The brand-name medication that topiramate oral tablets are based on is called Topamax. In general, generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs do. Read this Healthline article to learn more about the differences between generic and brand-name drugs. Like most drugs, topiramate oral tablets may cause mild and serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that topiramate oral tablets may cause.
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of topiramate oral tablets. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects. Side effects might differ slightly between people with seizure disorders and people with migraine headaches. Mild side effects of topiramate oral tablets that have been reported include:. Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have serious side effects from topiramate oral tablets, call your doctor right away. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. Try the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at But hair loss occurred in more people who took a higher dosage of the drug compared with those who took a lower dosage.
These medications usually include other antiepileptic drugs AEDs. And many AEDs can cause hair loss as a common side effect. One older report described someone who had hair loss after taking topiramate for 2 months. But they were also taking other AEDs to treat their seizure disorder. The report stated that their hair loss stopped after treatment was discontinued. They may recommend changes to your treatment plan.
Taking topiramate can increase your risk for kidney stones. Overall, kidney stones were a less common side effect in studies of the drug. But the risk of kidney stones was higher in males taking topiramate than in females taking it. Your risk for kidney stones with topiramate may also be higher if you take certain other medications. This risk can also be increased if you follow a ketogenic diet.
A ketogenic diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
Increasing your fluid intake and making some changes in your diet may help reduce your risk for kidney stones. Staying hydrated with plenty of fluids is one of the best ways to help prevent or reduce kidney stone formation. Consider drinking at least 3 quarts ten ounce glasses of liquid per day. Also, eating citrus fruits such as oranges or adding lemon to your water may help prevent kidney stones.
The citric acid found in these fruits may help to prevent stones from forming. It may also help to cut down on foods with high salt content. This includes processed foods such as chips, crackers, most frozen foods, and canned soups. They can help guide you on the best ways to lower your risk for kidney stones.
Eye or vision problems can be mild or serious side effects of topiramate. In studies of the drug, more common eye or vision side effects were mild. And they included temporarily blurred vision or double vision.
Less commonly, serious eye or vision side effects have happened with topiramate oral tablets. Serious eye problems with topiramate may include:. According to reports , serious vision problems with topiramate most often occurred within the first month of treatment. If you have any changes in your vision during topiramate treatment, call your doctor or get medical care right away.
The serious vision problems described above require treatment as soon as possible. And always wear corrective glasses or contact lenses as directed by your eye doctor.
Some people may have an allergic reaction to topiramate oral tablets. A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet.
They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to topiramate oral tablets. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.
Topiramate comes as a tablet, a sprinkle capsule capsule that contains small beads of medication that can be sprinkled on food , and an extended-release long-acting capsule to take by mouth. The tablets and sprinkle capsules are usually taken with or without food once or twice a day.
The extended-release capsules are usually taken with or without food once a day. Take topiramate at around the same time s every day.
Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take topiramate exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
There is another medication with a name similar to the brand name for topiramate. You should be sure that you receive topiramate and not the similar medication each time you fill your prescription.
Be sure that the prescription your doctor gives you is clear and easy to read. Talk to your pharmacist to be sure that you are given topiramate. If you think you were given the wrong medication, talk to your pharmacist. Do not take any medication unless you are certain it is the medication that your doctor prescribed. Topiramate tablets have a bitter taste so you should swallow them whole. It is especially important that you not take topiramate tablets that have been broken for any length of time because tablets that are broken may lose their effectiveness over time.
The sprinkle and extended-release capsules Qudexy XR brand only may be swallowed whole or opened and poured over soft food. Swallow extended-release capsules Trokendi XR brand only whole; do not split, chew, or sprinkle on food. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of topiramate and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every week. Topiramate may control your seizures or migraines but will not cure your condition. Continue to take topiramate even if you feel well.
Do not stop taking topiramate without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood. If you suddenly stop taking topiramate, you may have severe seizures, even if you have not had seizures in the past.
Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet Medication Guide when you begin treatment with topiramate and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Topiramate is also used for the management of alcohol dependence. If you have epilepsy, you're entitled to free prescriptions for all of your medicines, not just your epilepsy ones. To claim your free prescriptions, you'll need a medical exemption certificate.
The application form for the medical exemption certificate is called FP92A. You'll need to fill in the form and your doctor will sign it and send it off.
But it may make you feel sleepy or tired, and alcohol and hangovers can bring on seizures in some people with epilepsy. If you do drink, try not to have more than the recommended guidelines of up to 14 units of alcohol a week.
