Topiramate Side Effects
Brand Names: Topamax
Please note - some side effects for Topiramate may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).
Side Effects of Topiramate - for the Consumer
Topiramate
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Topiramate:
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Topiramate:Constipation; decreased sweating; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; flu-like symptoms; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness or anxiety; numbness or tingling of the skin; runny nose; sore throat; stomach pain or upset; taste changes; tiredness; trouble sleeping; weight loss.
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood in the urine; blurred vision; bone pain; chest pain; confusion; decreased coordination; depression; double vision or other vision changes; eye pain; irregular heartbeat; loss of consciousness; memory problems; menstrual changes; mental or mood changes; muscle or joint pain, cramps, or weakness; rapid, shallow breathing; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; severe or persistent loss of appetite; severe stomach, side, or back pain; significant weight loss; speech problems; stupor; suicidal thoughts or actions; tremor; trouble thinking, concentrating, or remembering things; trouble walking; unexplained fever; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual eye movements; unusual tiredness.
Topiramate Sprinkle Capsules
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Topiramate Sprinkle Capsules:
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Topiramate Sprinkle Capsules:Constipation; decreased sweating; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; flu-like symptoms; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness or anxiety; numbness or tingling of the skin; runny nose; sore throat; stomach pain or upset; taste changes; tiredness; trouble sleeping; weight loss.
TopSevere allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood in the urine; blurred vision; bone pain; chest pain; confusion; decreased coordination; depression; double vision or other vision changes; eye pain; irregular heartbeat; loss of consciousness; memory problems; menstrual changes; mental or mood changes; muscle or joint pain, cramps, or weakness; rapid, shallow breathing; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; severe or persistent loss of appetite; severe stomach, side, or back pain; significant weight loss; speech problems; stupor; suicidal thoughts or actions; tremor; trouble thinking, concentrating, or remembering things; trouble walking; unexplained fever; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual eye movements; unusual tiredness.
Topiramate Side Effects - for the Professional
Topiramate
The data described in the following section were obtained using Topiramate tablets.
Monotherapy Epilepsy
The adverse events in the controlled trial that occurred most commonly in adults in the 400 mg/day group and at a rate higher than the 50 mg/day group were: paresthesia, weight decrease, somnolence, anorexia, dizziness, and difficulty with memory NOS [see Table 5].
The adverse events in the controlled trial that occurred most commonly in children (10 years up to 16 years of age) in the 400 mg/day group and at a rate higher than the 50 mg/day group were: weight decrease, upper respiratory tract infection, paresthesia, anorexia, diarrhea, and mood problems [see Table 6].
Approximately 21% of the 159 adult patients in the 400 mg/day group who received Topiramate as monotherapy in the controlled clinical trial discontinued therapy due to adverse events. Adverse events associated with discontinuing therapy (≥2%) included depression, insomnia, difficulty with memory (NOS), somnolence, paresthesia, psychomotor slowing, dizziness, and nausea.
Approximately 12% of the 57 pediatric patients in the 400 mg/day group who received Topiramate as monotherapy in the controlled clinical trial discontinued therapy due to adverse events. Adverse events associated with discontinuing therapy (≥5%) included difficulty with concentration/attention.
The prescriber should be aware that these data cannot be used to predict the frequency of adverse events in the course of usual medical practice where patient characteristics and other factors may differ from those prevailing during the clinical study. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be directly compared with data obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses, or investigators. Inspection of these frequencies, however, does provide the prescribing physician with a basis to estimate the relative contribution of drug and non-drug factors to the adverse event incidences in the population studied.
