Psychiatry appointments online, from anywhere. Our licensed psychiatric clinicians diagnose and treat bipolar disorder. Get Topamax with a prescription from a Talkspace clinician.
Topamax (or topiramate) is an anticonvulsant medication. It’s used to treat bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and migraines by enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters, like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which can produce a calming effect on the brain.
Topamax (and its generic version, topiramate) can be prescribed to treat a number of mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder. Some conditions Topamax may treat include:
Answer a few questions and we’ll match you with an online prescriber who meets your needs
Once matched, schedule your live video psychiatry session.
Your online psychiatry prescriber will personalize your treatment, which may include medication and follow-ups.
Get specialized psychiatric treatment from a licensed prescriber — all from the comfort of your home.
Taking a brief assessment will be your first step towards seeking a prescription online. Based on your assessment, you’ll be matched with a psychiatrist that you’ll share your symptoms with via live video session. From there, you’ll receive a prescribed treatment plan—if that includes a Topamax prescription, you can pick it up at a local pharmacy.
Topamax (Topirramate) is typically taken in tablet form twice a day. However, you should always consult with a provider for recommended form, daily dosages, and frequency, as this may change depending on your mental health condition and the treatment plan prescribed to you.
It’s crucial that you follow your clinician’s prescribed dosage and frequency for Topamax or its generic form, Topirramate. Side effects of Topamax are often mild, but can include headache, drowsiness, nervousness, weight loss, dry mouth, constipation, and more. Seek immediate medical advice and attention if you experience adverse effects including blisters, vision changes like eye pain, pain or redness in the eye, memory problems, chest pain, worsening seizures, trouble breathing, and more.
Topamax is believed to work in the brain, enhancing activity of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA). It can be prescribed off-label to treat bipolar disorder, although it’s generally only prescribed if other medications haven’t been effective. Topamax can be used in combination with other drugs to treat epilepsy (seizures), and it’s used to treat or prevent migraine headaches in adults.
When used in addition to depression medications, Topamax can be effective in improving depressed mood and anxiety symptoms. However, it’s also been associated in some people with causing aggression, agitation, and additional neurocognitive symptoms such as psychomotor slowing language problems and confusion. How it feels can be slightly different for each person, so giving feedback and staying in contact with your healthcare provider will help you find the right medication for your symptoms.
Topamax is in a class of drugs known as anticonvulsants, but it can offer some mood stabilizing properties in some people. More research is still needed to understand how effective Topamax is as a mood stabilizer.
Topamax is not labeled a controlled substance. It is not habit forming and does not have a high probability of dependency or misuse.
There are several different medications your psychiatrist may prescribe for bipolar disorder.
Other medications for bipolar disorder include:
