Information on Topamax
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Topamax is a medication that can be prescribed to treat epilepsy and to prevent migraines. This eMedTV Web page further describes this medication, with information on how it works, possible side effects, dosing information, and more.
A few common Topamax side effects seen in adults include burning or tingling, fatigue, and dizziness. This eMedTV segment also lists common side effects seen in children and describes serious problems that should be reported to your doctor immediately.
Weight loss is one of the most common side effects of Topamax. As this eMedTV segment explains, in clinical studies on Topamax, weight loss was seen in up to 16 percent of adults and up to 21 percent of children.
Sexual side effects reported with Topamax include decreased libido, premature ejaculation, and impotence. This eMedTV article describes Topamax sexual side effects in more detail and explains how commonly these problems occur with the medication.
In clinical studies, depression was seen in up to 13 percent of people taking Topamax. This eMedTV Web page discusses Topamax and depression in more detail, including information on what you should do if you develop any symptoms of depression.
In studies on Topamax, hair loss was seen in at least 1 percent of adults taking the drug for migraines. As this eMedTV resource explains, hair loss was also reported in up to 5 percent of children who were being treated for epilepsy.
Topamax is primarily used for the prevention of migraines and the treatment of epilepsy. This eMedTV article discusses the use of the medication in children and lists common off-label Topamax uses.
When used for migraine prevention, the typical Topamax dosage is 50 mg twice a day. This eMedTV page also offers Topamax dosing guidelines for epilepsy treatment and explains how most people start at a lower dose before increasing it gradually.
Drugs that may cause Topamax interactions include digoxin, metformin, and phenytoin. This eMedTV resource lists other medicines that may lead to drug interactions with Topamax and describes the possible side effects that may occur as a result.
Topamax can potentially cause kidney stones. This page on the eMedTV site provides other important Topamax warnings and precautions, including other possible side effects. Information on who should not take the drug is also included in this article.
As this eMedTV article explains, clinical studies of Topamax and pregnancy (in both animals and humans) show that Topamax may cause birth defects in babies who were exposed to the drug during pregnancy.
For women who are breastfeeding, it's important to know that Topamax passes through breast milk. This eMedTV segment discusses the clinical findings on Topamax and breastfeeding, and describes the possible effects the drug may have on a nursing baby.
As this eMedTV page explains, generic Topamax tablets are currently available in four strengths. This article talks about the generic versions of this drug in more detail, including how they compare to the brand-name version.
Lethargy, blurred vision, and seizures are possible signs of a Topamax overdose. This part of the eMedTV library contains a list of other possible Topamax overdose symptoms and describes various treatment options that are available.
Studies show that Topamax may be effective for treating nerve pain, which may be linked to fibromyalgia. As this eMedTV page explains, however, the full risks of using Topamax for fibromyalgia are not known, and the drug is not approved for this use.
In studies, Topamax was shown to be effective for treating binge eating disorder. This eMedTV Web page discusses Topamax and binge eating disorder in more detail, including an explanation of what binge eating is.
Early studies suggest that Topamax may be beneficial for treating bipolar disorder. This part of the eMedTV Web site discusses the findings from various clinical studies on the effects of using Topamax for bipolar disorder.
