Talking To My Doctor


Talking to my doctor about TOPAMAX (topiramate)

Nobody knows your migraines like you do, so it's only right that you be a full partner in how they're managed. When you visit your doctor, make sure you communicate the whole story – not just the symptoms, but also the impact of migraines on your life.

What's the difference between symptoms of migraine and the total impact of migraine?

A migraine's symptoms are the specific physical effects that you experience. For example, pain, aura, sensitivity to light are common migraine symptoms.

Impact refers to the effect that migraine has on your lifestyle. For example, missing important events or constantly thinking about your next migraine may indicate that migraines are impacting your life.

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Specific examples are especially helpful when describing impact.

Doctors can get a lot of information from your description of a particular migraine-related event or situation. What triggered it? What happened? How did you feel? These details can provide a great deal of insight into your condition.

Sometimes doctors may ask questions that are too closed-ended, inviting limited answers from the patient. So if you feel you're not getting across the true extent of how migraines are affecting you, take the initiative — stay with it until you're sure your doctor understands.

Think through your history with migraines before you visit your doctor. Write it down if it helps you remember.

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It helps to prepare for your doctor's visit ahead of time.

Bring your Migraine Diary and your completed Symptom Quiz. This will help your doctor understand your migraine patterns, review your medical history, and recommend an appropriate treatment.

Bring your Free Trial Voucher to your appointment to take advantage of a special offer if your doctor determines that TOPAMAX is an appropriate treatment for you.

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TOPAMAX

Attention TOPAMAX Patients and Medical Professionals
Dispensing errors have been reported between TOPAMAX® (topiramate) tablets and Toprol-xl® (metoprolol succinate) extended-release tablets.

Please be sure to check your tablets to ensure you are taking the right medicine.

*Toprol-xl is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.



TOPAMAX® is approved for migraine prevention in adults only.
TOPAMAX® is not used to stop a migraine after it starts.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Serious risks associated with TOPAMAX® include lowered bicarbonate levels in the blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis). Symptoms could include hyperventilation (rapid, deep breathing), tiredness, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat or changes in the level of alertness. Call your doctor immediately if you get these symptoms. Your doctor may want to do simple blood tests. Chronic, untreated metabolic acidosis may increase the risk for kidney stones or bone disease.

Like other antiepileptic drugs, TOPAMAX® may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Pay attention to any changes and call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying, attempts to commit suicide, new or worse depression, new or worse anxiety, feeling agitated or restless, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, new or worse irritability, acting aggressive, being angry, or violent, acting on dangerous impulses, an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania) or other unusual changes in behavior or mood.

Do not stop taking TOPAMAX® without first talking to your doctor. Stopping TOPAMAX® suddenly can cause serious problems.

Other serious risks include decreased sweating, increased body temperature, kidney stones, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and increased eye pressure (glaucoma). Call your doctor immediately if you have any decrease in vision or eye pain. These problems can lead to blindness if not treated right away.

More common side effects are tingling in arms and legs, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, taste change and weight loss.

Tell your doctor about other medications you take.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch , or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information.