title: Topiramate-induced weight loss: a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Weight loss can occur during topiramate (TPM) treatment and it should be evaluated by clinicians, especially in children, whose growth could be compromised. In international literature, the reported body weight loss incidences linked to TPM therapy vary widely and, in some cases, are very conflicting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this review are to quantify TPM-induced weight loss, analyze the pathogenetic mechanisms and evaluate its clinical implications in patients with epilepsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of weight loss appears to be related to some factors such as the duration of the treatment and a high baseline body mass index (BMI), while the role of daily dosage and gender of patients is controversial. The mechanism through which TPM may induce weight loss is still unclear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TPM is able to induce weight loss, especially in high baseline BMI patients, not strictly depending on daily dosage and perhaps not influenced by gender. This makes TPM a good choice, especially in obese patients suffering from seizures. However, TPM can make nutritionally vulnerable children or adult patients, with epilepsy associated with other neuropsychiatric diseases, who cannot voluntarily increase their caloric intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Via Dei Vestini 5, 66013 Chieti, Italy. averrott@unich.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scaparrotta
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agostinelli
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Pillo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grosso
mesh_terms: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012737:Sex Factors; D000077236:Topiramate; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D006728:Hormones; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose