Aa
copamax
what is Copamax?
ways of use and more information?
ways of use and more information?
Each person is different plus it depends on other medications you are taking. This really needs to be done with a doctor who knows your history and how long you have been on the drug.
Alex
Alex
Thank you for posting these studies on Topiramate. Do you know of research studies on the withdrawal symptoms of Topiramate when tapered off of? What the statistical numbers are in combination of which withdrawal symptoms were more likely to occur and perhaps the length of time for those symptoms to subside? Also, what the medically suggested taper off of rate is to minimize these effects. I have seen one website, greatly appreciated, with several "scary" withdrawal syptoms individuals reported. In reading these posts, there appears to be great inconsistency in doseage and length of time individuals were on this medication, in conjunction with titrating methods of going "cold turkey" to lengthy titrating down methods, leading to posts indicating great degrees of varying withdrawal effects. I would so greatly appreciate any information and cited reading materials you could provide. Thank you.
Hello viviT...I don't believe we have spoken before but I thought I would try to help you out here...
I believe the drug you are talking about might be actually called Topamax or Topamirate rather than Copamax. The following is an overview of what this med is used for:
This drug is used to treat epilepsy in both children and adults. In many cases it can also be used as an antidepressant. In children it is also indicated for treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (a disorder that causes seizures and developmental delay). It is also Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for, and now most frequently prescribed for, the prevention of migraines. It has been used by psychiatrists to treat bipolar disorder,[6][7][8] although it is not FDA approved for this purpose. This drug has been investigated for use in treatment of obesity,[9][10] especially to aid in the reduction of binge eating,[11][12] and also as a possible treatment for alcoholism.[13][14] However, these uses are not actively promoted by the manufacturer, and like its use for bipolar disorder, are off-label uses.
The drug is also used in clinical trials to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.[15] A pilot study suggests that Topiramate is possibly effective against infantile spasms.[16] A study by Harvard recommends topiramate as an effective treatment in the prevention of Periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants after an hypoxic-ischemic injury.[17] In May 2006 the U.S. National Institutes of Health web site clinicaltrials.gov listed several studies sponsored by Ortho-McNeil which propose to examine the use of topiramate on migraine, cluster,[18] and severe headaches within various demographics. Other off-label and investigational uses of topiramate include: treatment of bulimia nervosa,[19] obsessive-compulsive disorder, treatment of alcoholism,[20] smoking cessation,[21] Pseudotumor Cerebri, and treatment of neuropathic pain.[22]
The Following side effects have been seen during clinical trials of topamax in preventing frequently recurring migraines: The most often reported effects were: tiredness, pins and needles in the fingers and toes, dizziness, lowered sense of feeling in the skin, difficulty with language, nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth, weight loss, decrease in appetite, drowsiness, forgetfulness, difficulty with concentration or attention, difficulty in sleeping (insomnia), anxiety, mood swings, depression, changes in taste and vision disorders.
General: Rarely, blood clots have occurred in patients given topamax. However, it has not been proven that these were caused by this medicine. Rarely, blurring of vision and eye pain have been reported. Rarely and mostly in children, reduced sweating has occurred, mainly during exercise or in warm conditions. If someone taking Topamax becomes flushed or overheated, they should relax in a cool place and drink plenty of water. Very rarely, drug withdrawal convulsions (fits) have been reported. Psychosis (often with paranoid delusions and prominent visual hallucinations) has also been reported.
Rarely, the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase may be strong enough to cause metabolic acidosis of clinical importance.
The side-effects most frequently leading to discontinuation of therapy with topiramate were:
Psychomotor slowing (4.1%)
Memory problems (3.3%)
Fatigue (3.3%)
Confusion (3.2%)
Somnolence (3.2%)
The side-effects reported by > 10% of subjects in at least 1 clinical study[26] Listed by prevalence: (*indicates placebo rate [%] is the same or higher than side-effect rate)
headache (23.8%) *[25.9%]
paresthesia (numbness & tingling) (23.1%)
upper respiratory tract infection (17.5%)
diarrhea (16.8%)
nausea (15.4%)
somnolence (15.4%) *[16.1%]
anorexia (loss of appetite) (13.3%) *[5.6%]
insomnia (11.9%) *[11.2%]
memory problems (11.2%)
dizziness (10.5%) *[10.5]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notification alerting physicians who prescribe topiramate, and their patients, to the risk of vision loss (blindness). Acute myopia and secondary angle closure glaucoma, in a small subset of patients who take topiramate regularly, may cause transient (reversible), or permanent, loss of vision. The symptoms, which typically begin in the first month of use, include blurred vision and eye pain. If addressed early in its course, discontinuation of topiramate, along with other measures deemed prudent by the prescribing physician and/or ophthalmologist, may halt the progression of the ocular damage, and may reverse the visual impairment. Patients who take topiramate and who feel pain in or around their eyes, or notice a loss of vision, visual acuity, or blurred vision, are advised to seek consultation with their physician as soon as reasonably possible. According to the FDA: "in more than 825,000 patients...As of August 17, 2001 there have been 23 reported cases: 22 in adults and 1 in pediatric patients. It is generally recognized that postmarketing data are subject to substantial under-reporting."
Another serious side-effect is the development of osteoporosis in adults and children (bones affected break more easily) and rickets (abnormal, deformed growth of bones) in children. Topiramate may also slow the growth of children. All of these conditions should be detected early by performing regular clinical examinations of the patients.
In other postmarketing research, a risk of decreased sweating and hyperthermia was discovered. Pediatric patients (children) are especially prone to this side-effect. It is recommended that children treated with topiramate should be monitored closely for evidence of decreased sweating and increased body temperature, especially in hot weather. All patients, particularly those with other predisposing factors, should be instructed to maintain an adequate fluid intake in order to minimize the risk of kidney stone formation.