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| Body System/Adverse Event | Topiramate tablets Dosage (mg/day) | |
| 50 (N=160) | 400 (N=159) | |
| Body as a Whole - General Disorders | ||
| Asthenia | 4 | 6 |
| Leg Pain | 2 | 3 |
| Chest Pain | 1 | 2 |
| Central & Peripheral Nervous System Disorders | ||
| Paresthesia | 21 | 40 |
| Dizziness | 13 | 14 |
| Hypoaesthesia | 4 | 5 |
| Ataxia | 3 | 4 |
| Hypertonia | 0 | 3 |
| Gastro-Intestinal System Disorders | ||
| Diarrhea | 5 | 6 |
| Constipation | 1 | 4 |
| Gastritis | 0 | 3 |
| Dry Mouth | 1 | 3 |
| Gastroesophageal Reflux | 1 | 2 |
| Liver and Biliary System Disorders | ||
| Gamma- GT Increased | 1 | 3 |
| Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders | ||
| Weight Decrease | 6 | 16 |
| Psychiatric Disorders | ||
| Somnolence | 9 | 15 |
| Anorexia | 4 | 14 |
| Difficulty with memory NOS | 5 | 10 |
| Insomnia | 8 | 9 |
| Depression | 7 | 9 |
| Difficulty with Concentration/Attention | 7 | 8 |
| Anxiety | 4 | 6 |
| Psychomotor Slowing | 3 | 5 |
| Mood Problems | 2 | 5 |
| Confusion | 3 | 4 |
| Cognitive Problem NOS | 1 | 4 |
| Libido Decreased | 0 | 3 |
| Reproductive Disorder, Female | ||
| Vaginal Haemorrhage | 0 | 3 |
| Red Blood Cells Disorders | ||
| Anemia | 1 | 2 |
| Resistance Mechanism Disorders | ||
| Infection Viral | 6 | 8 |
| Infection | 2 | 3 |
| Respiratory System Disorders | ||
| Bronchitis | 3 | 4 |
| Rhinitis | 2 | 4 |
| Dyspnea | 1 | 2 |
| Skin and Appendages Disorders | ||
| Rash | 1 | 4 |
| Pruritus | 1 | 4 |
| Acne | 2 | 3 |
| Special Senses Other, Disorders | ||
| Taste Prevention | 3 | 5 |
| Urinary System Disorders | ||
| Cystitis | 1 | 3 |
| Renal Calculus | 0 | 3 |
| Urinary Tract Infection | 1 | 2 |
| Dysuria | 0 | 2 |
| Micturition Frequency | 0 | 2 |
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| Body System/Adverse Event | Topiramate tablets Dosage (mg/day) | |
| 50 (N=57) | 400 (N=57) | |
| Body as a Whole-General Disorders | ||
| Fever | 0 | 9 |
| Central and Peripheral Nervous System Disorders | ||
| Paresthesia | 2 | 16 |
| Gastro-Intestinal System Disorders | ||
| Diarrhea | 5 | 11 |
| Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders | ||
| Weight Decrease | 7 | 21 |
| Psychiatric Disorders | ||
| Anorexia | 11 | 14 |
| Mood Problems | 2 | 11 |
| Difficulty with Concentration/Attention | 4 | 9 |
| Cognitive Problems NOS | 0 | 7 |
| Nervousness | 4 | 5 |
| Resistance Mechanism Disorders | ||
| Infection Viral | 4 | 9 |
| Infection | 2 | 7 |
| Respiratory System Disorders | ||
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection | 16 | 18 |
| Rhinitis | 2 | 7 |
| Bronchitis | 2 | 7 |
| Sinusitis | 2 | 5 |
| Skin and Appendages Disorders | ||
| Alopecia | 2 | 5 |
Adjunctive Therapy Epilepsy
The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of Topiramate at dosages of 200 to 400 mg/day in controlled trials in adults with partial onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, that were seen at greater frequency in Topiramate-treated patients and did not appear to be dose-related were: somnolence, dizziness, ataxia, speech disorders and related speech problems, psychomotor slowing, abnormal vision, difficulty with memory, paresthesia and diplopia [see Table 7]. The most common dose-related adverse events at dosages of 200 to 1,000 mg/day were: fatigue, nervousness, difficulty with concentration or attention, confusion, depression, anorexia, language problems, anxiety, mood problems, and weight decrease [see Table 9].
Adverse events associated with the use of Topiramate at dosages of 5 to 9 mg/kg/day in controlled trials in pediatric patients with partial onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, that were seen at greater frequency in Topiramate-treated patients were: fatigue, somnolence, anorexia, nervousness, difficulty with concentration/attention, difficulty with memory, aggressive reaction, and weight decrease [see Table 10].
