Topiramate for Bulimia User Reviews

• lov...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 3, 2019

Topiramate "I am a 47-year-old LICSW crisis clinician and have been bulimic since I was 15, with periods of restricting, over-exercising, and overeating. I went to therapy and a 12-step program for anorexics and bulimics anonymous (the longest sober time out of 12 years in the program was 5 months). After Topamax, things changed, and I realized my obsession with food, purging, and running 10-15 miles every day was in my brain-not in a higher power. Topamax is truly amazing, and I can't believe no one told me about this until I was almost 46 years old. I lived with an eating disorder for 45 years of my life. My memory is different. I have to live with it. People with medical issues have to deal with a lot of medication side effects. I will take it."

• a...
• March 27, 2014

Topiramate "It helps. For me, it wasn't so much the appetite suppression that worked, but the way it makes me more conscious of the situation before I binge. It makes me stop in the middle of the binge or just before completely and ask myself what's up with the need to hit the self-destruct button. In case that I do binge on Topamax, my binges consist of less food, and I eat slower, defeated by the situation."

• Fla...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2018

Topiramate "I'm an educated, certified educator and RN who has dealt with bulimia since age 12. When I was a teenager, I was put on Topamax for two years and then in combination with Prozac for one year for depression and the eating disorder. 100% it worked. I got out of the cycle and didn't gain any unwanted weight, eventually getting off the two and still felt great. It wasn't until after giving birth twice that the depression and bulimia came back. Post baby number two and one lost baby in between, at age 27, I couldn't drop the unwanted weight and felt depressed about it. Now, at 30, I am considering going back on the meds because it worked so well the first time, but I am the type of person who doesn't like mind-altering drugs or the feeling that I can't do it on my own. Three years deep right now and my doctor really wants me to go back on meds at least to bridge my recovery. To those looking for a medication to assist, I know this one works."

• Aan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 1, 2020

"I've been on this medication for over 2 years now, and I can honestly say I haven't binged eaten or purged more than 5 times in the last 2 years. By May of 2020 this year, I will be two years sober from alcohol! I also cannot taste carbonation in fizzy drinks like the other user has stated. My moods are still a little irregular, but all in all, this medication has helped me get my life back on track, if you even wanted to call my life on track ever, truthfully! I am a firm believer that some people do truly need medication."

• mke...
• May 14, 2014

Topiramate "I had been bulimic, anorexic for 15 years. I tried in-patient/out-patient programs in the best places in Toronto, Canada, and I did each 3-4 times. When I started Topamax, I could attend lunches at work and can honestly say I haven't binged at work this year (I am a teacher). In previous years, I binged and purged 3-4 times a day. I know socialize and have friends. I do admit though that the meds have made me very, very tired. I sleep in until about 1 or 2 pm on the weekends, which bothers me a lot, but I think it's a small price to pay for the huge changes I've made."

• Bul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2021

"I am 37 years old and have been bulimic since I was 15 when I was in high school. I have tried everything to get rid of this horrid disease. I have tried everything from therapy to reading books, but haven’t checked into rehab. I have developed a pattern-binging, purging, then a few days of water fasting. Nothing has helped me cure so far. Not sure if this will either. So far, I have been on this medication for a month-25 mg to start with for a week. Did nothing. I almost quit, but glad I did not. Then I moved onto 50 mg twice daily two weeks ago, and my appetite went away and so did my need to binge. Lost some weight, but that’s a side effect. I really don’t care if my appetite comes back but let’s hope I don’t binge again. So far, on 100 mg, I have no desire to binge, no desire to overeat, and it’s a great feeling. I feel free after so many years! You will know what I mean if you have felt as trapped as I have as a bulimic. This is a miracle drug."

• kay...
• November 26, 2013

Topiramate "I've tried Prozac and Effexor. I'm back on Topamax because it seems to be the only medicine that works for me. I never thought my bulimia would get this far, I'm 22, and I've been bulimic since I was 14. I'm done with university, and it's been the hardest thing I've had to go through. I've had trouble finding a job and leading my life in the right direction... I wish this medication was sought out more for bulimia."

• Rec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2021

Topiramate "I have been bulimic for over 20 years. Nothing has helped. I have been in and out of recovery, counseling, it has always come back. I was put on 25 mg Topamax, which did nothing. It was increased to 50 mg, then 100 mg, and then the bingeing craving just went away. Still, it wasn’t magic - it is not a magic drug. While it will take away the cravings, there will be slips like in my case. But from bingeing twice a week to bingeing once in two weeks, I have come a long way. Thank you so much. This is life-saving!!"