Preliminary data suggests that, as with several other anti-epileptic drugs, topiramate carries an increased risk of congenital malformations.[27] This might be particularly important for women who take topiramate to prevent migraine attacks.
This information is from Wikipedia which you can access through Google. I have taken Topamax in the past but unfortunately it didn't help in my situation. I hope this will help you some and please feel free to ask further questions if you have some...we are a friendly bunch here and we would like you to feel welcome!
Lots of Hugs,
Rena
I believe the drug you are talking about might be actually called Topamax or Topamirate rather than Copamax. The following is an overview of what this med is used for:
This drug is used to treat epilepsy in both children and adults. In many cases it can also be used as an antidepressant. In children it is also indicated for treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (a disorder that causes seizures and developmental delay). It is also Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for, and now most frequently prescribed for, the prevention of migraines. It has been used by psychiatrists to treat bipolar disorder,[6][7][8] although it is not FDA approved for this purpose. This drug has been investigated for use in treatment of obesity,[9][10] especially to aid in the reduction of binge eating,[11][12] and also as a possible treatment for alcoholism.[13][14] However, these uses are not actively promoted by the manufacturer, and like its use for bipolar disorder, are off-label uses.
The drug is also used in clinical trials to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.[15] A pilot study suggests that Topiramate is possibly effective against infantile spasms.[16] A study by Harvard recommends topiramate as an effective treatment in the prevention of Periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants after an hypoxic-ischemic injury.[17] In May 2006 the U.S. National Institutes of Health web site clinicaltrials.gov listed several studies sponsored by Ortho-McNeil which propose to examine the use of topiramate on migraine, cluster,[18] and severe headaches within various demographics. Other off-label and investigational uses of topiramate include: treatment of bulimia nervosa,[19] obsessive-compulsive disorder, treatment of alcoholism,[20] smoking cessation,[21] Pseudotumor Cerebri, and treatment of neuropathic pain.[22]
The Following side effects have been seen during clinical trials of topamax in preventing frequently recurring migraines: The most often reported effects were: tiredness, pins and needles in the fingers and toes, dizziness, lowered sense of feeling in the skin, difficulty with language, nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth, weight loss, decrease in appetite, drowsiness, forgetfulness, difficulty with concentration or attention, difficulty in sleeping (insomnia), anxiety, mood swings, depression, changes in taste and vision disorders.
General: Rarely, blood clots have occurred in patients given topamax. However, it has not been proven that these were caused by this medicine. Rarely, blurring of vision and eye pain have been reported. Rarely and mostly in children, reduced sweating has occurred, mainly during exercise or in warm conditions. If someone taking Topamax becomes flushed or overheated, they should relax in a cool place and drink plenty of water. Very rarely, drug withdrawal convulsions (fits) have been reported. Psychosis (often with paranoid delusions and prominent visual hallucinations) has also been reported.
Rarely, the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase may be strong enough to cause metabolic acidosis of clinical importance.
The side-effects most frequently leading to discontinuation of therapy with topiramate were:
Psychomotor slowing (4.1%)
Memory problems (3.3%)
Fatigue (3.3%)
Confusion (3.2%)
Somnolence (3.2%)
The side-effects reported by > 10% of subjects in at least 1 clinical study[26] Listed by prevalence: (*indicates placebo rate [%] is the same or higher than side-effect rate)
headache (23.8%) *[25.9%]
paresthesia (numbness & tingling) (23.1%)
upper respiratory tract infection (17.5%)
diarrhea (16.8%)
nausea (15.4%)
somnolence (15.4%) *[16.1%]
anorexia (loss of appetite) (13.3%) *[5.6%]
insomnia (11.9%) *[11.2%]
memory problems (11.2%)
dizziness (10.5%) *[10.5]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notification alerting physicians who prescribe topiramate, and their patients, to the risk of vision loss (blindness). Acute myopia and secondary angle closure glaucoma, in a small subset of patients who take topiramate regularly, may cause transient (reversible), or permanent, loss of vision. The symptoms, which typically begin in the first month of use, include blurred vision and eye pain. If addressed early in its course, discontinuation of topiramate, along with other measures deemed prudent by the prescribing physician and/or ophthalmologist, may halt the progression of the ocular damage, and may reverse the visual impairment. Patients who take topiramate and who feel pain in or around their eyes, or notice a loss of vision, visual acuity, or blurred vision, are advised to seek consultation with their physician as soon as reasonably possible. According to the FDA: "in more than 825,000 patients...As of August 17, 2001 there have been 23 reported cases: 22 in adults and 1 in pediatric patients. It is generally recognized that postmarketing data are subject to substantial under-reporting."
Another serious side-effect is the development of osteoporosis in adults and children (bones affected break more easily) and rickets (abnormal, deformed growth of bones) in children. Topiramate may also slow the growth of children. All of these conditions should be detected early by performing regular clinical examinations of the patients.
In other postmarketing research, a risk of decreased sweating and hyperthermia was discovered. Pediatric patients (children) are especially prone to this side-effect. It is recommended that children treated with topiramate should be monitored closely for evidence of decreased sweating and increased body temperature, especially in hot weather. All patients, particularly those with other predisposing factors, should be instructed to maintain an adequate fluid intake in order to minimize the risk of kidney stone formation.
Preliminary data suggests that, as with several other anti-epileptic drugs, topiramate carries an increased risk of congenital malformations.[27] This might be particularly important for women who take topiramate to prevent migraine attacks.
This information is from Wikipedia which you can access through Google. I have taken Topamax in the past but unfortunately it didn't help in my situation. I hope this will help you some and please feel free to ask further questions if you have some...we are a friendly bunch here and we would like you to feel welcome!
Lots of Hugs,
Rena
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