A standard glass of wine ml is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol. You may feel sleepy, tired or dizzy when you first start taking topiramate.
If you're affected, do not drive or ride a bike or operate machinery until you feel more alert. If you have epilepsy, you're not allowed to drive until you have had no seizures for 1 year. If you change your epilepsy medicine, your doctor will tell you whether you need to stop driving and for how long.
Driving rules if you change or withdraw your medicine , Epilepsy Action. Epilepsy and driving information , GOV. Page last reviewed: 25 February Next review due: 25 February Topiramate On this page About topiramate Key facts Who can and can't take it How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.
About topiramate Topiramate is a medicine used to treat epilepsy. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? You can take it with or without food. Common side effects of topiramate include feeling sleepy, dizziness, diarrhoea and feeling sick.
These are usually mild and go away by themselves. If taking topiramate for epilepsy, it usually takes a couple of weeks for it to work. If taking topiramate to prevent migraines, it can take up to 3 months for it to work fully. Topiramate is also called by the brand name Topamax. Topiramate can be taken by adults and children aged 2 years and over. Topiramate is not suitable for some people.
Tell your doctor before starting the medicine if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to topiramate or any other medicines in the past have kidney problems, especially kidney stones have a blood disorder called acute porphyria have a history of blood metabolic acidosis, where the body produces too much acid or cannot remove it properly have eye problems, especially glaucoma have liver problems need to take high doses of vitamin C or calcium supplements are pregnant.
Topiramate is a prescription medicine. It's important to take it as instructed by your doctor. How much will I take? How much you take will depend on what you're using topiramate for. It's usual to start topiramate at a low dose of 25mg to 50mg a day.
This will be increased over several weeks to the usual doses for: epilepsy - mg to mg a day, taken as 2 doses epilepsy if you take another epilepsy medicine with topiramate - mg to mg a day, taken as 2 doses migraines - 50mg to mg, taken as 2 doses In children, the dose of topiramate will depend on the weight of your child. Your doctor will be able to give the right dose to your child. How to take it It's usual to take topiramate twice a day. What if I forget to take it? If you forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember.
Do not take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten dose. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Call your doctor straight away if you take too much topiramate and:. Common side effects These common side effects may happen in more than 1 in people. Before taking Topamax, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.
Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Topamax can make birth control drugs that contain estrogen less effective at preventing pregnancy. Topamax treatment can also make certain birth control medications less effective at preventing pregnancy. These include:. If you use birth control that contains estrogen, your doctor may recommend switching to a different type of birth control medication while you take Topamax.
Taking Topamax with phenytoin Dilantin or carbamazepine Tegretol can lower the level of Topamax in your blood. This could make Topamax less effective at preventing seizures or migraine headaches. If you need to take Topamax with phenytoin or carbamazepine, your doctor may prescribe a higher dosage of Topamax.
This should increase the chances that the drug works for you. If you need to take Topamax with valproic acid, your doctor may recommend blood tests. These will monitor the amount of ammonia in your blood. Taking Topamax with drugs called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors can raise your risk for a side effect called metabolic acidosis a high level of acid in your blood.
Metabolic acidosis can also raise your risk for kidney stones. If you need to take one of these drugs with Topamax, you may need more frequent blood tests than usual. These tests will check the level of acid in your blood. Central nervous system CNS depressants are medications that slow down activity in your central nervous system brain and spinal cord. These medications typically cause you to feel drowsy and less alert.
But in serious cases, they can also cause slow, shallow breathing , loss of consciousness , coma , and in rare cases, death. There have been no studies involving people who took Topamax with a CNS depressant. However, taking the two drugs together could raise your risk for the side effects mentioned above. For this reason, you should avoid CNS depressants while taking Topamax.
These drugs can sometimes cause reduced sweating. Topamax can also reduce sweating. Therefore, taking Topamax with anticholinergic drugs could raise your risk for overheating and hyperthermia high body temperature , especially in hot weather.
Examples of anticholinergic drugs that could raise your risk for hyperthermia with Topamax include:. If you need to take one of these drugs, talk with your doctor about whether Topamax is right for you.
Hydrochlorothiazide Microzide is a diuretic medication used to treat high blood pressure. Taking Topamax with hydrochlorothiazide may increase the level of Topamax in your blood. However, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of Topamax if you need to take hydrochlorothiazide as well. Pioglitazone Actos is a medication for type 2 diabetes. Taking Topamax with pioglitazone may decrease the level of pioglitazone in your blood.
