Topamax (topiramate) is commonly prescribed for headache and Migraine prevention. Thus, we receive many questions about it. It's always advisable for us to learn about the medications we take — to know what it should do, what it should not do, how it should be taken, what the potential side effects are, when to report side effects to our doctors, etc.

To answer some of your questions and provide you with reference material about Topamax, we've added some new content to our site:

Topamax Profile: Here you'll find some basic information about Topamax for Migraine prevention as well as a full profile of the medication including notes about other medications, the use of Topamax during pregnancy, potential side effects and more.

Potential Vision Issues with Topamax: On September 26, 2001, Joseph Hulihan, M.D., Director of CNS Research at Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. issued a warning statement to health care professionals warning of some startling potential side effects of Topamax. Postmarketing reports of these potential side effects indicate:

 

"Symptoms have typically occurred within the first month of therapy, with patients reporting an acute onset of decreased visual acuity and/or ocular pain. Eye examination revealed myopia, redness, shallowing of the anterior chamber and elevated ocular pressure, with or without pupil dilatation. Supraciliary effusion may displace the lens and iris anteriorly, secondarily causing angle closure glaucoma..."

 

Topamax is an excellent preventive medication for some Migrianeurs. Issues such as the vision issues mentioned above are rare, but patients taking Topamax should be aware of them.