In controlled clinical trials in adults, 11% of patients receiving Topiramate 200 to 400 mg/day as adjunctive therapy discontinued due to adverse events. This rate appeared to increase at dosages above 400 mg/day. Adverse events associated with discontinuing therapy included somnolence, dizziness, anxiety, difficulty with concentration or attention, fatigue, and paresthesia and increased at dosages above 400 mg/day. None of the pediatric patients who received Topiramate adjunctive therapy at 5 to 9 mg/kg/day in controlled clinical trials discontinued due to adverse events.
Approximately 28% of the 1,757 adults with epilepsy who received Topiramate at dosages of 200 to 1,600 mg/day in clinical studies discontinued treatment because of adverse events; an individual patient could have reported more than one adverse event. These adverse events were: psychomotor slowing (4.0%), difficulty with memory (3.2%), fatigue (3.2%), confusion (3.1%), somnolence (3.2%), difficulty with concentration/attention (2.9%), anorexia (2.7%), depression (2.6%), dizziness (2.5%), weight decrease (2.5%), nervousness (2.3%), ataxia (2.1%), and paresthesia (2.0%). Approximately 11% of the 310 pediatric patients who received Topiramate at dosages up to 30 mg/kg/day discontinued due to adverse events. Adverse events associated with discontinuing therapy included aggravated convulsions (2.3%), difficulty with concentration/attention (1.6%), language problems (1.3%), personality disorder (1.3%), and somnolence (1.3%).
Incidence in Epilepsy Controlled Clinical Trials Adjunctive Therapy-Partial Onset Seizures, Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures, and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Table 7 lists treatment-emergent adverse events that occurred in at least 1% of adults treated with 200 to 400 mg/day Topiramate in controlled trials that were numerically more common at this dose than in the patients treated with placebo. In general, most patients who experienced adverse events during the first eight weeks of these trials no longer experienced them by their last visit. Table 10 lists treatment-emergent adverse events that occurred in at least 1% of pediatric patients treated with 5 to 9 mg/kg Topiramate in controlled trials that were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
The prescriber should be aware that these data were obtained when Topiramate tablets was added to concurrent antiepileptic drug therapy and cannot be used to predict the frequency of adverse events in the course of usual medical practice where patient characteristics and other factors may differ from those prevailing during clinical studies. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be directly compared with data obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses, or investigators. Inspection of these frequencies, however, does provide the prescribing physician with a basis to estimate the relative contribution of drug and non-drug factors to the adverse event incidences in the population studied.
Other Adverse Events Observed During Double-Blind Adjunctive Therapy Epilepsy Trials
Other events that occurred in more than 1% of adults treated with 200 to 400 mg of Topiramate in placebo-controlled epilepsy trials but with equal or greater frequency in the placebo group were: headache, injury, anxiety, rash, pain, convulsions aggravated, coughing, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle weakness, insomnia, personality disorder, dysmenorrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, and eye pain.
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| Body System/Adverse Event ‡ | Topiramate tablets Dosage (mg/day) | ||
| Placebo (N=291) | 200-400 (N=183) | 600-1,000 (N=414) | |
| Body as a Whole - General Disorders | |||
| Fatigue | 13 | 15 | 30 |
| Asthenia | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Back Pain | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Chest Pain | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Influenza-Like Symptoms | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Leg Pain | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Hot Flushes | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Allergy | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Edema | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Body Odor | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Rigors | 0 | 1 | <1 |
| Central & Peripheral Nervous System Disorders | |||
| Dizziness | 15 | 25 | 32 |
| Ataxia | 7 | 16 | 14 |
| Speech Disorders/Related Speech Problems | 2 | 13 | 11 |
| Paresthesia | 4 | 11 | 19 |
| Nystagmus | 7 | 10 | 11 |
| Tremor | 6 | 9 | 9 |
