For example, you may have a higher risk for certain side effects if you take higher doses of Topamax. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Topamax. dry mouth. Talk with your doctor about the possible risks of taking Topamax if youre pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Forgetting stuff at the grocery store, where I put my keys, stuff like that. Case assessment using the adverse drug reaction probability scale of Naranjo et al indicated that topiramate was the probable cause of the patients carbonation taste perversion. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. * This side effect can affect your ability to drive or safely operate machinery. Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. Symptoms can include: feeling agitated, aggressive, or irritable, losing interest in activities you normally enjoy, Ask the tough question: Are you considering suicide?. However, you should not stop taking Topamax unless your doctor recommends this. If you have weight loss while taking the drug, its possible you could gain weight after you stop taking Topamax. A migraine is a type of headache that causes throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. This may include an over-the-counter antihistamine that you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Pregnancy registries collect information about the drugs effects when used during pregnancy. This may make some side effects more likely. Ocular (eye-related) side effects may occur with Topamax. It is labeled for blood pressure, but I get it for off label OCD/SSRI intolerance. Topamax (topiramate) is a prescription drug that's used to treat epilepsy and help prevent migraine headaches. Liver problems could raise your risk for a high level of ammonia in your blood, which is a possible side effect of Topamax. In most cases, side effects from Topamax are temporary. Taking Topamax can cause hair loss as a side effect. A bitter or bad taste in the mouth can occur after eating pungent or sour foods, but it can also stem from hormonal changes, poor oral health, medication use, stress, and many other factors. It is growing back. This can cause foods to taste different or bad. Topamax may cause mood changes, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Mood problems or suicidal thoughts. Talk with your childs doctor about your childs risk of side effects from Topamax. Mild side effects can occur with Topamax use. My sense of taste and smell are coming back and I'm starting to sweat like a normal person again. Learn more about some of the side effects that Topamax may cause, as well as some tips for dealing with or helping to stop side effects. Please check for further notifications by email. Promptly after the initiation of topiramate, the patient lost her ability to taste carbonation in all beverages, including soda, seltzer, and beer. However, you should not stop taking Topamax unless your doctor recommends this. Does metabolism change or just taste for foods/amts? Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. These may include: If you have bothersome stomach problems while taking Topamax, talk with your doctor. Topamax (topiramate) is a prescription drug thats used to treat epilepsy and help prevent migraine headaches. However, its not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. Topamax dosage for migraines. My list consists of soda's, coffee, chocolate, peanutbutter, spaghetti sauce, anything really salty, and Ranch dressing has a weird taste that I can't even explain. At the time of dysgeusia development, topiramate was the only medication the patient was taking; thus there seems to have been a clear temporal relationship between topiramate use and the onset of her symptoms. And these mood changes could cause sexual side effects. Gabapentin can help control seizures as well as nerve pain from shingles. If you have sexual side effects while youre taking Topamax, talk with your doctor. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any eye problems while taking Topamax, tell your doctor right away. Although the sense of carbonation when drinking with a straw was not as intense as it was prior to topiramate initiation, she noticed considerable improvement; the straw enhanced the carbonation taste sensation enough to make some carbonated beverages palatable.. Before taking Topamax, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems. If you have hair loss thats bothersome to you, your doctor may prescribe a drug other than Topamax for your condition. If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person: If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. For example, Topamax may cause eye side effects,* such as glaucoma. Learn more about some of the side effects Topamax may cause. Examples of behavior and mood shifts Topamax can cause include: If you have any unusual shifts in mood while taking Topamax, call your doctor right away. Make sure to call your doctor right away if you have symptoms that are severe or bother you. Topiramate ( Qudexy XR, Topamax, Trokendi XR) Valproic acid If the drugs don't work, you might have surgery to remove the damaged sensory receptors (olfactory mucosa) in your nasal cavity. Taking Topamax while pregnant can cause harm to the fetus. I can't drink sodas anymore because they taste just awful - and milk chocolate tastes bad, but dark chocolate tastes fine. ! This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (. The first beverage she tried following initiation of topiramate 25 mg by mouth twice daily was cold seltzer water from a can, and she immediately noted a flat taste. I had a few side effects to start with like tingling fingers, face and heels but that was bearable, and of course the weight loss which is an added bonus, but . Keep in mind that Topamax may cause mood changes,* including depression. Talk with your doctor if youre concerned about your weight while taking Topamax. This condition causes sudden, severe eye pain and blurry vision. