weight loss because there is no balance. Prescribing Topamax has proven tricky because an intake of excess dosage can result in undesirable effects that can lead to something more dangerous. Common side effects include a change in taste, diarrhea, nausea and dizziness. Dangerous side effects include memory problems, fatigue, confusion and impairment of fine motor skills.

If excess dosage or intake of topamax is ingested, complications may include an overdose, which is apparent through seizures, speech problems, blurred vision, loss of coordination, loss of consciousness and coma, muscle weakness and bone pain. Because of this, despite the result, any amount of Topamax dosage and weight loss is not a good combination. It may lead to undesirable results that can turn fatal.

For those who have tried to diet and exercise without success, weight loss medicine may provide a safer alternative to gastric bypass and other surgical procedures.  While it should not be used as a replacement for eating healthy and being physically active, prescription medication may be the only answer for people who have medical reasons for not responding to lifestyle changes.  There are a few things you should consider when deciding whether to ask your doctor about weight loss medicine.

There are different mechanisms used by the various weight loss medicines available.  Some are designed to increase the body’s metabolism so that it burns more calories at rest, while others are geared toward suppressing the appetite or preventing the body from absorbing fat.  Be careful when taking weight loss medicine as some of them have been shown to cause problems in patients with previous heart or blood pressure issues.  Always tell your doctor about any pre-existing health conditions such as these or any medications you are taking, either over-the-counter or prescription.

Because of the risks of prescription medication, weight loss medicine has only been approved for treatment of those with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30.  People with obesity-related medical conditions are eligible for a prescription if they have a BMI over 27.  Of course, consult your doctor to find out if this is an option for you.  If weight loss medicine is prescribed, your physician will generally require periodic montoring to make sure there are no side effects and that you are getting the desired results.  A medication that reduces appetite may not be effective if the problem is that your body’s metabolism is not high enough to burn off existing fat.

Some of the more common appetite suppressant weight loss medicines include Adipex, Bontril, and phentermine.  Phentermine is well-known as the ingredient in Phen-Fen, the popular diet pill that was removed from the market due to the increase risk of heart failure.  Didrex, or benzphetamine hydrochloride, is similar to amphetamine in the way it decreases appetite while also boosting metabolism.  Phendimetrazine and Tenuate also increase your metabolism by boosting heart rate and blood pressure.  Xenical is one of the few medications that target the absorption of fat within the digestive system.  By preventing the release of a specific enzyme required for the breakdown of fat, the medication makes it so that fats in food cannot be digested and turned into fat in the body.

Meridia, which is the newest of the appetite suppressant medications, operates in a very different manner and is giving hope to people who were unable to take standard amphetamine-based diet medications.  Instead of physically speeding up the body, it inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.  This is similar to the effect of today’s anti-depressants and serves to give the patient a feeling of being satisfied and content.  This promising new type of weight loss medicine may be able to help those people who eat out of an emotional need rather than a physical compulsion or food craving.