Which side-effects are severe enough to force people to discontinue topiramate?
The side-effects that most frequently caused people to discontinue therapy with topiramate were: psychomotor slowing (4.1%), memory problems ( (3.3%), fatigue (3.3%), confusion (3.2%), and somnolence (3.2%). Much less frequently happening but more serious side-effects that force people to stop topiramate therapy include kidney stones, which affect about 1% of people taking the drug, and acute glaucoma, which to date had been reported in about one person in 35,000 taking topiramate. The sudden onset of back pain may indicate the presence of a kidney stone, while eye pain, changes in vision or the develpment of redness in the eye may indicate glaucoma. Most cases of glaucoma have developed within the first two months of therapy with topiramate. Information from the FDA on topiramate and glaucoma.