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Case assessment using the adverse drug reaction probability scale of Naranjo et al15 indicated a probable relationship between topiramate use and carbonation-perception loss (ie, a score of 5). Taste . Perhaps with a straw the carbonated beverage is more concentrated on the tongue, where taste is perceived. They can help you figure out if youre having other mood changes that could cause these side effects. Mild side effects that have been reported with Topamax include: burning or numbness in your hands and feet appetite loss speech problems fatigue dizziness * sleepiness nervousness memory. High blood levels of ammonia (a waste product made by your body), which may cause swelling in your brain. Your doctor may suggest a different seizure diet for you while youre taking Topamax, if needed. Which can be very dangerous and just plain weird. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. bleeding. In clinical trials, how often certain side effects occurred varied depending on which dose of Topamax was taken. Donegan et al13 performed a systematic review of 90 placebo-controlled trials of topiramate and noted that dysgeusia was reported at a significantly higher rate with topiramate vs placebo use. Breathing or lung problems. 1. It may sometimes cause side effects, especially if you misuse it. Hello doctor, I am on topamax (topiramate) and i've lost between 5-10 pounds in just 2 weeks is this healthy? Joeyshoney They will help keep your hair in great shape and keep it on your head. If they have a high temperature or if they sweat less than usual, call their doctor right away. This refers to side effects that affect how you think. All rights reserved. Having diarrhea while taking Topamax can increase your risk of metabolic acidosis. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Mild side effects that have been reported with Topamax include: These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed. A systematic review of placebo-controlled trials of topiramate: how useful is a multiple-indications review for evaluating the adverse events of an antiepileptic drug? and our Its important not to change your dosage of Topamax without first talking with your doctor. Its also important to know that suddenly stopping Topamax could cause or worsen seizures. Talk with your doctor to learn if Topamax is right for you. For example, the following side effects were more likely to happen with higher doses (200 mg) of Topamax (compared with 25 mg or 50 mg, for example): For details about side effects in studies, you can see Topamaxs prescribing information. Oh Yes.. Topamax made me stupid and crave non fat milk like it was the best thing in the world. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think youre having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. This list doesnt include all possible mild side effects of the drug. This was also reported by people taking the drug to treat epilepsy, but it was less common. Topamax is approved to treat certain types of seizures and help prevent migraine headaches. Why does the taste of topamax (topiramate) stay in my mouth and how can I get it out? They are a BIG help and got my hair growing back. Below are a few questions you may want to ask: If you have migraine, consider signing up for Healthlines online newsletter. If I had known, I would have done it as a preventative. So it may be hard for you to tell if sexual side effects are caused by Topamax itself or by certain mood changes the drug may cause. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Luykx et al12 performed a meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials to compare topiramate-related adverse drug reactions in patients taking topiramate for epilepsy and those taking topiramate for migraine disorders. Allergic reaction. If you have kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease, you have an increased risk of both metabolic acidosis and kidney stones as a complication. This medication is also used to prevent migraine headaches and decrease how often you get . The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. See additional information. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drugs side effects and their answers. Before taking Topamax, tell your doctor if you have mood problems such as depression. This measurement describes bone strength. Specifically, Topamax is used in adults and some children to: The active ingredient in Topamax is topiramate. