Topamax is
a brand name for the drug Topiramate and its use has
been associated with the occurrence of the oral
condition of teeth grinding. To fully understand this
relation, one needs to acquire an understanding of teeth
grinding as well the usage of the drug Topamax.
Teeth
grinding and its causes
‘Teeth
grinding’ as an oral condition is commonly found in many
people usually as a simple and harmless habit. However,
sometimes, especially if there is a more serious
clinical cause for the condition to exist, the teeth
grinding habit can quickly digress into a chronic
condition that can potentially cause a lot of damage.
The
forceful motions of teeth grinding and (or) teeth
clenching is known to be triggered by several causes –
ranging from stress and anxiety, an injury, an ear
infection, a jaw problem or a upper spinal column
dysfunction, to allergies, drug interactions and side
effects of medications.
The usage
of the drug Topamax
Topamax is
an anti convulsion drug that is typically used to treat
epilepsy in children as well as adults. Its usage
extends to any of the disorders associated with seizures
(or developmental delays especially in children, or even
for infantile spasms). Many times this drug Topamax is
also used as an anti depressant – it has also been used
to treat patients of Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder.
Sometimes Topamax is also prescribed to treat
migraines. Apart from these usages this supposedly
versatile drug is also used for several off label
treatments and is used in some clinical trials for other
potential treatments.
The
relation of Topamax and teeth
grinding
On
examination of several teeth grinding instances it has
been revealed that drug interaction or side effects of
medications are common causal factors leading to this
oral condition. Usually in all such cases where drug
induced teeth grinding has been established, cessation
of the specific drug is enough to treat the teeth
grinding condition as well.
The drug
Topamax is known to potentially cause various side
effects and drug interactions and can lead to other
health complications unrelated to the primary
pathological condition. Amongst the acknowledged side
effects of Topamax are cognitive complications involving
speech trouble and memory loss or even feelings of
grogginess and disorientation. Often an individual
undergoing these symptoms also experience teeth grinding
or will indulge in teeth grinding without being aware of
the oral problem.
Topamax
induced ‘teeth grinding’ has to be immediately brought
to the attention of a
physician.
