I was on Topamax for over a year and didn't gain a single pound. It was my AD that made me gain (gasp) 35 lbs in 6 months. Topamax worked great for me, until Paxil CR pooped out and threw me into a major manic episode, and I was taken off both only to have them replaced with Lithium and Seroquel.

As far as stabilizing moods, Topamax worked wonderfully for me until the Paxil started going haywire. Topamax just doesn't mix with my Lithium (as I'm BP1), hence the change to Seroquel, which is also a good med (for me) in stabilizing my moods.

Dolfin