Topimax
Topimax is a medicine used to treat epilepsy in adults and children (from 2 or 6 years old, depending on the treatment) and to prevent migraine headaches in adults.
Form
kapseli, kova
Strength
50 mg
Active Ingredient
Topiramate
Manufacturer
Janssen-Cilag Oy
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will start you on a low dose and slowly increase it until the best dose for you is found.
Method
You can swallow the capsules whole, or open them and sprinkle the contents on a teaspoon of soft food (like applesauce or yogurt). Drink water immediately to ensure you swallow all the medicine. Do not chew.
Important
The maximum daily dose will be determined by your doctor based on your individual needs. Always follow your doctor's instructions.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Depression (new or worse)
- •Tingling, pain, and/or numbness in different parts of the body
- •Sleepiness, tiredness
- •Dizziness
- •Nausea, diarrhea
- •Weight loss
- •Stuffy or runny nose, sore throat
- •Seizures
- •Anxiety, irritability, mood changes, confusion, disorientation
- •Problems with concentration, slow thinking, memory loss, new memory problems, or worsening of old ones
- •Kidney stones, frequent or painful urination
- •Anemia (low blood count)
- •Allergic reactions (like rash, redness, itching, facial swelling, hives)
- •Loss of appetite, decreased appetite
- •Aggression, agitation, anger, unusual behavior
- •Trouble falling asleep or restless sleep
- •Speech problems, slurred speech
- •Clumsiness, poor coordination, feeling unsteady when walking, reduced ability to do daily tasks
- •Decreased, lost, or absent sense of taste
- •Involuntary tremors or shaking, rapid uncontrollable eye movements
- •Vision problems, such as double vision, blurred vision, decreased sharpness of vision, or difficulty focusing
- •Spinning sensation (vertigo), ringing in the ears, ear pain
- •Shortness of breath, cough
- •Nosebleed
- •Fever, feeling unwell, weakness
- •Vomiting, constipation, stomach pain or discomfort, indigestion, stomach or intestinal infection
- •Dry mouth
- •Hair loss, itching
- •Joint pain or swelling, muscle cramps or twitching, muscle pain or weakness
- •Chest pain
- •Weight gain
RARE
- •Increased blood acidity (can cause troubled breathing, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, extreme tiredness, and fast or uneven heartbeat)
- •Decreased or absent sweating (especially in small children exposed to high temperatures)
- •Serious thoughts of self-harm, serious attempts to harm oneself
- •Loss of part of the field of vision
- •Glaucoma, with fluid blockage in the eye, leading to increased eye pressure, pain, or vision loss
- •Trouble thinking, remembering information or solving problems, reduced alertness or awareness, feeling very sleepy with low energy (these may be signs of high ammonia levels in the blood affecting brain function)
- •Severe skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis, appearing as rashes with or without blisters, skin irritation, sores or swelling in the mouth, throat, nose, eyes, and genital areas; these rashes can become severe, widespread skin damage with life-threatening consequences
- •Eye inflammation (uveitis), with symptoms such as eye redness, pain, sensitivity to light, watery eyes, seeing small spots, or blurred vision
- •Decreased blood platelets (cells that help stop bleeding), decreased white blood cells (cells that fight infection), decreased potassium in the blood
- •Increased liver enzymes, increased eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood
- •Swollen glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
- •Increased appetite
- •Elevated mood
- •Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not there; severe mental disorder (psychosis)
- •Lack of emotions and/or inability to show them, unusual suspicion, panic attack
- •Difficulty reading, speech difficulties, difficulty writing
- •Restlessness, hyperactivity
- •Slow thinking, reduced alertness or awareness
- •Reduced or slow body movements, involuntary abnormal or repeated muscle movements
- •Fainting
- •Abnormal or reduced sense of touch
- •Decreased, distorted, or absent sense of smell
- •Unusual sensations that may precede a migraine or a certain type of epileptic seizure
- •Dry eyes, sensitivity to light, involuntary eyelid twitching, watery eyes
- •Decreased or lost hearing, hearing loss in one ear
- •Slow or irregular heart rate, feeling your heart pound in your chest
- •Low blood pressure, low blood pressure when standing (which can make some Topimax users feel weak, dizzy, or faint when standing up or sitting up suddenly)
- •Flushing, feeling of warmth
- •Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- •Lots of gas, heartburn, feeling full or bloated in the stomach
- •Bleeding gums, increased saliva, drooling, bad breath
- •Drinking a lot of fluids, thirst, increased thirst, intake of abnormally large amounts of fluids
- •Skin discoloration
- •Muscle stiffness, side pain
- •Blood in urine, urinary incontinence (lack of control), urgent need to urinate, side or kidney pain
- •Difficulty getting or keeping an erection, sexual dysfunction
- •Flu-like symptoms
- •Cold fingers and toes
- •Feeling intoxicated
- •Learning difficulties
- •Abnormally elevated mood
- •Loss of consciousness
- •Blindness in one eye, temporary blindness, night blindness, weak vision
- •Swelling inside and around the eyes
- •Numbness, tingling, and color changes (white, blue, then red) in fingers and toes when exposed to cold
- •Liver inflammation, liver failure
- •Abnormal skin odor
- •Discomfort in arms or legs
- •Kidney disorder
- •Maculopathy, a disease of the macula (the sharpest part of the retina in your eye). Contact your doctor if you notice any changes or worsening in your vision.
Important Warnings
- If you are pregnant, can become pregnant, or are not using effective birth control, do not take Topimax unless your doctor says it is the only way to control your severe epilepsy, as it can harm your unborn baby.
- If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your doctor immediately.
- Tell your doctor right away if you develop a skin rash or blisters, as Topimax can cause severe skin reactions.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you have trouble thinking, remembering, or solving problems; feel less alert or aware; or feel very sleepy and tired, as these could be signs of high ammonia levels affecting your brain.
- Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to help prevent kidney stones while taking Topimax.
Show 2 more warnings
- Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Topimax.
- Topimax can cause dizziness, tiredness, and vision problems. Do not drive or operate machinery until you have talked to your doctor about it.