One of the drugs getting the most buzz as a migraine prescription medication is topiramate (brand name Topamax). It is also being used for the treatment of cluster headaches, which are different from migraine headaches. Topamax is not specifically a migraine prescription medication. Rather, it is an anti-spasmodic, originally designed to be used for the treatment of epilepsy. Sadly, there is no generic equivalent available and the patent is not due to expire for many years yet.
The Great Unknown
The big advantage of Topamax is that its potential hasn’t been tapped yet. The big disadvantage of Topamax is that its potential hasnt been tapped yet. If the manufacturers and initial clinical trials are to be believed entirely, Topamax will be used in the future not only as an epileptic medication and as a migraine prescription medication, but also for loosing weight, treating alcoholism and clinical depression.
However, Topamax is a relatively young drug. We do not know the potential side effects of long term use because the drug isn’t old enough to produce results of long-term effects yet. One effect that is known is that long-tem use of Topamax can negatively hurt your kidneys. Another study in Europe suggested that long term use of Topamax can interfere with long-term memory, especially in women.
Should You Go For It?
Migraines are so incredibly painful and debilitating that many people will gladly take on the risks if it means a better quality of life. Topamax is a very powerful medication that affects people differently. Your doctor will often try other medications for you rather than immediately suggest Topamax as a migraine prescription medication.
There are many side effects to using Topamax as migraine prescription medication. However, if after two weeks these do not go away, then you immediately know that Topamax isnt for you. Please be sure to check with your doctor about side effects before you take Topamax. You might start off on a small dose and gradually work your way up to a larger dose.
The main complaint of Topamax as a new migraine medication is that you feel as if you are in a fog. There is a helpless feeling not only of incredible fatigue, but confusion. You might not be capable of making any decisions. This usually lifts after a couple of days, but not always. When starting Topamax, you really need to have someone check up on you. That being said, that doesnt happen to everyone.
