Topamax Side Effects
Topamax is the brand name of the generic formula topiramate, an anticonvulsant medication used by those being treated for epilepsy. Developed by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, the drug is now available in its generic form in a variety of dosage sizes. Ortho-McNeil for a time promoted Topamax as a medication for certain psychiatric disorders and was fined by the Food and Drug Administration. Individuals who were prescribed Topamax improperly or as a treatment for psychiatric conditions may be eligible for legal assistance and financial compensation.
Uses For Topamax
The drug is used to treat epilepsy symptoms in both children and adults. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome is the most common childhood epilepsy disorder for which this medication is prescribed, and in adults the drug is also FDA approved for treatment of migraine headaches. For some time it was also prescribed for bipolar disorder, although no clinical research ever confirmed the effectiveness of Topamax for this condition.
Topamax is a sulfamate-substituted monosaccharide, meaning that it is a form of fructose sugar. Exactly how it works as an anticonvulsant is unknown, but evidence suggests it operates as a blocker or inhibitor of certain chemical changes that would otherwise allow information transfer to induce seizures. In adults, over-excited nerve cells are calmed and this prevents the number of migraines suffered by the individual.
Dosage varies from one individual to another, but most doctors start their patients with a lower dose of less than 50mg once or twice per day and gradually increase the amount to as much as 200 mg daily.
Side Effects Of Topamax
Topamax has a number of mild side effects in certain individuals, including diarrhea, nausea, anorexia, memory problems and paresthesia. Fatigue and confusion have also been reported by patients being prescribed this drug. Weight loss and upper respiratory tract infections have affected some patients, as has taste change, especially in liquids such as carbonated drinks.
There is some preliminary data that suggests that Topamax may increase the risk of congenital malformations. In early 2011 the FDA released a report to health professionals advising them to warn patients about the possibility of Topamax affecting the infants born to women taking this medication. Specifically the report suggested that there was an increased chance of infants being born with cleft lip or cleft palate when brought to term by women using the drug.
Topamax interacts with a large number of other medications. If used in combination with another inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase there is an increased risk of kidney stone development. Certain enzyme inducers increase the elimination rate of Topamax from the body, sometimes resulting in the need to increase dosage.
Generic topiramate and the brand name Topamax have been associated with a possible increase in thoughts of suicide among younger individuals, but these studies are incomplete and no firm numbers are available.
Patients And Their Legal Rights
Persons taking Topamax or similar epileptic treatment medication who have concerns about their prescription are advised to seek legal help. The most common questions about Topamax center on the actual side effects of the drug and the severity of these effects. Also people may feel that they are becoming physically addicted to their prescription and are looking for answers about compensation or alternative treatments.
If you feel that you have been improperly prescribed Topamax or are suffering from unusual side effects of this medication, consider talking with an attorney or other legal counsel about your options.
