What You Should Know About Your Topamax
Friday, July 8th, 2011The anticonvulsant drug Topamax is also known as topiramate in its generic version. It is generally prescribed either as a monotherapy or an adjunctive therapy for patients with epilepsy who had partial onset seizures, as well as seizures associated withLennox-Gastaut syndrome. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug as prevention of seizure and migraine later revealed to have serious cost.
Before initiating your Topamax, here is a medication guide intended to offer vital information you will need to reduce the chances of any harmful results to happen due to the use of drug.
Things to remember about Topamax
Topamax can lead to eye problems. Its adverse effects on the eye include sudden vision changes may be accompanied with eye pain and redness as well as secondary angle closure glaucoma or the accumulation of fluid in the eye (aqueous humor) increasing pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure). If these optical illnesses are left unaided, irreversible blindness or loss of vision may happen. You should contact your healthcare provider immediately once you develop any new eye symptoms.
Topamax may also bring about decreased perspiration and increased body temperature (fever or hyperthermia). During hot temperatures, patients, especially children, should be observed for these signs as some may need to be hospitalized for this condition.
Just like any other anticonvulsant medicines, Topamax may bring about suicidal tendencies although to a small number of patients only. Any of these symptoms must immediately be reported to your healthcare provider:
- acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
- an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
- attempts to commit suicide
- feeling agitated or restless
- new or worse irritability, depression or anxiety
- panic attacks
- thoughts about dying
- trouble or difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)
- other unusual changes in behavior or mood.
Moreover, Topamax may harm your unborn baby. The risk of oral birth defects such as cleft lip or cleft palates are higher to babies born on Topamax-exposed pregnancy. You need to notify your healthcare provider immediately when you find out that you are pregnant or when you want to become pregnant.
Never halt from taking Topamax before discussing with your doctor or any healthcare provider as sudden withdrawal from your Topamax therapy could bring serious effects. Follow your Topamax therapy properly. With that you will be able to achieved your desired affects and not enduring much of the unintended ones.