Can topiramate be used for anxiety?

Anxiety is a common mental health disorder that can affect anyone regardless of age or gender. It can cause fear, panic, worry and nervousness in individuals and can have negative long-term effects seen in both personal relationships and work performance.

There are several medications available today to help manage anxiety disorders. One such medication is topiramate which is commonly used to treat migraines and seizures. The big question remains, can topiramate be used for anxiety? In this article, we will explore the theory behind it.

What is Topiramate?

Topiramate goes by the brand name Topamax®besides other names)and comes from a class of drugs known as antiepileptichowever doctors have discovered other uses off-label). It works by controlling electrical activity in the brain which helps reduce occurrences of specific types of seizures; thus making it an effective drug to prevent migraines too.

It holds promise for other off-label use cases besides migraines like depression and addiction as well but with limited research evidence- more information here

How Does Topiramate Work for Anxiety?

Research has shown that topiramate might alleviate some symptoms associated with social phobia according to this study published here

It’s proposed mechanism would be via an improvement in GABAergic neurotransmission which causes reduced levels serotonin uptake through its action on iGluR5(AMPA receptor ).

Also another tendency exists among patients taking reasonable doses even without comorbid epilepsy – their general self-reported mood tends towards being happier , mostly because the reduction of partial seizure frequency

Nevertheless, all aspects need further proof before renouncing established treatment regimens / guidelines

The Pros: Benefits

1. Reductions in anxiety symptoms. Research shows that patients who receive topiramate for social phobia may experience a decrease in anxiety, improved social performance and fewer panic attacks.

2. Fewer side effects compared to other medications – Topiramate has been reported to have mild side effects compared with other anti-anxiety treatments like benzodiazepines which carry the potential of getting users addicted after prolonged use; respiratory depression among others

The Cons: Side Effects

1. Parasthesia(A pins and needles sensation on skin) is a common side effect that can be bothersome especially when it persists over long periods

2.Most notable impairments during Administering Cognition tests(speed and accuracy being most commonly reported)

3.Upset stomach (nausea), Constipation, Dizzy spells because sometimes its neurocognitive inhibitory properties may cause upset when accessing certain cortical areas

4.Dry mouth was another frequent complaint , however this usually diminished within time

Dosage Recommendations

Topiramate should only be taken under the supervision of licensed medical personnel due to it’s centrally acting mechanism by affecting brain neurotransmitter systems otherwise there could inclinations towards undesirable outcomes .

That said, doses vary depending on several factors like age body weight but generally starting at low dosages such as 25-50mg per day slowly tapering upwards until full dose . This may take several weeks or months before you see any noticeable improvements since treatment tends not to respond immediately.

Precautions

Other known Interactions You Should Know About:

As is typical with many drugs , some interactions come up while using them medically
Antacids – They have interactions increasing blood plasma concentration! Talk with your doctor about recommended concomitant administration schedules .
Birth control pills – Interaction between these two meds isn’t conclusive, however it encompasses the likelihood of patients experiencing decreased efficacy as estrogen and progesterone levels can fluctuate affecting absorption.

Contraindications:

You shouldn’t take topiramate if you are:
Allergic to any component in the drug
Suffer from pre-existing metabolic acidosis (some kinds liver or kidney issues)

If you already taking other prescription drugs for depression, do not use topiramate without guidance from a medical professional because concomitant administration could lead to loss of efficiency via metabolism , brain activity dysregulation due to excessive GABAaction

Furthermore, consult your doctor when taking this medication during pregnancy as there is little research conducted on the effects of Topiramate at each developmental stage beyond rodents models so potential harm cannot be ruled out although teratogenicity seems low

As usual heed precautions around dosageage still under prescriptions physicians’ observation

Conclusion:

While Topiramate shows promise in treating anxiety disorders generally alongside mood stabilization and alcohol dependence/PMS/PTSD among others , more evidence needs collection before officially declaring it sufficient substitutes against traditional anti-anxiety treatments offering both positive/negative side-effects tradeoffs.

Its benefits outweigh its drawbacks according to current standing data . Despite being sometimes overlooked by prescribers, this anticonvulsant deserves attention amongst available options leading sufferers towards enhanced lives; just ensure compliance with instructions .
## TLDR(Summary):
Anxiety is distressing but manageable ;Topiramates antiepileptic properties have been found useful as treatment for social phobia while causing fewer side effects when compared with benzodiazepines .Just know interactions exist with certain medications plus contraindications which include allergy pre-existing congenital metabolic disorders like carbonic anhydrase deficiency so always report full health history conclusion- though dispensed off-label evidence that’s been acquired from limited sources isn’t inconclusive to prescribe without due medical diligence .

References can be found in-text .