Abilify, generic name aripiprazole, and Topamax, or topiramate, are psychiatric medications. Abilify is an atypical antipsychotic, which is a medication for treating psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, according to the "Physician's Desk Reference." Topamax is an anticonvulsant, or a medication for the treatment of epileptic seizures. People may take both drugs for co-existing conditions.
Approved Clinical Indicators
Abilify is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the treatment of schizophrenia. It is also approved for treating bipolar disorder and irritability in children with autistic disorder. Additionally, the FDA approved Abilify for use with an antidepressant to treat resistant symptoms of depression.
Topamax is approved for treating seizures and children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a disorder that causes seizures and developmental delay. The FDA also approved Topamax for the prevention of migraine headaches.
Off-Label Uses
Abililfy has been tried for off-label uses, or without FDA approval, according to the July 2005 issue of the "Journal of Family Practice." Such off-label uses include treating psychosis that may accompany depression or bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and pervasive developmental disorders.
Topamax has been prescribed for bipolar disorder without FDA approval. Other off-label uses include obsessive-compulsive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, binge eating, social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study in the September 2005 issue of "Depression and Anxiety."
Side Effects
Abilify's most common side effect is being unable to sit still, or akathisia, according to a study in the April 2009 issue of "CNS Spectrums." Fatigue, sleeping difficulties, restlessness, agitation, vision difficulties, headache and respiratory infection were other observed side effects.
According to a study in the November 2006 issue of "The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry," the most prevalent side effect of Topamax is tingling or numbness of the skin, or paresthesia. Other side effects include upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite and memory difficulties.
Drug Interactions
Abilify may interact with other drugs. Prozac, or fluoxetine, and Nizoral, or ketoconazole, increase the amount of Abilify in the body, according to the "Physician's Desk Reference".
Topamax may also interact with certain drugs. Taking Topamax and valproic acid may produce excess ammonia in the blood. Topamax may decrease the efficacy of birth control pills and Lanoxin, or digoxin. Metabolic acidosis, or too much acid in the body fluids, may occur when Topamax is taken with Glucophage, or metformin.
Both Abilify and Topamax decrease in concentration when taken with the anticonvulsant drug Tegretol, or carbamazepine. Topamax levels in the body also decrease with other antiepileptic drugs,
Special Warnings
Abilify's side effects may be more pronounced among older people, according to the "Physician's Desk Reference." Elderly individuals with dementia are especially at risk for developing serious side effects including stroke, heart failure and pneumonia.
According to the "Physician's Desk Reference," Topamax increases the risk of developing kidney stones and overheating. Some people taking Topamax have experienced a loss of consciousness, so talking to a physician is advised before engaging in such possible life-endangering activities as driving a car or swimming.
References
- "CNS Spectrums"; Aripiprazole Augmentation in Major Depressive Disorder: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study in Patients with Inadequate Response to Antidepressants;; Robert Berman, M.D., Maurizio Fava, M.D., Michael Thase, M.D., Madhukar Trivedi, M.D., René Swanink,, Robert McQuade, Ph.D., William Carson, M.D., David Adson, M.D., Leslie Taylor, M.D., James Hazel, and Ronald Marcus, M.D.; April 2009
- "Depression and Anxiety"; Topiramate Augmentation in Treatment-Resitant Obsessive-Compulsive Disroder: A Retrospective, Open-Label Case Series; Michael Van Ameringen, M.D., Catherine Mancini, M.D., Beth Patterson, and Mark Bennett; September 2005
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Adjunctive topiramate Therapy in Patients Receiving a Mood Stabilizer for Bipolar I Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial; K.N. Roy Chengappa, M.D., Lesley Schwarzman; Joseph Hulihan, M.D.; Jim Xiang, Ph.D., and Norman Rosenthal, M.D.; November 2006
- "Journal of Family Practice"; What Makes aripiprazole the "Different" Antipsychotic: Off-Label Use of "Dopamine Stabilizer" Requires Caution' Mahendra Bhati, M.D.; July 2005
- "Physician's Desk Reference"; PDR Network; 2010
