-November 30, 2006
Recent research confirms previous suspicions that the popular migraine drug Topamax increases the risk of kidney stones. Researchers published their findings in the October issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases .
Topamax (topiramate) is an Ortho-McNeil drug that gained FDA approval for the treatment of migraines in 2004. The drug was initially approved in 1995 to prevent seizures. Since its initial approval, Topamax has been taken by more than 4 million patients.
Topamax Study
According to health officials, the drug helps stabilize neurons in the brain. However, it also affects the kidneys. Researchers compared urine samples from two groups of study participants to determine to what extent.
In the group of patients taking Topamax for migraine relief, researchers found higher pH levels, which increase the risk of kidney stones, and lower levels of urinary citrate, which helps prevent their formation.
The urine samples produced by the group of 32 patients taking Topamax was compared with a control group of 50 healthy individuals. One of the patients in the Topamax group developed a kidney stone.
The Risk
We can’t say directly, given the size of the study, what the yearly risk for patients on topiramate for migraine is for getting kidney stones, said researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Dion Graybeal.
Previous research estimated the incidence of kidney stones in patients using the drug at 1.5 percent. The incidence rate in the general population is approximately 0.2 percent.
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