| Language Problems | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| Coordination Abnormal | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Hypoaesthesia | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Gait Abnormal | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Muscle Contractions Involuntary | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Stupor | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Vertigo | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Gastro-Intestinal System Disorders | |||
| Nausea | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Dyspepsia | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Abdominal Pain | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Constipation | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Gastroenteritis | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Dry Mouth | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Gingivitis | <1 | 1 | 1 |
| GI Disorder | <1 | 1 | 0 |
| Hearing and Vestibular Disorders | |||
| Hearing Decreased | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders | |||
| Weight Decrease | 3 | 9 | 13 |
| Muscle-Skeletal System Disorders | |||
| Myalgia | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Skeletal Pain | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Platelet, Bleeding, & Clotting Disorders | |||
| Epistaxis | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Psychiatric Disorders | |||
| Somnolence | 12 | 29 | 28 |
| Nervousness | 6 | 16 | 19 |
| Psychomotor Slowing | 2 | 13 | 21 |
| Difficulty with Memory | 3 | 12 | 14 |
| Anorexia | 4 | 10 | 12 |
| Confusion | 5 | 11 | 14 |
| Depression | 5 | 5 | 13 |
| Difficulty with Concentration/Attention | 2 | 6 | 14 |
| Mood Problems | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| Agitation | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Aggressive Reaction | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Emotional Lability | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Cognitive Problems | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Libido Decreased | 1 | 2 | <1 |
| Apathy | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Depersonalization | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Reproductive Disorders, Female | |||
| Breast Pain | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Amenorrhea | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Menorrhagia | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Menstrual Disorder | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Reproductive Disorders, Male | |||
| Prostatic Disorder | <1 | 2 | 0 |
| Resistance Mechanism Disorders | |||
| Infection | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Infection Viral | 1 | 2 | <1 |
| Moniliasis | <1 | 1 | 0 |
| Respiratory System Disorders | |||
| Pharyngitis | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Rhinitis | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Sinusitis | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Dyspnea | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Skin and Appendages Disorders | |||
| Skin Disorder | <1 | 2 | 1 |
| Sweating Increased | <1 | 1 | <1 |
| Rash Erythematous | <1 | 1 | <1 |
| Special Sense Other, Disorders | |||
| Taste Perversion | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Urinary System Disorders | |||
| Hematuria | 1 | 2 | <1 |
| Urinary Tract Infection | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Micturition Frequency | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Urinary Incontinence | <1 | 2 | 1 |
| Urine Abnormal | 0 | 1 | <1 |
| Vision Disorders | |||
| Vision Abnormal | 2 | 13 | 10 |
| Diplopia | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| White Cell and RES Disorders | |||
| Leukopenia | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Incidence in Study 119 – Add-On Therapy– Adults with Partial Onset Seizures
Study 119 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled, parallel group study with 3 treatment arms: 1) placebo; 2) Topiramate 200 mg/day with a 25 mg/day starting dose, increased by 25 mg/day each week for 8 weeks until the 200 mg/day maintenance dose was reached; and 3) Topiramate 200 mg/day with a 50 mg/day starting dose, increased by 50 mg/day each week for 4 weeks until the 200 mg/day maintenance dose was reached. All patients were maintained on concomitant carbamazepine with or without another concomitant antiepileptic drug.
The incidence of adverse events (Table 8) did not differ significantly between the 2 Topiramate regimens. Because the frequencies of adverse events reported in this study were markedly lower than those reported in the previous epilepsy studies, they cannot be directly compared with data obtained in other studies.
