Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Topamax as follows:
Gastrointestinal side-effects
- Topamax use can result in common general constitutional symptoms such as, nausea and vomiting. Elevated blood ammonia levels secondary to Topamax use can also result in severely altered sense of taste and consequently, lead to reduced appetite. Taking Topamax after having a meal or a snack can help avoid having unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms with the medication.
- Topamax can also induce extreme dry mouth and diarrhea. These symptoms should settle and ease out in due course of time, after you start taking the medication on regular basis.
Other constitutional side-effects
- Topamax use can result in reduced sweating and compromised means of heat dissipation from the body, thus leading to extremely elevated body temperature with consequent dehydration and in severe cases might as well present with a heat stroke. Watch closely for signs and symptoms of dehydration and elevated body temperature. Report any episodes of unresolved elevated body temperature, dry mouth, rapid heart rate, diminished urine volume with highly concentrated dark yellow color to the urine, and dry skin.
