Topiramate (Topamax) is a drug used for the prevention of migraine headaches (and epilepsy) in adults and last year it was also approved for adolescent migraine sufferers. This drug is notorious for causing cognitive side effects, kidney stones,osteoporosis, overheating, and many other side effects. It is contraindicated (just like another migraine drug, Depakote) in pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects.
A new report published in the journal Pediatrics documents an increased risk of eating disorders in adolescents who take Topamax. This report describes 7 female teenagers who developed an eating disorder or whose eating disorder got worse on topiramate.
Considering that we have many other effective preventive drugs for migraine headaches, topiramate should be used only when several other treatments fail.