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| Body System/Adverse Event‡ | Topiramate tablets Dosage (mg/day) | |
| Placebo (N=92) | 200 (N=171) | |
| Body as a Whole-General Disorders | ||
| Fatigue | 4 | 9 |
| Chest Pain | 1 | 2 |
| Cardiovascular Disorders, General | ||
| Hypertension | 0 | 2 |
| Central & Peripheral Nervous System Disorders | ||
| Paresthesia | 2 | 9 |
| Dizziness | 4 | 7 |
| Tremor | 2 | 3 |
| Hypoasthesia | 0 | 2 |
| Leg Cramps | 0 | 2 |
| Language Problems | 0 | 2 |
| Gastro-Intestinal System Disorders | ||
| Abdominal Pain | 3 | 5 |
| Constipation | 0 | 4 |
| Diarrhea | 1 | 2 |
| Dyspepsia | 0 | 2 |
| Dry Mouth | 0 | 2 |
| Hearing and Vestibular Disorders | ||
| Tinnitus | 0 | 2 |
| Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders | ||
| Weight Decrease | 4 | 8 |
| Psychiatric Disorders | ||
| Somnolence | 9 | 15 |
| Anorexia | 7 | 9 |
| Nervousness | 2 | 9 |
| Difficulty with Concentration/Attention | 0 | 5 |
| Insomnia | 3 | 4 |
| Difficulty with Memory | 1 | 2 |
| Aggressive Reaction | 0 | 2 |
| Respiratory System Disorders | ||
| Rhinitis | 0 | 4 |
| Urinary System Disorders | ||
| Cystitis | 0 | 2 |
| Vision Disorders | ||
| Diplopia | 0 | 2 |
| Vision Abnormal | 0 | 2 |
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| Topiramate tablets Dosage (mg/day) | ||||
| Adverse Event | Placebo (N=216) | 200 (N=45) | 400 (N=68) | 600-1,000 (N=414) |
| Fatigue | 13 | 11 | 12 | 30 |
| Nervousness | 7 | 13 | 18 | 19 |
| Difficulty with Concentration/Attention | 1 | 7 | 9 | 14 |
| Confusion | 4 | 9 | 10 | 14 |
| Depression | 6 | 9 | 7 | 13 |
| Anorexia | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
| Language problems | <1 | 2 | 9 | 10 |
| Anxiety | 6 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| Mood problems | 2 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Weight decrease | 3 | 4 | 9 | 13 |
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| Body System/Adverse Event | Placebo (N=101) | Topiramate (N=98) |
| Body as a Whole - General Disorders | ||
| Fatigue | 5 | 16 |
| Injury | 13 | 14 |
| Allergic Reaction | 1 | 2 |
| Back Pain | 0 | 1 |
| Pallor | 0 | 1 |
| Cardiovascular Disorders, General | ||
| Hypertension | 0 | 1 |
| Central & Peripheral Nervous System Disorders | ||
| Gait Abnormal | 5 | 8 |
| Ataxia | 2 | 6 |
| Hyperkinesia | 4 | 5 |
| Dizziness | 2 | 4 |
| Speech Disorders/Related Speech Problems | 2 | 4 |
| Hyporeflexia | 0 | 2 |
| Convulsions Grand Mal | 0 | 1 |
| Fecal Incontinence | 0 | 1 |
| Paresthesia | 0 | 1 |
| Gastro-Intestinal System Disorders | ||
| Nausea | 5 | 6 |
| Saliva Increased | 4 | 6 |
| Constipation | 4 | 5 |
| Gastroenteritis | 2 | 3 |
| Dysphagia | 0 | 1 |
| Flatulence | 0 | 1 |
| Gastroesophageal Reflux | 0 | 1 |
| Glossitis | 0 | 1 |
| Gum Hyperplasia | 0 | 1 |
| Heart Rate and Rhythm Disorders | ||
| Bradycardia | 0 | 1 |
| Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders | ||
| Weight Decrease | 1 | 9 |
| Thirst | 1 | 2 |
| Hypoglycemia | 0 | 1 |
| Weight Increase | 0 | 1 |
| Platelet, Bleeding, & Clotting Disorders | ||
| Purpura | 4 | 8 |
| Epistaxis | 1 | 4 |
| Hematoma | 0 | 1 |
| Prothrombin Increased | 0 | 1 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 0 | 1 |
| Psychiatric Disorders | ||
| Somnolence | 16 | 26 |
| Anorexia | 15 | 24 |
| Nervousness | 7 | 14 |
| Personality Disorder (Behavior Problems) | 9 | 11 |
| Difficulty with Concentration/Attention | 2 | 10 |
| Aggressive Reaction | 4 | 9 |
| Insomnia | 7 | 8 |
| Difficulty with Memory NOS | 0 | 5 |
| Confusion | 3 | 4 |
| Psychomotor Slowing | 2 | 3 |
| Appetitie Increased | 0 | 1 |
| Neurosis | 0 | 1 |
| Reproductive Disorders, Female | ||
| Leukorrhoea | 0 | 2 |
| Resistance Mechanism Disorders | ||
| Infection Viral | 3 | 7 |
| Respiratory System Disorders | ||
| Pneumonia | 1 | 5 |
| Respiratory Disorder | 0 | 1 |
| Skin and Appendages Disorders | ||
| Skin Disorder | 2 | 3 |
| Alopecia | 1 | 2 |
