Topimax
Topimax is a medicine used to treat epilepsy in adults and children (6 years and older alone, or 2 years and older with other medicines), and to prevent migraine headaches in adults.
Form
tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen
Strength
200 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 right dose is found for you.
Method
Swallow tablets whole. Do not chew them as they taste bitter. You can take Topimax with or without food. Drink plenty of fluids during the day to help prevent kidney stones.
Important
Always follow your doctor's instructions for the maximum daily dose.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Depression (new or worse)
- •Stuffy or runny nose, sore throat
- •Tingling, pain, and/or numbness in different parts of the body
- •Drowsiness, tiredness
- •Dizziness
- •Nausea, diarrhea
- •Weight loss
- •Seizures
- •Anxiety, irritability, mood changes, confusion, disorientation
- •Problems with concentration, slow thinking, memory loss, new or worse memory problems
- •Kidney stones, frequent or painful urination
- •Anemia (low blood count)
- •Allergic reactions (rash, redness, itching, facial swelling, hives)
- •Loss of appetite or decreased appetite
- •Aggression, agitation, anger, abnormal behavior
- •Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- •Speech problems, slurred speech
- •Clumsiness or lack of coordination, feeling unsteady when walking
- •Reduced ability to perform routine tasks
- •Decreased, lost, or absent sense of taste
- •Involuntary trembling or shaking, rapid uncontrollable eye movements
- •Vision problems, such as double vision, blurred vision, decreased vision, difficulty focusing
- •Spinning sensation (vertigo), ringing in the ears, ear pain
- •Shortness of breath, cough, nosebleed
- •Fever, malaise, weakness
- •Vomiting, constipation, abdominal 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 acid in the blood (can cause trouble breathing, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, severe tiredness, fast or uneven heartbeat)
- •Decreased or absent sweating (especially in young children exposed to high temperatures)
- •Serious thoughts of self-harm and attempts to harm oneself
- •Partial loss of vision field
- •Glaucoma (blockage of fluid in the eye, leading to increased eye pressure, pain, or blurred vision)
- •Difficulty thinking, remembering, or solving problems; decreased alertness or awareness; severe drowsiness or lack of energy (may indicate high blood ammonia levels affecting brain function)
- •Severe skin reactions (like Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis) which can appear as a rash with or without blisters, skin irritation, sores or swelling in mouth, throat, nose, eyes or genital area; these can be life-threatening.
- •Eye inflammation (uveitis) with symptoms like red eyes, pain, sensitivity to light, watery eyes, seeing small spots, or blurred vision; or maculopathy (a disease of the central part of the retina leading to changes or worsening vision).
- •Low blood platelet count (cells that stop bleeding), low white blood cell count (cells that fight infection), low blood potassium
- •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 (hallucinations), severe mental disorder (psychosis)
- •Lack of emotions and/or inability to show emotions, unusual suspiciousness, panic attack
- •Difficulty reading, speech difficulties, difficulty writing by hand
- •Restlessness, hyperactivity
- •Slowed thinking, decreased alertness or wakefulness, weakened or slowed body movements, unusual or repeated involuntary movements
- •Fainting
- •Abnormal sensations, impaired sense of touch, decreased, distorted, or absent sense of smell
- •Unusual sensations that may precede a migraine or a certain type of epileptic seizure (aura)
- •Dry eyes, light sensitivity, involuntary eyelid twitching, watery eyes
- •Decreased or lost hearing, hearing loss in one ear
- •Slow or irregular heartbeat, feeling heart pounding in chest
- •Low blood pressure, dizziness or fainting when standing up
- •Flushing, feeling warm
- •Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- •Excessive gas, heartburn, feeling full or bloated in the stomach
- •Bleeding gums, increased saliva, drooling, bad breath
- •Increased thirst, drinking unusually large amounts of fluids
- •Skin discoloration
- •Muscle stiffness, pain in the side, blood in urine, incontinence, urgent need to urinate, pain in the kidney area, difficulty getting or keeping an erection, sexual dysfunction, flu-like symptoms, cold fingers and toes, feeling drunk, learning problems.
- •Unconsciousness
- •Blindness in one eye, temporary blindness, night blindness
- •Impaired vision
- •Swelling in 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
- •Unusual skin odor
- •Discomfort in arms or legs
- •Kidney disease
Important Warnings
- If you are pregnant or can become pregnant, do not use Topimax unless no other treatment can control your seizures, and always use effective birth control during and for 4 weeks after treatment.
- Do not stop taking Topimax without talking to your doctor first, as your symptoms may return.
- Some people taking this medicine have had thoughts of harming themselves or suicide. Contact your doctor immediately if you have these thoughts.
- Topimax can cause severe skin reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you develop a rash or blisters.
- Topimax can cause dizziness, tiredness, and vision problems. Do not drive or use machines until you know how it affects you and have discussed it with your doctor.
Show 1 more warnings
- In rare cases, Topimax can increase ammonia levels in your blood, which may affect brain function. Tell your doctor immediately if you have trouble thinking, remembering, or if you feel less alert.