What Is Topamax Prescribed For?

Topamax^® (topiramate) is a prescription medication used to treat several conditions that affect the nervous system. Specifically, Topamax is prescribed for:

Treating epilepsy either alone (for children age 10 and up) or in combination with other medications (for children age 2 and up)
Preventing migraine headaches in adults.

There are also several "off-label" (or unapproved) uses for Topamax. On occasion, healthcare providers may prescribe Topamax to treat:

Absence seizures
Alcoholism
Atonic seizures
Bipolar disorder
Diabetic neuropathy or other types of neuropathic pain (nerve pain)
Infantile spasms (seizures in very young infants)
Myoclonic seizures
Obesity.

(For more information on what Topamax is prescribed for, click Topamax Uses This article discusses how the drug works, whether it is safe for children, and potential off-label uses.)