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2020

"I was prescribed topiramate for my binge eating disorder, and my doctor put me at 100 mg, and I loved it! Then he took me off it. I thought I would be okay, and I was not. I gained about twenty pounds and started binging again. Now I’m back on topiramate, except I’m not seeing it do the same thing it did before? Unless I’m just not being patient enough, any advice? I felt like it worked right away the first time, or maybe I’m just being too hard on myself."

• Ms...
• September 10, 2014

Topiramate "I was on Topamax 2x 50 mg. Worked perfect for 31 days, then the effect wore off. Now I am on day 3. Dr. increased dosage 100 mg 2x per day. Works perfect. I am cautious as I have been 6 months relapse-free on 60 mg fluoxetine before the effects wore off. Will give an update. I have been on all other kinds of SSRIs or SNRIs, which had no effect. My history, I am 42 years old. I have treatment-refractory Bulimia since 28 years, purging type. Started with AN with a simple diet, normal childhood, no trauma or abuse, two lengthy hospital stays in the 80s and 90s, 5 years of CG Jung psychoanalysis, all to 0 avail. Learned a lot but have never been in recovery. I try anything to be better."

• car...
• March 29, 2019

"Just started 25 mg of topiramate for weight loss and nighttime binge eating. I am a 64-year-old former social worker who has struggled with weight loss since age 16. History of depression for which I take 30 mg of Prozac. My lowest weight was 120 lb and highest was 173 lb. Currently, I am 167. Unlike many people, topiramate keeps me awake at night plus early morning awakening. It has been 16 days and still no relief with the insomnia. I take the pill at 4:00 PM but tried taking it at noontime today. On the positive side, it has decreased my cravings and appetite. I can sit and watch TV at night and not run back and forth into the kitchen. WOW. What a novel experience. So this is what it feels like to be normal with food? Still get up and eat at night, tend to eat healthy, although last night I got into the cookies. First time in 16 days. Not bad. I'm going to keep waiting and hope I can sleep at some point. Anyone else with insomnia, and did it go away over time?"

• Ms...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2017

Topiramate "Update: this is an update to the previous review, see below. I have been on topiramate and 20 mg Prozac for 3 plus years now. I have been tapering on and off all meds and have to say the combo of 20 mg Prozac with 100 mg topiramate twice daily does work best. It is not perfect, but I am better. Since I am still quite symptomatic, I will have an upcoming visit with yet another psychiatrist who is screening me for adult ADD. There is a possibility that if this is the case, a stimulant might actually help me out (after 35 years of treatment-refractory anorexia and bulimia nervosa). I keep updated."

• new...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2019

Topiramate "It's been 3 weeks since I started taking Topamax 50 mg daily. All soda and carbonated drinks taste disgusting. I can no longer taste salt or sugar either. I tried making mashed potatoes for my family and nearly gave them all strokes due to the heinous amount of salt I added. Yet I could barely taste it. Also, my memory is even worse than it was. I don't even remember 3 days out of this past week. I blinked, and now it's the weekend. And I've lost 2 kg! So far, so good."

• Kay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 12, 2016

"I've been on this medication for almost a year and a half. I'm twenty years old, turning twenty-one, and struggled with bulimia roughly for ten years now. I was in a treatment center when I was younger for a while, nothing really helped my bulimia. Therapy, nutritionists, etc. All the work, DBT, everything... honestly, it wasn't until I started slowly on this medication. Now on 100 mg and taking it with Wellbutrin XL 150 mg (I also suffer from other issues), I find myself doing a lot better. I'm seeing a nutritionist too along with therapy, but really my medication has helped. It's great."

• Nin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 9, 2024

"Topamax has been a game changer for me. Twice. I've been on it for over 13 years overall. When I first started taking it in 2005, I had been bulimic for 15 years. I had done psychoanalysis, which helped a lot with understanding my personality, my family dynamics, and so many other things, but despite my effort and commitment, I still relapsed and relapsed and could not get rid of my bulimia. I had tried other meds also but with no results. I remember clearly the first night I took Topamax, I was able to sleep without waking with my usual anxiety and running to the fridge. Instead, I woke up the next morning refreshed and relaxed, feeling that a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders. It was amazing. I stayed on Topamax until 2010, then lived abroad where I had no access to it and my anxiety and bulimia came back. 8 years ago I moved back here, saw my doctor again, and went back on Topamax. I'm better than ever."

