facts about topamax
topiramate (toe PEER ah mate)
What is the most important information I should know about Topamax?
• Seek immediate medical attention if you experience blurred vision, changesin vision, or pain in or around the eyes during treatment with Topamax facts about topamax. Thesemay be early signs of a serious side effect facts about topamax.
• Do not stop taking Topamax without first talking to your doctor, evenif your symptoms have improved facts about topamax. It is important to continue taking Topamax toprevent seizures from recurring facts about topamax.
• Carry or wear a medical identification tag to let others know that youare taking Topamax in the case of an emergency facts about topamax.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities facts about topamax. Topamax may cause dizziness or drowsiness facts about topamax. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities facts about topamax.
• Alcohol should be avoided while taking Topamax facts about topamax. Alcohol may cause increasedsedation or drowsiness facts about topamax. It may also increase the risk of having a seizure facts about topamax.
• Drink several extra glasses of fluid each day during treatment with Topamaxto minimize the risk of kidney stone formation facts about topamax. Additional fluid may be necessaryduring hot weather, vigorous exercise, and illness facts about topamax.
What is Topamax?
• Topamax is used to control seizures facts about topamax. The exact way that it works is unknown facts about topamax. However, it is believed that Topamax alters the chemical impulses in the brainthat cause seizures facts about topamax.
• Topamax may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide facts about topamax.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Topamax?
• Before taking Topamax, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease facts about topamax. You may not be able to take Topamax, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment facts about topamax.
• Topamax is in the FDA pregnancy category C facts about topamax. This means that it is notknown whether Topamax will harm an unborn baby facts about topamax. Do not take this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or if you could becomepregnant during treatment facts about topamax.
• It is not known whether Topamax passes into breast milk facts about topamax. Do not takeTopamax without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby facts about topamax.
• The safety and effectiveness of Topamax have not been established forchildren younger than 2 years of age facts about topamax.
How should I take Topamax?
• Take Topamax exactly as directed by your doctor facts about topamax. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you facts about topamax.
• Take each dose of Topamax with a full glass of water facts about topamax.
• The Topamax Sprinkle Capsules may be carefully opened and the contentssprinkled onto a small amount (teaspoon) of soft food facts about topamax. This drug/food mixtureshould be swallowed immediately, without chewing facts about topamax. The mixture should not bestored for future use facts about topamax. If the mixture is combined in a small container, addsome water to the container after the dose has been taken, and drink the waterto ensure the whole dose has been taken facts about topamax.
• Due to their bitter taste, the Topamax tablets should not be broken facts about topamax.
• Topamax can be taken with or without food facts about topamax.
• Carry or wear a medical identification tag to let others know that youare taking this medicine in the case of an emergency facts about topamax.
• Do not stop taking Topamax without first talking to your doctor, evenif your symptoms have improved facts about topamax. It is important to continue taking Topamax toprevent seizures from recurring facts about topamax.
• Drink several extra glasses of fluid each day during treatment with Topamaxto minimize the risk of kidney stone formation facts about topamax. Additional fluid may be necessaryduring hot weather, vigorous exercise, and illness facts about topamax.
• Store Topamax at room temperature away from moisture and heat facts about topamax.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember facts about topamax. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose facts about topamax. Do not take a double dose of this medication facts about topamax.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical treatment facts about topamax.
• Symptoms of a Topamax overdose are unknown but may include severe drowsiness,poor coordination, tremor, confusion, difficulty speaking, and nausea facts about topamax.
What should I avoid while taking Topamax?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities facts about topamax. Topamax may cause dizziness or drowsiness facts about topamax. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities facts about topamax.
• Alcohol should be avoided while taking Topamax facts about topamax. Alcohol may cause increasedsedation or drowsiness facts about topamax. It may also increase the risk of having a seizure facts about topamax.
• Drink several extra glasses of fluid each day during treatment with Topamaxto minimize the risk of kidney stone formation facts about topamax. Additional fluid may be necessaryduring hot weather, vigorous exercise, and illness facts about topamax.
• Ketogenic diets (high protein, very low carbohydrate diets that may induceketosis) may increase the risk of kidney stone formation and should be avoidedduring treatment with Topamax facts about topamax.
What are the possible side effects of Topamax?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingTopamax and seek emergency medical attention:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· blurred vision, changes in vision, or pain in or around the eyes
· worsening of seizures facts about topamax.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur facts about topamax. Continueto take Topamax and talk to your doctor if you experience
· dizziness, poor coordination, sluggishness, or drowsiness;
· irregular back-and-forth movements of the eyes;
· nausea, loss of appetite, or weight loss;
· tremor, numbness, or tingling;
· confusion, difficulty concentrating or decreased memory;
· speech or language difficulties; or
· changes in behavior, depression, nervousness, or agitation facts about topamax.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur facts about topamax. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome facts about topamax.
What other drugs will affect Topamax?
• Before taking Topamax, tell your doctor if you are taking any of thefollowing medicines:
· another seizure medication such as valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene),carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and others;
· a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as acetazolamide (Diamox), methazolamide(Neptazane), or dichlorphenamide (Daranide); or
· digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps) facts about topamax.
• You may not be able to take Topamax, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the drugs listedabove facts about topamax.
• Topamax may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills facts about topamax. Talk toyour doctor about other birth control options to prevent unintended pregnancy facts about topamax.
• Topamax may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness,including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, pain relievers, sedative(sleep aids), anxiety medicines, and muscle relaxants facts about topamax. Dangerous sedation, dizziness,or drowsiness may occur if Topamax is taken with any of these medications facts about topamax.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Topamax facts about topamax. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines facts about topamax.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Topamax written forhealth professionals that you may read facts about topamax.
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