Many people who are eager to lose weight are often on the look out for supplements that can help them do so effectively and more easily. The weight loss supplement market, both prescription and non-prescription are doing their best to meet the demand.
The problem is that many of them do not work or they may have dangerous or irritating side effects. This is not to say that all weight loss pills do not work. This would not be true. There are some that do. Sometimes, even medications that are not at all designed for weight loss are able to help people lose weight. This is the case with the drug Topamax (for some people).
Topamax is a prescription drug that is given to people who have been diagnosed with epilepsy and also those that suffer from migraine headaches. It is not a weight loss drug, however, weight loss is one of the side effects of the medication. As a result, some doctors will prescribe it for their patients. In these cases, it is considered an “off label” drug.
An “off label” medication is one that is not being prescribed for the drug’s original purpose. The condition that the drug is being used to treat has not been given the approval by the Food and Drug Administration for that particular disease or issue. For example, Topamax is a medication to treat seizures and migraines. It has the FDA’s approval to do that. It does not have been approved by the FDA to help people lose weight. Therefore, when a doctor prescribes it in this manner, it is considered “off label.”
However, with all of the fanfare that sometimes surrounds Topamax in terms of helping people lose weight, the fact is, it does not work for everyone. In fact, studies have shown that among persons who take Topamax, only 16% actually lost weight. These figures were higher among children at 21%.
It is also important to note that Topamax has not received the approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration as a weight loss supplement. However, this has not prevented some doctors from subscribing it to their patients for this purpose. For some people needing to lose weight, the drug has been very effective in helping them do so. However, for others, it does not.
Some people do not feel that Topamax is good for weight loss and not because it does not work. The reason they are against it is because there are possible side effects that can cause serious disruptions in an individual’s life. For example, some persons that take the drug have reported a decreased ability to concentrate and even memory loss. Depending on how overweight a person is or how badly they want to lose weight, the trade off may or may not be worth it. Individuals that have chronic diseases related to being overweight or even obese may believe that that this tradeoff is acceptable. However, it is best to discuss the pros and cons with one’s doctor in order to make a more informed decision.
No related posts.