Description
Topiramate, sold under the brand name Topamax among others, is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor medication used to treat epilepsy and prevent migraines.[6] It has also been used in alcohol dependence.[6] For epilepsy this includes treatment for generalized or focal seizures.[7] It is taken by mouth.[6]
Common side effects include tingling, loss of appetite, feeling tired, abdominal pain, weight loss,[8] and decreased cognitive function such as trouble concentrating.[6][7] Serious side effects may include suicide, increased ammonia levels resulting in encephalopathy, and kidney stones.[6] Use in pregnancy may result in harm to the baby and use during breastfeeding is not recommended.[9] How it works is unclear.[6]
Topiramate was approved for medical use in the United States in 1996.[6] It is available as a generic medication.[7] In 2019, it was the 68th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 10 million prescriptions.[10][11]
Topiramate has been used as a treatment for alcoholism.[22] The Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense 2015 guideline on substance use disorders lists topiramate as a “strong for” in its recommendations for alcohol use disorder.[23]
Other uses include treatment of obesity,[24][25] binge eating disorder,[26] and off-setting weight gain induced by taking antipsychotic medications.[27][28]
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