The Worse Of All Researched Topamax Side Effects Is Birth Defects
Whether a first-timer mother or not, would you make a choice that would be
beneficial to your health but would put your baby at risk of birth defects or
would you choose otherwise by putting your baby’s welfare before yours? However,
there is a catch, what if by making your baby’s health a priority; you are still
putting both of you in danger by leaving your condition untreated? Such is the
predicament that an epileptic mother undergoing the Topamax treatment is faced
with. It is then a wonder how Topamax is sometimes prescribed for Bipolar
Disorder when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not approved it for
such use especially when confronted with this serious side effect.
Topamax with its active ingredient Topiramate is an anticonvulsant
manufactured by Ortho-McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. It was
approved by the FDA for the treatment of epileptic seizures in 1996 and
indicated for the prevention of certain types of migraine headaches in 2004.
Studies on Topamax’s efficacy on other conditions such as psychiatric disorders
and even weight loss were conducted despite these.
A new data from the
North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry which showed that pregnant
women taking Topamax are putting their unborn infants in an increased risk for
cleft lip or palate was announced by the FDA, thrusting the Topamax side effects
into the public even when all medications have side effects, both serious and
minor. The discovery of birth defects linked to Topamax has become the most
serious yet so far among all of the drug’s side effects. The data is not the
first to link the anticonvulsant to serious birth defects though as studies with
the same results were published in the United Kingdom since 2008. Those studies
prompted US researchers to conduct the same investigation.
Healthcare
professionals were urged to discuss with their patients of childbearing age
alternative treatments and even effective birth control methods by the FDA which
was prompted by the seriousness of these birth defects. Other Topamax side
effects considered to be serious are:
• Lowered bicarbonate levels in the
blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic
acidosis)
• Serious eye problems which could lead to blindness
• Symptoms
of kidney stones
Considered less serious common side effects and
usually experienced during initial Topamax treatment are:
• Paresthesia
or numbness and tingling of extremities
• Fatigue
• Taste change
•
Weight loss
• Difficulty with concentration/attention and difficulty with
memory
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
For
immediate intervention and so as not to worsen their condition, patients are
advised to immediately report the persistence or worsening of these side
effects, whether considered serious or not.
In : Topamax Side Effects