{"id":4303,"date":"2019-06-03T11:41:19","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T15:41:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=4303"},"modified":"2022-08-18T14:10:32","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T18:10:32","slug":"topamax-for-migraines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/topamax-for-migraines\/","title":{"rendered":"Should you take Topamax for your migraines?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As if having frequent migraines isn\u2019t painful enough, figuring out which medication\u2014or combination of medications\u2014is right for you can be a major challenge. Thankfully, several therapeutic options exist for both preventing and relieving pain. That\u2019s good news for the <\/span>38 million Americans<\/span><\/a> who live with migraine.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of those options, <\/span>Topamax<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>topiramate<\/span><\/a>), is widely prescribed as a preventive migraine medication, despite its original use as an antiepileptic drug for people with a history of seizures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, topiramate is actually the most commonly prescribed oral preventative medication for migraines in the United States\u2014having been approved for migraine treatment in adults in 2004, according to <\/span>Deborah I. Friedman<\/span><\/a>, MD, professor of neurology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the American Headache Society.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does Topamax work for migraines?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Actually, that piece of the puzzle is still unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTopiramate works via different mechanisms, and it\u2019s not clear which one is important for migraine,\u201d Dr. Friedman says, explaining that topiramate works along sodium and calcium channels in the body, as well as on different receptors where nerves send signals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as the discovery that topiramate could improve migraine symptoms, it was largely accidental. Friedman says epilepsy patients reported an improvement in their migraine symptoms while taking topiramate and other similar drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

How much Topamax should I take for migraines?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The dosage of Topamax for migraines is usually less than it is for epilepsy, with most doctors starting low and increasing the amount gradually over time, according to <\/span>Danny Park<\/span><\/a>, MD, section head of neurology at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTypical dosing starts with 25 milligram tablets twice daily,\u201d he says. \u201cTo mitigate adverse effects, I typically increase by 25 milligrams daily every week\u2026[with the] maximum dose being around 100 milligrams twice daily.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the most common side effects of Topamax for migraines?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Though Topamax can be successful in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines, that success often comes at a price\u2014many people struggle to tolerate the common side effects of the drug, which Dr. Friedman says may include:<\/span><\/p>\n