• Oka...
• October 16, 2017

Topiramate "I lost 10 pounds. I also almost went blind, so after a month, I quit, and my vision returned. I quit cold turkey and had sleep paralysis with hallucinations. It was scary as heck. I was awake, paralyzed, couldn't talk, could not move. My hallucinations were I was in my room and something picked me up and threw me. Then something touched my back. An evil rabbit whispered in my ear. Then I woke up back on the other side of the room. This drug made me stupid as heck. I couldn't spell, talk, or remember anything. My sleep paralysis scared me for life, and I still think of the realistic dreams I had for 6 days. Don't take this medicine. It is terrible."

• Top...
• November 16, 2017

"I've been struggling with an eating disorder and weight loss for years! Not eating all day, binging, and getting rid of it all. I was put on Topamax to attempt to get rid of these urges. The first week on Topamax, I was on 25 mg in the morning and 25 mg at night and had minimal side effects, no effect on my appetite, and no weight loss. I did, however, have bad diarrhea and was a bit 'slow.' I bumped it up to 50 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night the next week with the same results, but no side effects (felt like I was taking sugar pills). Feeling annoyed... the next week I bumped it up to 100 mg in the morning and 100 mg at night, and I was amazed!! Immediately, my cravings for sweets went away completely! I did not want to binge! Now I'm eating small healthy meals and losing weight! Love it."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2009

Topiramate "I have been suffering with bulimia for five years. I am 22 years old and a college student, and I will take the memory loss, there is always spell check. I cannot describe the pain I go through, the guilt, the shame, and I never really thought it would get to this point, five years. I know someone's mom who is dying, who has had several organ transplants and has been bulimic for over 30 years. I don't want that to be me. I can't stop. I never wanted it to get this far. With Topamax, I am gaining weight. It works, it's like instant gratification."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 25, 2022

"I was on topiramate 150 mg for 15 months. I went from 25 mg to 150 mg and stayed there. It worked wonders, I barely binged. I have been throwing up once a day since I was 15. However, my hair started falling out at the 8-9 month mark. Apparently, it depletes all sorts of vitamins in your body, and this in spite of popping a multivitamin, biotin, and iron pill every day. Post that, the last straw came when my bones started aching. The bone density test revealed I was at risk for osteoporosis, so I finally stopped. I am back to throwing up every second day and looking for a less scary alternative. This does work, but it comes with complicated side effects."

• kit...
• October 2, 2018

"I was just prescribed this because I’ve struggled with bulimia since I was 12. I binge like crazy, and with my antidepressants, it’s even worse. I gained 10 pounds in a week, 30 since June, and it’s the first of October now. I started it tonight, 50 mg, taking it with my oxcarbazepine, then Zoloft in the morning. A few hours after I took it, my hands felt a bit weird, kind of numb, and then I felt a little sick, but I had a really intense hunger. I hadn’t eaten much, so I thought I’d try eating some granola, but it made me feel like I wanted to hurl. I’m 190, by the way, and 5’3. I’ll update you guys."

• doy...
• September 27, 2009

"As I type this, it is hard to relay it understandably because of the Topamax. I researched Topamax and heard it suppressed eating and stabilized mood, which I figured would help my bulimia, which I have been getting help for and am in recovery for. The Topamax definitely suppresses the desire to eat and have cravings, which is great. You do lose weight. However, it created other problems. I didn't realize it, but I was increasingly having a harder time talking to people. I can't do homework, write papers, and my relationship with my boyfriend-we ended up breaking up. My hair falls out. I had bad anxiety, I thought I was going insane. I then researched the side effects of Topamax and now realized this is what I am experiencing. I'm getting off."

• Bul...
• February 13, 2021

"This is my update review. Please see the below experience. I was very happy with my progress with this medication. Nothing has helped before. I was getting healthier, not binging, losing weight, and breaking out. I haven’t broken out in years! My hair is still falling out in clumps, and I pop in biotin, B5, B12, selenium religiously. I am on 100 mg every day. So after seeing the state of my skin, I have decided to discontinue use. Breaks my heart to see my skin so bad, but have been an acne sufferer for years and only managed clearing it in my early thirties, which was a huge blessing. The search is still on!"

• Fis...
• September 6, 2020

"I've tried Topamax before with good results. But Alzheimer's runs in my family, so I didn't want to risk staying on it long term. I've gotten back on, and it's day 3, and this time I'm not noticing anything. Still binge eating at night."

• Anonymous
• June 26, 2010

Topiramate "I think this medication is very helpful, it prevents the binges, which then prevents the other behaviors. Side effects were rough at first."