Topamax

Topamax Clinical Report:
Side Effects Stop the Trials

When noticeable side effects became all too obvious to ignore or explain away, some Topamax trials were abruptly stopped.

By stopping their own trials, a pharmaceutical company can legally avoid providing full disclosure of revealed side effects to the FDA and the results of the trial do not become part of the overall product report submitted to the FDA.

Some side effects were consistently noticed during Topamax trials, including memory problems and difficulty in concentration. These side effects are listed by the FDA as being among those most likely to occur when Topamax is used as a migraine drug (see FDA List of Topamax Side Effects in right column).

Seizure Drug Becomes Migraine Drug

Topamax was created as a seizure drug and although its disturbing side effects were known to occur, it was approved by the FDA for that purpose.

There is no known connection between seizures and migraines, except that they both occur in the head. The only similarity is the general area of the head where they occur; however, seizures occur inside the brain whereas migraine occur on the outside of the brain.

It was perhaps marketing research rather than medical research that prompted Topamax's manufacturer to seek out new markets for the drug before the patent expired for topiramate as a seizure drug.

Marketing research clearly indicated that Topamax could be easily sold as a migraine prevention drug.

Topamax Over-Prescribed:
Why Is It Used for Migraines?

What makes Topamax so popular today that it is over-prescribed? Rather than its effectiveness as a migraine drug, the answer may be the intensive marketing campaign of Topamax directed at doctors as well as the mass advertising to draw the attention of those who suffer from headaches.

It is very important here for you to realize that a drug, any drug, acts on the body and brain in the same manner for which it was designed, no matter for what reason it is prescribed.

Topamax was designed to alter the chemistry in the temporal lobes of the brain to modify the neuro-electrical impulses that are short-circuited during a seizure.

Since a migraine is not a seizure, what is this drug doing to the brain of a person who suffers from migraines?

Your Brain On Topamax:
The Altered State of Mind

It is a well established fact that the actual occurrence of a migraine happens within the trigeminal-vascular systems located bi-laterally outside the brain.

These systems consisting of nerve fibers intertwined with tiny blood vessels starts in the temple regions on both sides of the head and branches forward behind the eyes to surround the sinus cavity (the reason you feel sinus pressure) whereas another branch runs down the face along the jaw line (the reason pain can be felt in the face or jaw).

Migraines occur when the neurochemical CGRP causes these tiny blood vessels to dilate (swell) and fill with blood to the point that they put pressure on the sensitive ends of the nerve fibers.

The headache pain is the result of this pressure squeezing the nerve endings.

Drugs known as triptans, including Imitrex, Maxalt, and Relpax, work to relieve the migraine by returning these dilated blood vessels to a normal state, thereby relieving the pressure and pain on the nerves.

Conversely to the science of migraines, Topamax works by altering the chemistry within the temporal lobes of the brain.

It is within the temporal lobes of the brain that our most critical brain functions happen, including:
• cognitive reasoning (thinking)
• short term memory (ability to learn new things, store information, and recall events)
• attention (staying focused)
• concentration (thinking clearly)
• word formation (saying the right words)
• and organization of thoughts (what to do next and what is the answer to a question).

Drugs that alter brain chemicals can cause these vital functions to become impaired.

Topamax Publications:

Impairments to the functions mentioned above are commonly known as Topamax side effects and such adverse events, including cognitive dysfunction, are revealed in the Topamax Publication (7517114 02T566 © OMN 2005).

This publication lists the most common adverse events that may occur while taking Topamax as fatigue, nausea, anorexia, dizziness, diarrhea, somnolence [sleepiness], difficulty with memory, attention, and concentration.

Can you imagine how difficult it is to work, care for children, learn at school (especially for children), drive a car, or do much of anything else while taking a drug that disrupts your mental functions?

Do you feel that you can afford to let a drug compromise your life? Will your family and home life or career suffer if you lose your ability to think?

Topamax Internal Reports:
Will our Topamax drug work for Migraines?

Topamax conducted a trial of 1,700 people who suffered an average of 5.5 migraines per month. At the end of a six month period the study found that by using 200 mg of Topamax a day the average person could expect to reduce the number of migraines per month by just two.

The following is the exact answer taken from the Topamax web site explaining the results of their study on how well Topamax works in reducing migraines. Note: [] brackets contain our explanations of terms.

Conclusion: This study indicates that Topamax works to prevent only 2 out of every 5 headaches. Three or more can still be expected to occur at anytime. Is that what you would expect from a migraine preventive? It works less than half the time? Is that acceptable?

Topamax Effectiveness Study:
You Deserve the Truth

According to a recent Topamax study, the expected outcome for any given person having at least 5.5 headaches a month is a reduction of just 2.1per month. This means the patient can still expect to have about 60% of headaches he or she had prior to taking Topamax.

It is recommended that a patient takes Topamax for six months with increases in the dosage to a point that may reach a level of 400 mg per day by the end of that time, in order to see if Topamax will work an average of 37% of the time in preventing his or her migraines.

That may sound okay to a doctor who doesn't get migraines or the drug company that makes money selling it, but can you afford to wait and suffer for another six months, not to mention the possibility of side effects, in hopes of limited success?

Always keep in mind that it is your head that is hurting, not your doctor's. You have the power and the right to decide what is best for you.

Do What is Best for You and Your Loved Ones

At this point you may be asking, "Now that I know more about Topamax and what can happen while taking it, what is the best thing for me to do now?"

If safety and performance are important to you, consider the safe all-natural migraine prevention formula Tuliv Migraine Defense. Migraine Defense works naturally on the cause of migraines, rather than altering the chemistry of your brain.

Questions: Call 1-866-367-5953 for real answers to your migraine questions. There is no cost or obligation.

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Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Report on Topamax:

Cognitive/Neuropsychiatric Adverse Events Adverse events most often associated with the use of TOPAMAX® were related to the central nervous system and were observed in both the epilepsy and migraine populations.

Cognitive Related Dysfunction (e.g. confusion, psychomotor slowing, difficulty with concentration and attention, difficulty with memory, speech, or language problems, particularly word finding difficulties).

Psychiatric Behavioral Disturbances (e.g. depression or mood problems)

Somnolence and Fatigue (e.g. drowsiness, sleepy, tired)

Kidney Stones: An explanation for the association of TOPAMAX® and kidney stones may lie in the fact that topiramate is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.

Paresthesia: Paresthesia (usually tingling of the extremities) appears to be a common effect of TOPAMAX®. Paresthesia was more frequently reported in the migraine prophylaxis trials versus the adjunctive therapy trials in epilepsy.

Information for Patients: Patients taking TOPAMAX® should be told to seek immediate medical attention if they experience blurred vision or periorbital pain.

Patients should be warned about the potential for somnolence, dizziness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating and advised not to drive or operate machinery.

Topamax: from Physicians Desk Reference

Topamax can depress the central nervous system. Be extremely cautious about combining it with alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, and other central nervous system depressants.

More common side effects may include: abdominal pain, abnormal coordination, abnormal vision, agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, headache, hearing difficulties, hot flashes, hyperactivity, impotence, increased sweating, involuntary muscle movement, irritable bladder, joint pain, kidney stones, loss of balance, loss of consciousness, low sex drive, mood swings, confusion, depression, difficulty with concentration, difficulty with memory, dizziness, menstrual problems, mood problems, nausea, nervousness, muscle ache, muscle tension, muscle weakness, personality problems, appetite loss, double vision, drowsiness, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, language problems, leg pain, loss of coordination, slowing of movements, speech problems, tingling or burning sensations, tremors, weakness, weight loss.

Less common side effects may include: Abnormal gait, abnormal menstrual bleeding, acne, aggressiveness, allergy, apathy, changes in taste, body odor, decreased awareness, decreased mobility, decreased sensitivity, dry mouth, eye pain, feelings of illness, feelings of unreality, hair loss, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to touch, severe itching, shortness of breath, sleeplessness, suicidal tendencies, urinary incontinence, vaginal infection, vomiting, weight gain.

Topamax - "Stupamax"

The following is from the author of Crazy Meds who actually takes Topamax to control his epileptic seizures.

FDA Approved Uses: Adjunctive treatment for epilepsy for a variety of seizure types, including partial onset seizures, generalized tonic-clonic and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and migraines.

Topamax Pros: It is one of the best meds on the market for temporal lobe dysfunctions.

Topamax Cons: If you don't have a temporal lobe dysfunction or problems with other parts of your brain that Topamax hits it will make you dumber than a box of rocks.

Since migraines are not temporal lobe dysfuntions, no one really knows, including the manufacturer, what it is doing to the brain for migraines.

Topamax's Typical Side Effects: Memory loss, aphasia (weird words coming out in place of what you meant to say or write), word find problems (not being able to recall the names of people, things or concepts), and a general cognitive impairment.

Topamax is best known as "Stupamax" or "Dopamax" because it turns you into an idiot on drugs. Your memory will be gone.

You will experience mild aphasia, the inability to recall the correct word for something or calling something by a completely bizarre name. Your thinking will become fuzzy.

And you had best drink lots of water, because Topamax is not extensively metabolized, is a weak carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, and is primarily cleared by your kidneys, so Topamax will give you a propensity for kidney stones.

Did your doctor warn you about Topamax?

The Physician's Desk Reference, used by most doctors, tells doctors that, "Patients should be warned about the potential for somnolence (drowsiness), dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and visual effects and advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on topiramate to gauge whether it adversely affects their mental performance, motor performance, and/or vision." Topamax is approved for migraine prevention in adults only.

FDA Warnings

Topamax is required by the FDA to make available to the public warnings on possible side effects from the drug (see list on right).

Do not abruptly stop taking Topamax because that can lead to adverse reactions including convulsions. Consult your physician or pharmacist before making any changes to any drugs, especially Topamax.

Being prescribed a drug doesn't make it safe for you to take.

If you want performance in a safe migraine preventive without side effects, then try Tuliv Migraine Defense.

Since 2004, Migraine Defense has been providing all-natural migraine prevention for men, women, and children.