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Najafizade et al24 demonstrated that zinc supplementation increased perception of all sweet, sour, bitter, and salty tastes among patients with head or neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. sorry but the topamax is totally working and it is worth it!! When my doctor prescribed Topamax to me I was also in bed crying, we were on Zoom together, so maybe she said something about my taste buds going funky and I don't remember lol. And why does orange gatorade taste okay, but orange Powerade taste horrible?? "Local trauma" to the tastebuds aka burning your tongue on hot stuff can change your sense of taste. These side effects can vary depending on which condition the drug is being used to treat. The pain can be so severe that it becomes debilitating. Find a helpline in your country with. Zinc may play a role in taste perception, and zinc deficiencies may contribute to taste disorders.24 There is evidence to support the use of zinc supplementation in some cases of medication-induced dysgeusia. These side effects may include kidney stones and high blood levels of ammonia (a waste product made by your body). If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives. 2. If you take Topamax while pregnant, youre encouraged to sign up with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. They may recommend a different drug for your condition. ? Having reduced BMD could indicate that you have weakened bones. it was my drink. If untreated, this condition can lead to bone problems, including osteoporosis (weakened bones). If youd like to notify the FDA about a side effect youve had with Topamax, visit MedWatch. Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For people ages 12 and older, the recommended total daily dose for preventing migraines is 100 mg per day, divided into two doses. The main thing for me has always been an aversion to pop/soda. Its possible to have weight loss from taking Topamax. You should not drink alcohol while taking Topamax. Your doctor can help determine whether treatment with Topamax is safe for you. We avoid using tertiary references. Some rare side effects caused by Topamax may require treatment to make them go away. However, when considering the addition of topiramate therapy, one should educate the patient regarding potential side effects and methods to mitigate them in order to ensure medication adherence, enhanced chronic disease state management, and improved overall quality of life. Your doctor can help determine whether treatment with Topamax is safe for you. Changes in taste was a common side effect reported by people who took Topamax for preventing migraine headaches in clinical trials. For the most part, side effects of Topamax in children are similar to those in adults. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article. A 39-year-old Caucasian woman with epilepsy had a generalized seizure after 12 years without use of antiepileptic medication. Before taking Topamax, tell your doctor if you have bone problems such as osteoporosis. And its not likely to cause liver problems unless youre also taking other drugs that can harm your liver. If a child takes Topamax, their doctor will check their growth. An allergic reaction is possible after using Topamax. These side effects can vary depending on which condition the drug is being used to treat. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide, This PDF is available to Subscribers Only. If I have side effects from Topamax, will I need to take a lower dose of the drug? Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. The patient reported good adherence to the medication, missing less than 1 dose per month. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Here we describe a case of carbonation dysgeusia potentially related to the initiation and continued use of topiramate following a generalized seizure. 18 Its important to note that the dosage of Topamax is higher for seizures than for migraine headache prevention. Topamax (topiramate) is a brand-name anticonvulsant drug that works in the brain to prevent seizures. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. Medication-related changes in taste are important to identify because such changes can lead to poor medication adherence and negatively affect chronic disease management.2 Taste disturbance can also negatively affect nutritional status; one study found that individuals with taste disturbances consumed 500 fewer calories per day and ate fewer fruits and vegetables than those without taste disturbances.22 With dysgeusia, one may be more inclined to compensate for the altered taste with added salt or sugar, which can also negatively affect health outcomes. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? SoI've been taking Topamax for a little over a week. Your comment will be reviewed and published at the journal's discretion. (2022). But again, it sounds like over 50% of people take topomax with great results. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Dunkel and Hofmann also suggested that carbonic anhydrase 4, specifically, mediates the fizzy sensation experienced on drinking carbonated beverages. Learn more. Soda taste flat and chocolate taste bitter. The brain fog was really bad at first. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Topamax. inflammation of the tissue lining the sinuses. The taste of food/drink however will remain the same the entire time you are on Topamax no matter what the dose. I will have a definite problem if any of my hair falls out - I absolutely adore my hair i spend hours fixing it in the morning! In clinical trials, reduced growth was more commonly seen among children ages 6 to 9 years. Topamax may cause rare but serious side effects. I also just stopped sweating. Talk with your doctor if you experience cognitive side effects while taking Topamax. But Topamax can also cause serious side effects in some people, especially at higher doses. 