Topiramate Raises Glaucoma Risk More Than Other Medications

Source: Epilepsia

Summary

This study looked at the risk of developing glaucoma in patients with epilepsy who were prescribed different medications: topiramate, valproate, and lamotrigine. Researchers analyzed health records from a large group of patients to see how often glaucoma occurred within one year of starting these medications. They focused on patients who had not used other antiseizure medications before and excluded those with a history of glaucoma.

The key findings showed that patients taking topiramate had a higher risk of developing glaucoma compared to those taking valproate or lamotrigine. Specifically, the risk was about 2.4% higher when comparing topiramate to valproate and about 2.0% higher when compared to lamotrigine. This increased risk was particularly notable in female patients and those with epilepsy, while no significant risk was found in male patients or those using the medication for migraine.

These findings are important because they highlight a potential safety concern for patients using topiramate, especially women and those with epilepsy. Understanding this risk can help doctors monitor patients more closely for glaucoma and consider alternative medications if necessary. However, the study has limitations, such as not including patients who had previously used other antiseizure medications or those with existing glaucoma, which means more research is needed to fully understand the risks.

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