Topamax is the brand name of the drug topiramate, an anti-seizure medication. Topamax is prescribed for children and adults to control seizures brought on by epilepsy and other seizure disorders. The medication can also be used as a preventive medicine for migraines. Adults and children alike may experience side effects while taking topiramate. Some of the minor side effects of Topamax include fatigue, stomach pain, constipation, sore throat and rash. Children who take the medication are more likely to experience a group of more-serious side effects that can be dangerous to their health if left unchecked.
Cognitive Side Effects
According to both the patient information at Drugs.com and the medical experts at Epilepsy.com, children using Topamax may experience side effects of a cognitive nature. Children may have a hard time concentrating on the task at hand, may seem confused, and may have memory difficulties. Behavior changes may also be the result of taking Topamax. Children on the medication could become depressed, excessively aggressive or display an unusual nervousness.
Vision Issues
Kids who take Topamax to control their seizures or to prevent migraine headaches can develop glaucoma, nearsightedness or episodes of double vision. Glaucoma is a condition that occurs when eye pressure increases beyond normal limits and causes damage to the optic nerve. If glaucoma is not treated, a child with these symptoms may lose his sight. Medical professionals at Epilepsy.com suggest that children who need Topamax take from 1 to 3 mg each day and gradually increase the dosage over a period of a few weeks to avoid potentially dangerous side effects.
Rickets
People of all ages who use Topamax are at risk of developing a condition called metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis is the state of having a higher-than-normal level of acids in the blood. Children who have topiramate-induced metabolic acidosis may develop the secondary side effect of rickets. Rickets, a disease that is usually associated with a vitamin D deficiency, is a softening of the bone. Children who develop rickets may have deformities in their arms or legs if the condition is not corrected.
Reduced Sweating
Topamax may interfere with a child's ability to sweat, a condition called oligohidrosis. Sweating cools the body off; not being able to sweat on a hot day can raise a child's body temperature to dangerously high levels. A child who is taking Topamax should be watched carefully in the summer months to be sure that she is sweating as she should.
Coordination Problems
Children taking Topamax may experience some issues with coordination. Patient information about the drug from Drugs.com states that side effects related to mobility include a loss of coordination and an increased amount of muscle movement. Children with coordination issues induced by Topamax may have trouble walking or use an usual or abnormal stepping pattern.