1 more week and I'm finished. Its possible. But the following side effects may be more likely to happen in children: Also, when Topamax is taken by children, it may cause reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Taste perversion or taste dysgeusia in association with topiramate use has been reported in numerous randomized controlled trials; however, most of the trial reports did not define the specific manifestation of dysgeusia as carbonation dysgeusia. This type of diet may raise the level of acid in your blood. For example, missing Topamax doses could cause you to have a migraine headache. To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. They both tasted just fine before I started on topamax. Also , will my soda always taste bad while on it? The serum topiramate concentration was determined 17 days after topiramate initiation, 3 days after a dosage increase to 75 mg twice daily, and was considered to be in the therapeutic range, at 6.2 g/mL (reference range, 5-20 g/mL). How long does it take for Topamax to start working? ', Can someone tell me if I will ever enjoy Coca Cola ever again? Common side effects of Topamax include: anxiety, ataxia, confusion, diarrhea, diplopia, dizziness, drowsiness . I know topamax (topiramate) for migraine also works as appetite suppressant, but what is the chemical reason? These conditions may raise the acid level in your blood. Topamax can increase your risk of depression and suicidal thoughts or actions. But these side effects werent common in studies of the drug. Or they may suggest you wean off Topamax and try a different treatment for your condition. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. Talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your child if youre taking Topamax. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. So my doctor asked me to start taking it after lunch. This should cause side effects of the drug to go away. People with the condition feel that all foods taste sour, sweet, bitter or metallic. Learn about the drugs side effects and how to. After 35+ years of headaches/migraines and screaming at every GP I could find I finally got to see a neurologist at the Nuffield and have been on topiramate for 5 months. We avoid using tertiary references. BUT, I've taken the damn vaccine and I still wear my mask and I'm antisocial and have social anxiety so I don't even go outside and if I do (to walk my service dog) I stay away from people AND I STILL WEAR MY DAMN MASK so I kept thinking 'how on earth could I have gotten covid if I'm never around people. However, it isnt known how often this side effect may have occurred in clinical trials. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 2 Apr 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 17 Apr 2023), ASHP (updated 10 Apr 2023) and others. Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects. Talk with your childs doctor, or a pharmacist, if you have questions about Topamaxs side effects in children. Is this a side effect? But other medications used to treat epilepsy are known to cause liver problems. Kidney problems may increase the level of acid in your blood. Maybe that's not the best description but it definitely tastes weird. Specifically, the drug can cause decreased growth in children. The drug may also cause a child who is breastfed to have diarrhea and sleepiness. Your doctor can help determine whether treatment with Topamax is safe for you if you have kidney problems. I'm on it for migraines. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. Talk with your doctor to learn if Topamax is right for you. Maria Charbonneau, PharmD, Courtney Doyle-Campbell, PharmD, AHSCP-CHC, Corey Laskey, PharmD, BCPP, Kam Capoccia, PharmD, BCPS, CDE, Carbonation dysgeusia associated with topiramate, American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Volume 77, Issue 14, 15 July 2020, Pages 11131116, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxaa123. Your doctor can recommend whether Topamax is safe for you to take. How long does Topamax stay in your system. You may need blood tests to make sure the level of acid in your blood is safe. you are totally right. Topamax can cause shifts or changes in mood, including suicidal thoughts. Its not likely. The authors have declared no potential conflicts of interest. In theory, because carbonic anhydrase is a zinc metalloenzyme, administration of carbonic anhydraseinhibiting medications may lead to zinc deficiency and, ultimately, taste distortions. For more information, you can refer to Topamaxs prescribing information. Mild side effects from Topamax are common. Below, youll find lists of the drugs more common, mild, and serious side effects. Topiramate is used for migraine headache prophylaxis in adults and for adjunctive or monotherapy treatment of partial onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and seizures related to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.14 Its antiepileptic properties may be due to several mechanisms of action; topiramate blocks voltage-dependent sodium and calcium channels in addition to inhibiting excitatory glutamate pathways and potentiating inhibitory aminobutyric acid effects.16 Topiramate also inhibits carbonic anhydrase activity.17 Its mechanisms of action may underlie both its clinical utility as well as its unique adverse effects. Although topiramate has multiple mechanisms of action, its carbonic anhydrase inhibitory effects are similar to those of acetazolamide.17. Scan this QR code to download the app now. They can recommend ways to reach or maintain a weight thats healthy for you. You may have mild side effects from Topamax. Topiramate is used alone or with other medications to prevent and control seizures ( epilepsy ). Treatment with Topamax can cause a variety of cognitive side effects. For this reason, following a ketogenic diet while taking Topamax usually isnt recommended. Topamax (topiramate) tablets, for oral use; Topamax (topiramate capsules) sprinkle capsules, for oral use. