Topiramate

Topiramate, sold under the brand name Topamax among others, is a medication used to treat epilepsy and prevent migraines. It has also been used in alcohol dependence. For epilepsy this includes with generalized or focal seizures. It is taken by mouth. Topiramate, sold under the brand name Topamax among others, is a medication used to treat epilepsy and prevent migraines. It has also been used in alcohol dependence. For epilepsy this includes with generalized or focal seizures. It is taken by mouth. Common side effects include tingling, loss of appetite, feeling tired, abdominal pain, hair loss, and trouble concentrating. Serious side effects may include suicide, increased ammonia levels resulting in encephalopathy, and kidney stones. Use in pregnancy may result in harm to the baby and use during breastfeeding is not recommended. How it works is unclear. Topiramate was approved for medical use in the United States in 1996. It is available as a generic medication. A month supply in the United Kingdom costs the NHS about 1.40 £ per month as of 2019. In the United States the wholesale cost of this amount is about 4.00 USD. Topiramate is used to treat epilepsy in children and adults, and it was originally used as an anticonvulsant. In children, it is indicated for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a disorder that causes seizures and developmental delay. It is most frequently prescribed for, the prevention of migraines. It decreases the frequency of attacks. A 2018 review found topiramate of no use in chronic low back pain. Topiramate has not been shown to work as a pain medicine in diabetic neuropathy, the only neuropathic condition in which it has been adequately tested. One common off-label use for topiramate is in the treatment of bipolar disorder. A review published in 2010 suggested a benefit of topiramate in the treatment of symptoms of borderline personality disorder, however the authors noted that this was based only on one randomized controlled trial and requires replication. Topiramate has been used as a treatment for alcoholism. The VA/DoD 2015 guideline on substance use disorders lists topiramate as a 'strong for' in its recommendations for alcohol use disorder. Other uses include treatment of obesity and antipsychotic-induced weight gain. It is being studied to treat post traumatic stress disorder. In 2012, the combination phentermine/topiramate was approved in the United States for weight loss.