How long does it take for topiramate to work for migraines? It may take 8 to 12 weeks for you to see the full effect of Topamax (topiramate) on your migraine headaches. In clinical studies, some people had fewer headaches after 4 weeks of treatment. Treatment with Topamax for migraine prevention is taken daily and is usually started slowly at lower doses.
How effective is topiramate for migraine? Patients taking topiramate daily were more likely to report a 50% or more reduction in headache frequency compared with patients taking placebo (relative risk = 2.02; 95% CI, 1.57 to 2.60). The number needed to treat for a 50% reduction in migraine headaches with topiramate vs. placebo was 4 (95% CI, 3 to 6).
Will topiramate get rid of a headache? Summary. Topiramate is an effective prophylaxis medication available for the management of migraine and chronic daily headache.
What are the main side effects of topiramate?
Side effects of topiramate
- Feeling sick (nausea) Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food.
- Feeling sleepy, dizzy or tired. Do not drink alcohol, as this will make you feel more tired.
- Diarrhoea.
- Feeling depressed.
- Loss of appetite or weight loss.
How long does it take for topiramate to work for migraines? – Additional Questions
Is it better to take Topamax in the morning or at night?
If you are taking it once a day, then it’s best taken at bedtime.
Does topiramate affect sleep?
The use of alcohol or other medicines that affect the CNS with topiramate may worsen the side effects of this medicine, such as dizziness, poor concentration, drowsiness, unusual dreams, and trouble with sleeping.
What are the serious side effects of Topamax?
Advertisement
- Blurred vision.
- burning, prickling, or tingling sensations.
- clumsiness or unsteadiness.
- continuous, uncontrolled back-and-forth or rolling eye movements.
- drowsiness.
- eye redness or pain.
- generalized slowing of mental and physical activity.
- increased eye pressure.
Will topiramate side effects go away?
Most Topamax side effects aren’t permanent, and go away with time. For example, fatigue (low energy) and feelings of burning or numbness in your hands and feet may go away as you continue taking Topamax. Your doctor may prescribe a temporary treatment to help you manage these side effects for a short period of time.
What vitamins should not be taken with topiramate?
Mixing topiramate with herbal remedies and supplements
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you need to take high doses of vitamin C or calcium supplements. Taking these supplements can increase a risk of kidney stones.
Why is topiramate used for weight loss?
It works by decreasing appetite. Topiramate is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing appetite and by causing feelings of fullness to last longer after eating.
Does topiramate speed up your metabolism?
Topiramate reduced food intake acutely and increased metabolic rate. There were also significant reductions in leptin, insulin, and corticosterone.
When do you start losing weight on topiramate?
It can take some time to see weight loss results from taking Topamax. Some people may not notice a difference until they’ve taken the drug for at least four months, while other people may start to lose weight in their first month of taking it. Weight loss results from topiramate are proven to increase over time.
How much weight can you lose with topiramate?
All patients lost a substantial amount of weight on topiramate. The average weight loss was 22 lb (10 kg; range, 8–56 lb [4–25 kg]). No patient discontinued topiramate because of side effects.
Does topiramate give energy?
Animal studies suggest that topiramate increases energy expenditure and inhibits appetite, thereby reducing caloric intake [26, 36, 39].
Can topiramate help with anxiety?
Topamax for anxiety
Topamax isn’t approved to treat anxiety. However, the drug may sometimes be used off-label to treat people with certain anxiety disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Does topiramate cause hair loss?
by Drugs.com
Yes, topiramate (Topamax) has been shown to cause hair loss (alopecia) in studies, but it is not a common side effect. Hair loss has been reported in 1% to 4% of children ages 6 to 16 years of age, and in 3% to 4% of patients older than 16 years of age.
What are the benefits of topiramate?
Topiramate is also used to prevent migraine headaches but not to relieve the pain of migraine headaches when they occur. Topiramate is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.
Can Topamax mess with your thyroid?
In our case, as the thyroid peroxidase antibodies were elevated this may have contributed to the possible effect of Topiramate on thyroid function. Drug-related hyperthyroidism and thyroiditis need to be considered in biochemical thyrotoxicosis.
Can topiramate cause permanent damage?
In most cases, side effects from Topamax are temporary. Most side effects tend to go away soon after you start or stop taking the drug. But severe side effects that could lead to long-term problems and permanent damage from Topamax are possible. For example, Topamax may cause eye side effects,* such as glaucoma.
How many years can you take Topamax?
How long to take it for. Once your epilepsy is under control, you’ll usually need to keep taking topiramate for many years. If you’re taking topiramate for migraine you may be able to stop taking it after 6 to 12 months. Your doctor will help you do this gradually.
Is Topamax a high risk medication?
Are There Any Risks For Taking Topiramate For Long Periods Of Time? To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of topiramate. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.