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. For example, fatigue (low energy) and feelings of burning or numbness in your hands and feet may go away as you continue taking Topamax. Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere. Topamax making carbonated drinks taste flat? Your doctor can help determine whether treatment with Topamax is safe for you. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. In studies, this side effect was more common in people who took the drug to treat epilepsy than to prevent migraine headaches. Below are a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Topamax in studies. Weight loss is a common side effect of Topamax. And all food tasted weird, exept for garlic for some reason. Doing so can worsen certain side effects of Topamax, such as dizziness and sleepiness. Your side effect notes can include things such as: Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help your doctor learn more about how Topamax affects you. I do sometimes ask my family to taste something to see if it's "just me" because it's just a weird feeling. You may need additional blood tests to monitor your levels while youre taking Topamax. Examples of mood changes you may notice while taking Topamax include: Tell your doctor right away if you have mood changes while taking Topamax. Available for Android and iOS devices. Chandrashekar J, Yarmolinsky D, von Buchholtz L et al. I also lost all interest in food, no apetite, had no energy to cook it, and just threw it up if I did eat it. The following day, the patient was seen by her primary care physician, who switched from levetiracetam to topiramate 25 mg by mouth twice daily, with titration to topiramate 100 mg by mouth twice daily for maintenance therapy after 3 weeks. A 39-year-old Caucasian woman with longstanding epilepsy was initiated on topiramate therapy after experiencing a generalized seizure (she reported not taking any antiepileptic medication for years). Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, problems with sleep, such as sleepiness or, speech problems, such as having trouble thinking of the right words to say, eye side effects, such as sudden vision changes*, severe, negative changes in memory or mood, high level of ammonia in the blood, which can cause, trouble with memory, concentration, or thinking clearly, Not in the United States? Although rare, Topamax can also cause a glaucoma attack. You may have changes in your sense of taste as a result of taking Topamax. But a melatonin overdose can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle and actually make it harder for you to, Seizures are changes in your brains electrical activity. Carbonation dysgeusia as a result of topiramate therapy is not well identified in the literature but has been reported by patients in online chat forums.7 More frequently identified in the literature as causing carbonation taste alterations is acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. This lessens your risk of seizures after stopping Topamax. Dysgeusia is a medical condition defined as an alteration of the sense of taste.1 Certain medications can lead to dysgeusia through various mechanisms of action involving chemosensory pathways, such as taste, smell, and salivation.2 The majority of cases of taste dysfunction due to medication use cited in the literature involved hypogeusia (partially impaired sense of taste) or the more general dysgeusia.3 Dysgeusia has been reported with use of antibiotics (eg, clindamycin, metronidazole, fluoroquinolones), neurologic medications (eg, central nervous system stimulants, muscle relaxants), and psychotropics (eg, tricyclic antidepressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers) as well as antihistamines, antineoplastics, smoking cessation aids, and antifungals, among others.4, Metallic taste following medication administration is a commonly reported medication-induced dysgeusia. Patients on topiramate therapy may find carbonation perception enhanced by drinking through a straw, and pharmacists can mention this as a potential counseling point. I'm taking it to help control seizures. But there havent been studies done on Topamax withdrawal. For these reasons, you should not stop taking Topamax unless your doctor tells you its safe to do so. Everything tastes sweet. Medication-related changes in taste are important to identify because such changes can negatively affect medication adherence, chronic disease management, and overall quality of life. This side effect was somewhat common in clinical trials. Learn about common, mild, and serious side effects it can cause and how, Migraine auras are sensory symptoms, including visual disturbances and physical sensations, that occur during or before a migraine episode. Your doctor may monitor your acid levels more closely than usual during treatment. Theyll likely give you tests to make sure you arent having severe eye problems.