| Dermatitis | 0 | 2 |
| Hypertrichosis | 1 | 2 |
| Rash Erythematous | 0 | 2 |
| Eczema | 0 | 1 |
| Seborrhoea | 0 | 1 |
| Skin Discoloration | 0 | 1 |
| Urinary System Disorders | ||
| Urinary Incontinence | 2 | 4 |
| Nocturia | 0 | 1 |
| Vision Disorders | ||
| Eye Abnormality | 1 | 2 |
| Vision Abnormal | 1 | 2 |
| Diplopia | 0 | 1 |
| Lacrimation Abnormal | 0 | 1 |
| Myopia | 0 | 1 |
| White Cell and RES Disorders | ||
| Leukopenia | 0 | 2 |
Other Adverse Events Observed During All Epilepsy Clinical Trials
Topiramate has been administered to 2,246 adults and 427 pediatric patients with epilepsy during all clinical studies, only some of which were placebo controlled. During these studies, all adverse events were recorded by the clinical investigators using terminology of their own choosing. To provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion of individuals having adverse events, similar types of events were grouped into a smaller number of standardized categories using modified WHOART dictionary terminology. The frequencies presented represent the proportion of patients who experienced an event of the type cited on at least one occasion while receiving Topiramate. Reported events are included except those already listed in the previous tables or text, those too general to be informative, and those not reasonably associated with the use of the drug.
Events are classified within body system categories and enumerated in order of decreasing frequency using the following definitions: frequent occurring in at least 1/100 patients; infrequent occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients; rare occurring in fewer than 1/1000 patients.
Autonomic Nervous System Disorders: Infrequent: vasodilation.
Body as a Whole: Frequent: syncope. Infrequent: abdomen enlarged. Rare: alcohol intolerance.
Cardiovascular Disorders, General: Infrequent: hypotension, postural hypotension, angina pectoris.
Central & Peripheral Nervous System Disorders: Infrequent: neuropathy, apraxia, hyperaesthesia, dyskinesia, dysphonia, scotoma, ptosis, dystonia, visual field defect, encephalopathy, EEG abnormal. Rare: upper motor neuron lesion, cerebellar syndrome, tongue paralysis.
Gastrointestinal System Disorders: Infrequent: hemorrhoids, stomatitis, melena, gastritis, esophagitis. Rare : tongue edema.
Heart Rate and Rhythm Disorders: Infrequent: AV block.
Liver and Biliary System Disorders: Infrequent: SGPT increased, SGOT increased.
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders: Infrequent: dehydration, hypokalemia, alkaline phosphatase increased, hypocalcemia, hyperlipemia, hyperglycemia, xerophthalmia, diabetes mellitus. Rare: hyperchloremia, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, hypocholesterolemia, hypophosphatemia, creatinine increased.
Musculoskeletal System Disorders: Frequent: Arthralgia. Infrequent: arthrosis.
Neoplasms: Infrequent: thrombocythemia. Rare: polycythemia.
Platelet, Bleeding, and Clotting Disorders: Infrequent: gingival bleeding, pulmonary embolism.
Psychiatric Disorders: Frequent: impotence, hallucination, psychosis, suicide attempt. Infrequent: euphoria, paranoid reaction, delusion, paranoia, delirium, abnormal dreaming. Rare: libido increased, manic reaction.
Red Blood Cell Disorders: Frequent: anemia. Rare: marrow depression, pancytopenia.
Reproductive Disorders, Male: Infrequent: ejaculation disorder, breast discharge.
Skin and Appendages Disorders: Infrequent: urticaria, photosensitivity reaction, abnormal hair texture. Rare: chloasma.
Special Senses Other, Disorders: Infrequent: taste loss, parosmia.
Urinary System Disorders: Infrequent: urinary retention, face edema, renal pain, albuminuria, polyuria, oliguria.
Vascular (Extracardiac) Disorders: Infrequent: flushing, deep vein thrombosis, phlebitis. Rare: vasospasm.
Vision Disorders: Frequent: conjunctivitis. Infrequent: abnormal accommodation, photophobia, strabismus. Rare: mydriasis, iritis.