However, if you need to take pioglitazone with Topamax, your doctor may monitor your blood sugar more often. This is to check that pioglitazone is still working you. Lithium Lithobid is a medication used for certain psychiatric illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and severe depression. Taking high doses of Topamax with lithium may increase the level of lithium in your blood.
This could raise your risk for lithium side effects. These include slurred speech, memory problems, kidney failure , and muscle tremors or twitches. A high lithium level can be serious. If you need to take Topamax with lithium, your doctor may order more frequent blood tests than usual. These tests will check your lithium level. Your doctor may need to adjust the doses of your medications as needed. Taking Topamax with amitriptyline can increase the level of amitriptyline in your blood.
This could raise your risk for amitriptyline side effects. These side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, irregular heartbeats , and seizures. If you need to take Topamax with amitriptyline, tell your doctor if you have any new side effects. Also, be sure to tell them if any side effects become more severe or occur more often.
Your doctor may adjust the doses of your medications as needed. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Topamax. A ketogenic diet is low in carbohydrates and protein , and high in fat.
This is a high level of acid in your blood. If not treated, metabolic acidosis can raise your risk for kidney stones and weakening of your bones. Metabolic acidosis can also increase the risk of reduced growth in children. You should avoid following a ketogenic diet while taking Topamax to lower your risk for these side effects. Note: For some people, following a ketogenic diet can reduce the number of seizures they have.
However, as with several other anticonvulsant drugs, Topamax also helps prevent migraine headaches. Epilepsy and migraine are both neurological conditions.
With epilepsy, you have seizures. With migraine, you have headaches, among other symptoms. But the conditions are considered to be linked , and many people have epilepsy and migraine together. But with both conditions, it seems that nerve cells in your brain are oversensitive to certain triggers, such as flickering lights or hormones.
The trigger causes electrical signals to build up in the nerve cells in your brain. This causes them to fire inappropriate signals to other nerve cells. These nerve cells then pass on signals to other parts of your body. The increased electrical signaling can lead to a seizure in people with epilepsy. In people with migraine, it can lead to auras and headaches. Topamax has several effects on the nerve cells in your brain. One is that the drug blocks sodium channels tiny openings through which sodium moves through your cells.
This prevents excessive electrical signals from building up in the nerve cells. As a result, the nerve cells stop firing inappropriate or excessive signals. In addition, Topamax affects two neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are natural body chemicals that help pass signals between nerve cells. These neurotransmitters are called gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA and glutamate. The neurotransmitters also help pass signals between nerve cells and other cells in your body.
GABA reduces nerve signaling, causing fewer signals to be sent. Glutamate stimulates nerve signaling, causing more signals to be sent. Topamax increases the effect of GABA and blocks the effect of glutamate. This helps calm nerve activity in your brain. The actions of Topamax help prevent the nerve cells in your brain from sending inappropriate signals that lead to seizures or migraine.
Topamax starts working within a couple of hours after you start taking it. However, when you start treatment, your dose is increased slowly over a few weeks. Therefore, it may take a few weeks before the medication level builds up enough for you to notice your seizures or migraine easing. Using more than the recommended dosage of Topamax can lead to serious side effects.
Do not use more Topamax than your doctor recommends. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Topamax can harm a fetus if taken during pregnancy. Babies who are SGA can have a lower birth weight, length, and head size than expected. Babies are more likely to be SGA when born to females who took a high dose of Topamax or took Topamax throughout their pregnancy.
Pregnancy studies in the United States looked at babies who were exposed to topiramate the active ingredient in Topamax in the first 3 months of pregnancy. The studies showed that 1. In comparison, oral clefts occurred in 0. These studies also showed that, in the U. In comparison, 5. Other medications may be more suitable for you.
This registry monitors and records birth defects or changes affecting babies of females who took antiepileptic drugs , such as Topamax, while pregnant. The registry helps healthcare professionals collect information about the safety of drugs such as Topamax during pregnancy. This can help you make informed decisions about the treatments you take during pregnancy. You can register by visiting the program website or calling Note: Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Females using Topamax should use an effective method of birth control to help prevent pregnancy.
However, Topamax can make birth control drugs that contain estrogen less effective at preventing pregnancy. If you use birth control that contains estrogen , your doctor may recommend switching to a different type of contraception. If you have questions about your birth control needs, talk with your doctor.
Topamax can pass into breast milk. Sleepiness and diarrhea have been reported in children breastfed by females taking Topamax. Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions.
Examples of other drugs that may be used to prevent migraine headaches include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat seizures include:. As with all medications, the cost of Topamax can vary.
To find current prices for Topamax tablets or other forms in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx.
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