Pain relief through spinal drug delivery systems, also called intrathecal drug delivery systems, involves implanting a small pump that delivers medication directly to the spinal cord, where pain signals travel.

In many cases, spinal drug delivery systems are used to treat people who have cancer pain or chronic pain.

What Are the Advantages of Spinal Drug Delivery Systems?

Spinal drug delivery systems increase pain relief and comfort for people with severe pain with less medicine. In addition, the system can cause fewer side effects than oral medications because less medicine is required to control pain. People who have extreme pain can improve their quality of life and become more involved in daily activities with the help of the systems.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Westlake Family Health Center.

WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic

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Edited by Ephraim K Brenman, DO on March 01, 2007

'Portions of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2005

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Real Migraines, Real People

Learn How TOPAMAX Can Help from Patients Who Have Been There

Important Safety Information | Prescribing Information

TOPAMAX is approved for migraine prevention in adults only.
TOPAMAX is not used to stop a migraine after it starts.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Serious risks associated with TOPAMAX include lowered bicarbonate levels in the blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis). Symptoms could include hyperventilation (rapid, deep breathing), tiredness, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat or changes in the level of alertness. Call your doctor immediately if you get these symptoms. Your doctor may want to do simple blood tests. Chronic, untreated metabolic acidosis may increase the risk for kidney stones or bone disease.

Other serious risks include decreased sweating, increased body temperature, kidney stones, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and increased eye pressure (glaucoma). Call your doctor immediately if you have any decrease in vision or eye pain. These problems can lead to blindness if not treated right away.

More common side effects are tingling in arms and legs, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, taste change and weight loss.

Tell your doctor about other medications you take. Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information.

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