Glaucoma, a group of eye disorder, is the increase in the internal eye pressure leading to the damage of the optic nerve, the nerve responsible for our sense of sight and may lead to blindness if not addressed immediately. This can be due to a lot of different factors which include serious medication side effects from Topamax. There are four major types of glaucoma: open-angle glaucoma, chronic glaucoma, closed-angle glaucoma, congenital glaucoma and angle closure glaucoma. As per the World Health Organization website, it has been reported that glaucoma accounts for the second most prevalent cause of global blindness.
Will I be Having Glaucoma?
There are different factors that may cause a person to develop glaucoma, including genetics. Fifty percent of patients with open-angle glaucoma, the most common type, have a familial history of glaucoma. Nevertheless, we cannot pinpoint genetics as a definite cause of glaucoma. Poor digestion and nutritional deficiencies can be one of the causes of glaucoma. It has been shown that those who suffer from glaucoma have deficiencies in important nutrients like essential fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, taurine, antioxidants, bioflavenoids, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B-complex. Those who suffered from migraine and/ or epilepsy and has been taking the drug Topamax, has also exhibited symptoms of glaucoma. The first month of drug therapy had the patient experiencing unfamiliar sensations in their eyes which is believed to be brought by the increase in the intraocular pressure.
How Does Topamax Affect its Users?
Topamax, with the generic name of Topiramate, has been linked to the development of glaucoma among its users. The eye condition will typically be treated by immediate discontinuation of the drug with their physician"s supervision. It has also been shown that glaucoma is not the only
serious eye condition brought about by the medication and that includes blockage of the eye fluid that could lead to increase the internal eye"s pressure, sudden decrease in vision with or without pain in the eyes, and near-sightedness or acute myopia. The eye problems that were mentioned are so serious that it can lead to loss of vision if not immediately given attention. Those eye problems mentioned can lead to blindness if not given the proper treatment right away. Most common complaints on the drug are diarrhea, anxiety, memory loss, speech and language difficulties, decreased sweating, and increase in body temperature. It is advised that you check with your doctor before taking medications especially over the counter drugs. It is advisable to always consult your doctor before deciding to take any medications especially OTC"s.
