Why does topamax help migraines

However, topiramate is not suitable for everyone. It may take a while for you to feel the full benefit of Topamax for migraines—Dr. Friedman says lots of people see improvement in the first month, but it can continue improving for the first year. Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug. Should you take Topamax for your migraines? By Sarah Bradley Updated on Jul. Torres, Pharm. As with any drug, Topamax can cause side effects.

The lists below highlight the more common and the more severe side effects that are possible when taking this drug. Several randomized, controlled trials have shown that Topamax reduces the frequency , intensity, and duration of migraine attacks in adults.

Topamax has been found to be a cost-effective treatment that helps improve the quality of life for people who live with migraine. Migraine can affect your quality of life. This is especially true if the attacks are severe and frequent.

Migraine is also underreported, underdiagnosed, a main contributor to disability in those under age Reducing the number or severity of migraine attacks you have is the best way to minimize the effect they have on your day-to-day life.

Talk with your doctor about Topamax. Your doctor knows your medical history and will choose the type of therapy that is most likely to work for you.

Keeping track of your migraine episodes with a migraine diary will aid your doctor in understanding your condition and determine your treatment effectiveness. During a migraine attack, sometimes the only thing you can do is make yourself as comfortable as possible while you ride out the neurological storm.

Avoiding food items that commonly trigger migraine attacks may help you lower your own risk of experiencing migraine symptoms. Here's a look at 10…. In , the FDA approved Botox as a treatment for chronic migraine. Get more information about how Botox is used to treat migraine. If you're suffering from pain in the head, you may be suffering from a primary or secondary headache, or a migraine. It is usually used to prevent seizures in people with epilepsy and there is another leaflet called Topiramate for epilepsy which gives more information about this.

However, topiramate has also been found to prevent migraine attacks from occurring. When used for migraine, it may not completely stop every migraine attack, but the number and severity of attacks are often reduced. Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking topiramate it is important that your doctor knows:.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with topiramate. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine.

The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome. Important : topiramate has been associated with a number of serious unwanted effects. Although these occur less commonly than the side-effects listed above, you must let your doctor know straightaway if you notice either of the following:.

If you experience other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice. Page last reviewed: 25 February Next review due: 25 February Topiramate On this page About topiramate Key facts Who can and can't take it How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About topiramate Topiramate is a medicine used to treat epilepsy. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? You can take it with or without food. Common side effects of topiramate include feeling sleepy, dizziness, diarrhoea and feeling sick. These are usually mild and go away by themselves. If taking topiramate for epilepsy, it usually takes a couple of weeks for it to work.

If taking topiramate to prevent migraines, it can take up to 3 months for it to work fully. Topiramate is also called by the brand name Topamax. Topiramate can be taken by adults and children aged 2 years and over.

Topiramate is not suitable for some people. Tell your doctor before starting the medicine if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to topiramate or any other medicines in the past have kidney problems, especially kidney stones have a blood disorder called acute porphyria have a history of blood metabolic acidosis, where the body produces too much acid or cannot remove it properly have eye problems, especially glaucoma have liver problems need to take high doses of vitamin C or calcium supplements are pregnant.

Topiramate is a prescription medicine. It's important to take it as instructed by your doctor. How much will I take? How much you take will depend on what you're using topiramate for.

It's usual to start topiramate at a low dose of 25mg to 50mg a day. This will be increased over several weeks to the usual doses for: epilepsy - mg to mg a day, taken as 2 doses epilepsy if you take another epilepsy medicine with topiramate - mg to mg a day, taken as 2 doses migraines - 50mg to mg, taken as 2 doses In children, the dose of topiramate will depend on the weight of your child. Your doctor will be able to give the right dose to your child. How to take it It's usual to take topiramate twice a day.

What if I forget to take it? If you forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember. Do not take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten dose. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Call your doctor straight away if you take too much topiramate and:. Common side effects These common side effects may happen in more than 1 in people. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away: feeling sick nausea feeling sleepy, dizzy or tired diarrhoea feeling depressed loss of appetite or weight loss Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 10, people.

Tell your doctor straight away if you: get blurred vision, have difficulty seeing and eye pain — these can be signs of glaucoma; these symptoms usually occur during the first month of starting topiramate get pain in your back, belly or side, a burning sensation when you pee, cloudy or smelly pee — these are signs of kidney stones feel sleepy, lose your appetite, have an irregular heartbeat and faint — these can be signs of metabolic acidosis think your children are not sweating — some children taking topiramate may not sweat enough in hot weather, causing their body temperatures to rise Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to topiramate.

These are not all the side effects of topiramate. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Information: You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. What to do about: feeling sick - stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. It might help to take your topiramate after a meal or snack. Try to avoid drinking alcohol, as this will make you feel more tired. If you feel dizzy, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better.

As your body gets used to topiramate, these side effects should wear off. If they do not after a few weeks or you feel dizzy all the time, speak to your doctor. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having strong-smelling pee.

Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. If this becomes a problem, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.