Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat epileptic seizures and to prevent certain types of migraine headaches, Toparamax, the brand name of Topiramate, is a seizure medication otherwise known as an anticonvulsant. Topamax could be prescribed as an adjunctive therapy which means it could be taken together with other antiepileptic drugs or as a monotherapy. It should be noted that in adjunctive therapy, other antiepileptic drugs affect Topamax.

Seizures in adults and children who are at least 10 years old could be treated with Topamax as a monotherapy. Seizures in adults and children who are at least 2 years old could be treated with Topamax in combination with other antiepileptic drugs. Topamax only prevents migraine headaches and not treat them or reduce the number of attacks when use for migraine treatment.

Doctors must be informed of any other existing conditions that patients may have to make sure that it is safe for them to be taking Topamax.Among these conditions are allergies, kidney disease or a history of kidney stones, liver disease, glaucoma, a history of depression or suicide attempt, a growth disorder, a history of metabolic acidosis, osteoporosis or low bone density, asthma, emphysema, or other breathing disorder. Topamax treatment among pregnant women or women planning to get pregnant should be discussed thoroughly with doctors with recent studies linking Topamax to serious birth defects.

Doctors must be kept informed if patients have suicidal thoughts while taking Topamax or if they notice that they are having new or worsening symptoms of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Family and other caregivers who often surround the patient should be alert to the changes in patients moods or symptoms.

Patients taking Topamax should also be on the lookout for side effects and inform their doctors immediately if they are having such. Sudden vision loss, pain around or behind your eyes, dry mouth, increased thirst, drowsiness, decreased sweating, increased body temperature, and hot, dry skin, slowed thinking, memory problems, trouble concentrating, problems with speech or balance, confusion, mood changes, unusual behavior, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, vomiting, loss of appetite, tired feeling, irregular heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out, or severe pain in your side or lower back, painful or difficult urination are among the side effects to watch out for.

To date, the most serious side effect that has been associated with Topamax is the increase risk of infants, whose mothers took the medication during pregnancy, to birth defects. Birth defects lawsuit could be filed against Johnson and Johnson, the mother company of Ortho-McNeil, which manufactured Topamax for failing to issue an early warning on birth defects despite studies suggesting such as early as 2008.