White Cell and Reticuloendothelial System Disorders: Infrequent: lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, lymphopenia, granulocytopenia. Rare: lymphocytosis.
Postmarketing and Other Experience
In addition to the adverse experiences reported during clinical testing of Topiramate tablets, the following adverse experiences have been reported worldwide in patients receiving Topiramate post-approval. These adverse experiences have not been listed above and data are insufficient to support an estimate of their incidence or to establish causation. The listing is alphabetized: bullous skin reactions (including erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis), hepatic failure (including fatalities), hepatitis, pancreatitis, pemphigus, and renal tubular acidosis.
TopSide Effects by Body System
General
General side effects including fatigue, fever, and malaise have been reported to occur frequently. Oligohidrosis, pain, chest pain, and hyperthermia have also been reported.
Nervous system
The majority of cognitive-related adverse events were mild to moderate in severity and frequently occurred in isolation. Rapid titration rate and higher initial doses were associated with higher incidences of cognitive-related adverse events.
Nervous system side effects have been common and have included somnolence, dizziness (greater than 25%), ataxia, speech disorders, psychomotor slowing, hypokinesia, vertigo, grand mal seizures, diplopia, nystagmus, tinnitus, and paresthesias. These nervous system adverse reactions do not appear to be dose-related. Dose-related adverse effects have included fatigue (frequently), nervousness, difficulty with concentration or attention, confusion, psychomotor slowing, difficulty with concentration/attention, difficulty with memory, speech, or language problems (particularly word finding difficulties), and tremor. Headache, vertigo, sensory disturbance, and aggravated migraine have also been reported. A case has been reported of cerebrospinal fluid acidosis associated with hyperventilation that was probably caused by topiramate.
Hepatic
Hepatic side effects including hepatic failure (sometimes fatal) and hepatitis have been reported.
Ocular
The primary treatment of cases of secondary angle closure glaucoma cause by topiramate is discontinuation of the drug.
Ocular side effects including cases of secondary angle closure glaucoma characterized by ocular pain, acute myopia, abnormal accommodation, and increased intraocular pressure have been reported. Maculopathy has also been reported.
Gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal side effects include diarrhea, vomiting, pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux, tooth disorder, and flatulence have been reported. Tongue edema has been reported rarely.
Cardiovascular
Cardiovascular side effects including palpitations have been reported frequently. Hypertension and hypotension have been reported infrequently.
Hematologic
Hematologic side effects including anemia and epistaxis have been a reported frequently.
Metabolic
Metabolic side effects have included metabolic acidosis, dehydration, diabetes mellitus, and weight increase.
Musculoskeletal
Musculoskeletal side effects including arthralgia, myalgia, and muscle weakness have been reported. A case of hemiparesis has also been reported.
Psychiatric
Psychiatric side effects including insomnia, personality disorder, impotence, hallucination, euphoria, psychosis, decreased libido, anxiety, depression, mood problems, and suicide attempts have been reported. Two cases of panic attacks have also been reported.
Depression and mood problems were dose related.
Genitourinary
Genitourinary side effects in the female frequently have included intermenstrual bleeding, leukorrhea, menorrhagia, vaginitis, and amenorrhea. Urinary tract infections, micturition frequency, urinary incontinence, dysuria, and renal calculus have also been reported frequently. Cases of reversible anorgasmia have also been reported. Kidney stones (1.5%) have occurred more frequently in men.
Respiratory
Respiratory side effects including pulmonary embolism, coughing, pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis have been reported.
Dermatologic
Dermatologic side effects including bullous skin reactions (including erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis), pemphigus, acne, rash, and alopecia have been reported. Pruritus has been reported rarely.
Other
Other side effects including taste perversion have been reported frequently. Headaches have also been reported to occur.
Renal
Renal side effects including kidney stones (1.3% to 1.5%) and renal tubular acidosis have been reported.
Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity side effects including allergic reaction have been reported.
Immunologic
Immunologic side effects have been reported including infection and genital moniliasis.
TopMore Topiramate resources
- topiramate Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Topiramate Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Topiramate Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Topiramate Detailed Consumer Information (PDR)
- Topiramate Medfacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Topamax Consumer Overview
- Topamax Prescribing Information (FDA)
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