Get Informed: Topamax
Active Ingredient(s)
Topiramate
What does it do?
This product is used for the treatment of epilepsy and migraine. It appears to work at multiple sites in the brain, although its mechanism of action is not well understood.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-21 2:26 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:53 PM
Other Names
- Topamax
- Topiramate
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 24 Dec 1996
- Est US Patients*
- 3,216,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Topamax or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Topamax
Topamax Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Topamax used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 18,800 patients that use Topamax (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Migraine / Headache | 69% | 
|
| Epilepsy / Seizures | 14% | 
|
| Bipolar Disorder | 8% |
|
| Depression | 6% |
|
| Pain | 4% |
|
| Panic Disorder | 3% |
|
| Other | 9% |
|
How well does Topamax work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 18,800 users taking Topamax (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 85%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Topamax outweigh the bad things.
- 35%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Topamax.
Common Side Effects of Topamax
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 18,800 users taking Topamax (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
60% of patients experience side-effects on Topamax
10% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Topamax
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Numbness/Tingling
-
Memory/Speech Problems
-
Weight Loss
-
Fatigue
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Drowsiness
-
Altered Taste/Smell
-
Dizziness
-
Mental Haziness
-
Loss of Appetite
-
Dry Mouth
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdominal Pain, Blurred Vision, Constipation, Dehydration, Depression, Dryness, Eye Irritation, Headache, Heat Sensitivity, Insomnia, Loss of Libido, Mood/Behavior Changes, Nausea/Vomiting, Nightmares, Thirst, Tremor
Global Patient Feedback for Topamax (Topiramate) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I'm a 47 yr old female and have been on Topamax 600mg for over 8 years. I totally disagree with the "dopamax" label this drug has been given I was prescribed for mood swings because all of the other drugs caused weight gain. I went back to school and got my Associates; it actually helped to calm my thoughts. A plus is it helps with migraines and the weight loss! I do get kidney stones; but am on prevention meds for that so I can stay on Topamax.
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-05 07:45:12
Question/Comment:
i have been on topomax for about a year and my hiar was falling out and sweating, heat sensitve,dryness,forgetfullness and stuttering all the time ...this is the worse drug!! I have a 3 yr.old i need to take care of! feeling tired is not an option for me...when dealing with my son or drowsy all the time ...then depression set in not the best drug at all....i took myself of ...about 5 months now hair is growing back...back so are my migians....i rather be an attentive mother than a forgetfull,bald,hot,dry,temper tantrom ....sturttering fool!!!!!! they need to ban this drug for good!
41 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-04 16:12:30
Question/Comment:
I was on Topamax for five years 200 mg in the am and 200 in the pm. I did not have any of the side effects mentioned. My doctor took me off of it two months ago. He felt I should "try something different" because of all the other meds I am on. Yesterday I had an appointment and a crushing migraine and he finally got to witness first-hand what my migraines were like. He immediately put me back on Topamax and told me to titrate as quickly as possible back to the 200 mg twice a day as I was before and added Inderal to the mix. Topamax did cause me to lose 70 pounds five years ago when I first started it, but I have plenty of room to lose 70 more if that is the case. I wish everyone good luck with this medication.
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-03 20:30:21
Question/Comment:
I lost a lot of weight on this drug, was very nauseated, and my headaches was never gone completly, I always found myself taking the "rescue" to feel better.
29 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-26 17:36:50
Question/Comment:
I'm a 39 y/o woman who's been taking a gradually increasing dose of Topamax/Topiramate for the past 3 years to help prevent the frequency and severity of the headaches. What was originally a 15mg/day Rx, is now a 115mg/day drug routine. I remember when my neurologist first wrote the prescription for Topamax, and told me about possible side effects like "weight loss" and "tingling" in the fingers and feet which could be helped by added potassium in my diet. But NEVER, not once in that visit, or in any of the many visits since, did she ask about the other possible effects I'm reading about here: fatigue, mental fogginess, memory loss, depression, suicidal thoughts. During these years, I felt like my job performance was slipping because I'd have trouble concentrating at work, remembering words, I even worried that I might be developing early onset Alzheimers (a family curse), so eventually left work to "recharge". But then, fatigue and depression took over, weighing me down like a wet blanket. I've really been wondering what is wrong with me? Then another dr. asked if the "dopamax" was causing any of these symptoms during an allergy visit.. and I finally did some much-too-late research for myself! Talk about feeling foolish.. misinformed.. and relieved all at once.
39 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-08 07:35:05
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Patient Comments about
Topamax