Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Topiramate as follows:
Cardiovascular side-effects
- Topiramate use carries the risk of causing hypotension with compensatory increased heart rate. Hypotension, secondary to topiramate intake, can lead to episodes of confusion and dizziness, thus increasing the risk for fall and accidents.
- Topiramate use also carries the risk of causing and/or aggravating cardiac arrhythmias, leading to severe debility and death. Individuals can present with episodes of chest pain, rapid heart rate, palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
Metabolic side-effects
- Topiramate use can result in increased loss of the basic ion, bicarbonate, from the body, thus tipping the balance towards elevated acid in the blood, resulting in a state of metabolic acidosis. Individuals with metabolic acidosis can present with symptoms of nausea and vomiting, rapid irregular heartbeat, palpitations, chest pain, rapid rate of breathing, and uncontrolled seizures.
- Topiramate use can also result in elevated levels of ammonia in the blood. Individuals can present with symptoms of nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, lethargy, irritability, seizures, loss of consciousness, and coma, secondary to the elevated ammonia in the blood.
