What Makes TOPAMAX Different
TOPAMAX for Epilepsy
TOPAMAX can make a significant difference in the lives of people with epilepsy. TOPAMAX provides a proven safety and efficacy profile , and is generally well-tolerated seizure control for many kinds of seizures—including some of the most severe.
Some benefits of using TOPAMAX are listed below.
- TOPAMAX has a proven safety profile
- TOPAMAX has helped millions of people
- TOPAMAX works well with other antiepileptic drugs
- TOPAMAX has lower potential for interaction with most other medicines
- TOPAMAX has minimal interference with hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill, at
lower doses - TOPAMAX is not associated with drug-induced weight gain
- TOPAMAX can be taken with or without food
- TOPAMAX offers treatment support
TOPAMAX Has a Proven Safety Profile
TOPAMAX has a proven safety profile. Healthcare professionals have extensive clinical experience with TOPAMAX. Topiramate has been available in the United States since 1997 and in parts of Europe since 1995, regardless of condition.
Serious risks associated with TOPAMAX include lowered bicarbonate levels in the blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis). Symptoms could include hyperventilation (rapid, deep breathing), tiredness, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat or changes in the level of alertness. Call your doctor immediately if you get these symptoms. Your doctor may want to do simple blood tests. Chronic, untreated metabolic acidosis may increase the risk for kidney stones or bone disease.
Other serious risks include decreased sweating, increased body temperature, kidney stones, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and increased eye pressure (glaucoma). Call your doctor immediately if you have any decrease in vision or eye pain. These problems can lead to blindness if not treated right away.
More common side effects in adults are nervousness, coordination problems, fatigue, speech problems, slowed thinking, memory difficulty, tingling in arms and legs, and double vision; and in children, fatigue, loss of appetite, nervousness, memory difficulty, aggressive behavior, and weight loss.
As monotherapy, the most common side effects of TOPAMAX (in the 400 mg/day group and at a rate higher than the 50 mg/day group) in adults were tingling in arms and legs, weight decrease, sleepiness, loss of appetite, dizziness, and difficulty with memory; and in children, weight decrease, upper respiratory tract infection, tingling in arms and legs, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and mood problems.
In combination with other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), the most common side effects of TOPAMAX in adults (200 to 400 mg/day) were sleepiness, dizziness, nervousness, loss of muscle coordination, fatigue, speech disorders and related problems, psychomotor slowing, abnormal vision, difficulty with memory, tingling in arms and legs, and double vision; and in children (5 to 9 mg/kg/day), fatigue, sleepiness, loss of appetite, nervousness, difficulty with concentration/attention, difficulty with memory, aggressive reaction, and weight decrease.
^ Return to TopTOPAMAX Has Helped Millions of People
More than 4 million patients worldwide have been treated with topiramate since 1995, regardless of condition.
^ Return to TopTOPAMAX Works Well With Other Antiepileptic Drugs
When used in combination with other antiepileptic drugs, TOPAMAX has been proven to be effective at controlling seizures in adults and children (age 2 or older) who have:
- Partial-onset seizures
- Primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures
- Seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Topamax Has Lower Potential for Interaction With Most Other Medicines
Because TOPAMAX interacts only slightly with most other drugs, it can be taken along with many other common medications.
^ Return to TopTOPAMAX Has Minimal Interference With Hormonal Contraceptives, Such as the Pill, at Lower Doses
TOPAMAX does not interact in any significant way with combination oral contraceptives (which use the hormones progestin and estrogen) at doses of TOPAMAX as high as 200 mg/day. There is no effect on the hormone progestin for any dose that has been studied. For doses of TOPAMAX between 200 mg/day and 800 mg/day, exposure to the estrogen in the contraceptive lessens, which may weaken the effect of the contraceptive or lead to breakthrough bleeding.
Note: Report any change in your bleeding patterns to the healthcare professional who prescribed your contraceptive, and let her or him know you are taking TOPAMAX. Check with your healthcare professional about all of the medicines you take along with TOPAMAX, including birth control.
^ Return to TopTOPAMAX Is Not Associated With Drug-Induced Weight Gain
Even small weight gain within the range of healthy weights can carry health risks. TOPAMAX is not associated with any drug-induced weight gain.
^ Return to TopTOPAMAX Can Be Taken With or Without Food
TOPAMAX is absorbed rapidly. Food does not interfere with its effectiveness.
^ Return to TopTOPAMAX Offers Treatment Support
Treatment support can make a difference. If you or your loved one are taking TOPAMAX, join the FREE Everyday Essentials™ support program and learn how to get the most out of your treatment. Benefits include expert answers to your treatment questions, product rebates, support giver information, help finding resources in your area—and much more.
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