Topamax Migraine:
If you become pregnant while taking the drug, call your healthcare provider right away. Most are mild to moderate in severity and temporary; as your body gets used to the medication, some side effects are likely to disappear. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you should use reliable backup my sources birth control methods while using this medication. Also tell your doctor if you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding, because these may be signs that your birth control is not working well. A small number of people who take anticonvulsants for any condition (such as seizures, bipolar disorder, pain) may experience depression, suicidal thoughts/attempts, or other mental/mood problems.
‘First-line’ means that there is plenty of clinical evidence proving that a treatment is effective for its suggested use. Since the introduction of migraine-specific preventive medications like erenumab (Aimovig), Topamax is not always a first choice. Topiramate has shown significant improvements in migraine prophylaxis on headache frequency, headache severity, and life outcomes in adults, although the evidence of its efficacy in children and adolescents is lacking. The further clinical study about Chinese migraine patients need to be conducted in the near future. Your health care provider might recommend preventive medications if you have frequent, long-lasting or severe headaches that don’t respond well to treatment.
Kidney disease can also increase the level of acid in your blood. If you have kidney disease, you could have a raised risk for metabolic acidosis and kidney stones with Topamax. In this study, adults and children ages 6 years and older took Topamax alone to treat their seizures. Depending on their dose, between 59% and 76% of people studied had no seizures for 1 year while taking Topamax. Topamax wasn’t compared with a different drug or placebo.
If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you miss a single dose of TOPAMAX’, take it as soon as you can. However, if you are within 6 hours of taking your next scheduled dose, wait until then to take your usual dose of TOPAMAX’, and skip the missed dose.
Pregnancy can add another complicated layer to your migraine journey, but having a strong support system will make it easier to navigate the ups and downs. You can find additional support from people in your position and those who have already experienced pregnancy with migraine in our Move Against Migraine Facebook group. Finding people whom you can lean on for support can help lift some of the burden of managing migraine before, during and after pregnancy.
The recommended dosage of topiramate for migraine prevention is 50 mg twice per day. Patients should start with 25 mg once per day, then increase by 25 mg per week up to the recommended dosage. No two people with migraine will get their best results from the have a peek here same tools, but topiramate (Topamax) may be a valuable ingredient in your migraine regimen. Changing what you eat, reducing triggers in your environment, and trying other nonmedication interventions are all useful tools for reducing your migraine burden, too.
You should continue to seek proper medical attention and access information to help alleviate the burden. Consider these complementary and integrative treatments, and search our Resources Library for more. Don’t give up on your search to find an integrative treatment that works for you. Our Resource Library is another great place to find information on these treatments. Keeping track of your migraine episodes with a migraine diary will aid your doctor in understanding your condition and determine your treatment effectiveness.
You’ll probably first see a primary care provider, who might then refer you to a provider trained in evaluating and treating headaches, called a neurologist. Nontraditional therapies might help with chronic migraine pain. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
More concerning is the drug’s potential for causing behavioral or cognitive disturbance, the latter typically manifested by impaired recent memory, impaired concentration, or word-finding difficulties. If you get new eye pain, blurred vision, or develop new trouble with your eyesight, especially in the first few weeks of trying Topamax, contact your healthcare provider right away. These could be signs of glaucoma, which is easily treatable but can be serious if untreated.
Migraine is a disabling disease that no one should have to go through alone. It’s essential to build a support network of understanding people who can not only check in on you during an attack but also empathize with your experience. Read this article to learn about building a support system.
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We recommend a look at our patient guides, which include useful information including how to talk to your doctor about migraine. Having a strong network of people who validate your experience and support you on the good days and bad is so valuable when you live with an invisible illness like migraine. If you’re interested in connecting with more people in the migraine community, we recommend joining our Facebook support group, Move Against Migraine. There, you will find a wonderful community of people who are ready to listen and lift each other up. If your support system is lacking, consider joining a support group. Finding a community of people who understand exactly what you’re going through is like being welcomed home after a long, tiring day.
These may include slow, shallow breathing, loss of consciousness, coma, and in rare cases, death. If you and your doctor determine that Topamax is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term. If you miss a dose of Topamax and it’s more than 6 hours until your next dose is due, you should take the missed dose. However, if it’s less than 6 hours until your next dose is due, skip the missed dose. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended.