Topiramate is an oral prescription for seizures. This comes as a tablet with a strength of 25 mg that has already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This medicine is anticonvulsant that helps prevent and control seizures.

What condition does Topiramate treat?

Topiramate is mostly prescribed by doctors for seizures. This acts on certain chemicals, channels, receptors, and enzymes in your brain. Seizures happen because of an uncontrolled electrical activity between brain cells. Wherein, it causes temporary abnormalities, sensations, or states of awareness.

This prescription can also be used to prevent migraine headaches. A migraine headache usually occurs on one side of the head. It is frequently along with extreme sensitivity to sound and light, vomiting, and nausea. The headache can last for hours to days and the pain may be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities. Taking Topiramate will help you perform daily activities without any pain and lessen how often you get them.

How does Topiramate work?

Topiramate is in the class of medications called sulfamate-substituted monosaccharide antiepileptic or anticonvulsants drugs (AEDs). This works by preventing fits by calming the electrical nerve activity in the brain. It works in different ways to achieve this by:

• Affecting the activity of two neurotransmitters in the brain. Topiramate enhances the action of GABA that acts as a natural nerve-calming agent.
• Lessening the action of glutamate which is a neurotransmitter that normally has a nerve exciting effect.

Topiramate also works by preventing sodium from entering the nerve cell. It occurs if there is already a repetitive electrical signal. This stops the electrical signal from expanding and passing on. All these actions help prevent fits.

How is Topiramate taken?

This remedy is taken by mouth usually twice a day as directed by your doctor. Your doctor may start you with a low dose and gradually increase it. The recommended dosage will depend on your medical situation and response to the treatment.

Each dose of the medication can be taken either with or without food. Take the right dose, not more or less. Remember to take it at the same time and in the same way each day. You should not suddenly stop taking this medication without the consent of your doctor. Drink plenty of fluids while having this medication to prevent kidney stones from forming. Doing so may also lessen the risk of certain side effects. For the best benefit from this product, take it regularly.

What are the precautions in taking Topiramate?

• This product is not recommended for use in adolescents and young adults.
• This medication may cause problems with concentrating and drowsiness. If affected, do not use any machinery, drive, or perform any activity that needs your alertness. Avoid drinking alcohol while having this drug as this is likely to make these problems worse.
• If you have a personal or family history of kidney stones, tell it right away to your doctor. This drug may increase the risk of kidney stones.
• If you missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose then continue your prescribed schedule of dosing. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed dose.
• Inform your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.
• You should be weighed regularly during treatment. Topiramate can cause loss of appetite and weight loss. If you are losing too much weight, your doctor may ask you to increase your food intake or prescribed you a dietary supplement.
• There may be a small increased risk of suicidal behavior in people taking antiepileptic medicine. For this reason, it is important to seek medical advice if you start to feel depressed or you have any mood changes.
• This should not be used to treat epilepsy in children less than two years of age. In children under 16 years old, this as well should not be used.
• Inform your doctor if you have any medical history such as osteoporosis, liver or kidney problems, or a certain metabolic imbalance.
• Topiramate must be used carefully in people with a history of depression, severe lung or breathing disorders, high levels of calcium in their urine, or rare hereditary blood disorders called porphyrias.