Topamax vs. Elavil
- Are Topamax and Elavil the Same Thing?
- What Are Possible Side Effects of Topamax?
- What Are Possible Side Effects of Elavil?
- What Is Topamax?
- What Is Elavil?
- What Drugs Interact with Topamax?
- What Drugs Interact with Elavil?
- How Should Topamax Be Taken?
- How Should Elavil Be Taken?
Are Topamax and Elavil the Same Thing?
Topamax (topiramate) and Elavil (amitryptiline) are both used off-label to treat different types of neuralgia (nerve pain).
Topamax is mainly used to prevent epileptic seizures and migraine headaches.
Elavil is primarily used to treat depression and mood disorders. Elavil may also be used to treat other conditions including eating disorders, anxiety, and panic disorder.
Topamax and Elavil belong to different drug classes. Topamax is an anticonvulsant and Elavil is a tricyclic antidepressant.
The brand name Elavil is no longer available in the U.S. It is available as generic amitryptiline.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Topamax?
Common side effects of Topamax include:
- drowsiness,
- dry mouth,
- dizziness,
- blurred vision,
- constipation,
- weight gain,
- trouble urinating,
- headache,
- increased hunger, and
- changes in taste.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Elavil?
Common side effects of Elavil include:
- drowsiness,
- dry mouth,
- dizziness,
- blurred vision,
- constipation,
- weight gain,
- trouble urinating,
- headache,
- increased hunger, and
- changes in taste.
What Is Topamax?
Topamax (topiramate) is an anticonvulsant prescribed for preventing epileptic seizures and migraine headaches. Topamax is available as a generic drug.
What Is Elavil?
Elavil (amitryptiline) is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression and mood disorders. Elavil may also be used to treat other conditions including nerve pain, eating disorder, anxiety, and panic disorder. The brand name Elavil is no longer available in the U.S.
What Drugs Interact With Topamax?
Topamax may interact with other medicines that can make you sleepy (cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for depression or anxiety), other seizure medications, lithium, hydrochlorothiazide, metformin, atropine, belladonna, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bronchodilators, bladder or urinary medications, or glaucoma medications.
What Drugs Interact With Elavil?
Elavil may also interact with MAO inhibitors, arbutamine, disulfiram, thyroid supplements, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (antiplatelet drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], blood thinners), anticholinergic drugs, and certain drugs for high blood pressure.
How Should Topamax Be Taken?
Topamax usual adult dose is 200mg twice a day. Drug interactions include acetazolamide (Diamox), methazolamide (Neptazane), dichlorphenamide (Daranide), carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin) and oral contraceptives. There are no adequate studies of Topamax in pregnant women and it is not known if Topamax is secreted in human breast milk. Use during pregnancy is not recommended unless the potential benefit outweighs the potential unknown risk to the fetus. Topamax passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
How Should Elavil Be Taken?
Elavil is taken by mouth in tablet form. The medication may take up to four weeks to take full effect.