How long does Topamax stay in your system?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 19, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Topamax stays in your system for approximately 4 to 5 days after the last dose, but this may vary depending on personal factors, such as your age, weight, dosage, and what other medications you currently take. This estimate is based on the half-life of Topamax which is about 21 hours and experts agree that it takes up to 5 half-lives for a drug without active metabolites to be completely removed from the body (a drug’s half-life is the time it takes for 50% of that drug to be removed from the body). Topamax does have some metabolites, but these are not considered active and only make up about 5% of an administered dose. This means it takes 84 to 105 hours for Topamax to leave your body.

Topamax should never be stopped suddenly or “cold turkey”, because this may cause you to have an increased risk of seizures, more frequent seizures, or other serious withdrawal symptoms. This can happen even if you do not take Topamax for epilepsy. Topamax is also approved by the FDA to be used in patients to help prevent migraine headaches.

To decrease the risk for seizures or other withdrawal symptoms, your doctor will let you know how to slowly stop taking Topamax. Depending upon the dose you take, it may take several weeks to a few months to slowly discontinue Topamax.

References

Topamax (topiramate) Updated 07/2021. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. https://www.drugs.com/pro/topamax.html

Does topiramate cause weight loss?

Yes, topiramate (Topamax) has been shown to cause weight loss when used for both seizure control and migraine prevention. Topiramate by itself is not specifically approved by the FDA for weight loss, but is used in an "off-label" fashion for this condition. Qsymia, an extended-release medicine that contains phentermine and topiramate, is FDA approved for weight loss, along with diet and exercise. Continue reading

Does topiramate cause hair loss?

Yes, topiramate has been shown to cause hair loss in studies, but it is not a common side effect. Hair loss (also called alopecia) 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. Higher daily doses (400 mg/day) of topiramate were associated with greater rates of hair loss than lower doses (50 mg/day) in both age groups. Continue reading

How long do you stay on Topamax for migraines?

You can usually stay on Topamax (topiramate) to help prevent your migraine headaches as long as the treatment is needed and remains safe for you. You and your doctor will decide how long you stay on treatment. This will be based on how well it is working for you and any side effects you may experience. Continue reading

How long does Topamax stay in your system?

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Does topiramate cause weight loss?

Does topiramate cause hair loss?

How long do you stay on Topamax for migraines?

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