What is Topiramate?

Commonly Used Brand Name(s)Qudexy XR, Topamax, Topiragen, Trokendi XR

Therapeutic ClassificationsAnticonvulsant

OverviewTOP

Topiramate is used alone or together with other medicines to help treat certain types of seizures (eg, partial seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome). This medicine will not cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it. It is also used to help prevent migraine headaches.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Proper UseTOP

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Topiramate may be taken with or without food.

Swallow the Trokendi XR™ extended-release capsule whole. Do not open, crush, or chew the capsule.

Avoid drinking alcohol with Qudexy® XR or Topamax®, or avoid for 6 hours before and 6 hours after taking the Trokendi XR™ capsule.

Swallow the tablet whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it. The tablet may taste bitter if it is held in the mouth or chewed.

The Topamax® sprinkle capsule or Qudexy® XR extended-release capsule may be swallowed whole or opened and sprinkled on a small amount (1 teaspoon) of soft food like applesauce. Swallow the food mixture immediately without chewing. Do not store the mixture for use at a later time.

Drink extra water with this medicine to help prevent kidney stones.

DosingTOP

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (extended-release capsules):
- For seizures (taken with other medicines):
  - Adults—At first, 25 to 50 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day.
  - Children—
    - Qudexy®:
      - Children 2 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual starting dose is 25 milligrams (mg) once a day in the evening. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 5 to 9 mg per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day.
      - Children younger than 2 years of age—Use is not recommended.
    - Trokendi™:
      - Children 6 years of age and older—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) once a day in the evening. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 5 to 9 mg per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day.
      - Children younger than 6 years of age—Use is not recommended.
- For seizures (taken alone):
  - Qudexy®:
    - Adults and children 10 years of age and older—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day.
    - Children 2 to 10 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is usually 25 mg once a day, in the evening. Your doctor may increase the dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day.
    - Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  - Trokendi™:
    - Adults and children 10 years of age and older—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day.
    - Children younger than 10 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For migraine headaches:
  - Adults and children 12 years of age and older—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg per day.
  - Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For oral dosage forms (capsules or tablets):
- For seizures (taken with other medicines):
  - Adults and children 17 years of age and older—At first, 25 or 50 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day.
  - Children 2 to 16 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your child's doctor. The starting dose is usually 25 milligrams (mg) once a day in the evening. The doctor may adjust the dose as needed.
  - Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For seizures (taken alone):
  - Adults and children 10 years of age and older—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) per day, divided and taken as 2 doses. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day.
  - Children 2 to less than 10 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your child's doctor. The starting dose is usually 25 milligrams (mg) once a day in the evening. The doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 250 to 400 mg per day.
  - Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For migraine headaches:
  - Adults and children 12 years of age and older—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) once a day in the evening. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg per day.
  - Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed DoseTOP

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If your next regular dose of Topamax® capsule or tablet is less than 6 hours away, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose.

If you miss more than 1 dose of Topamax® capsule or tablet, contact your doctor for instructions about how to re-start it.

Use & StorageTOP

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Before UsingTOP

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

AllergiesTOP

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

PediatricTOP

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of topiramate capsules or tablets, or Qudexy® extended-release capsules for the treatment of seizures in children younger than 2 years of age (when used alone or together with other medicines). Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of Trokendi™ extended-release capsules for the treatment of seizures in children younger than 6 years of age.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of topiramate capsules, extended-release capsules, or tablets for the prevention of migraine headaches in children younger than 12 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

GeriatricTOP

Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of topiramate have not been performed in the geriatric population, geriatric-specific problems are not expected to limit the usefulness of topiramate in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving topiramate.

Breast FeedingTOP

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug InteractionsTOP

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Alfentanil
Bromazepam
Buprenorphine
Butorphanol
Calcifediol
Carbinoxamine
Citalopram
Codeine
Desogestrel
Dienogest
Dihydrocodeine
Doxylamine
Drospirenone
Estradiol
Ethinyl Estradiol
Ethynodiol
Etonogestrel
Fentanyl
Flibanserin
Gestodene
Hydrocodone
Hydromorphone
Levonorgestrel
Levorphanol
Meperidine
Mestranol
Methadone
Morphine
Morphine Sulfate Liposome
Nalbuphine
Nifedipine
Norethindrone
Norgestimate
Norgestrel
Orlistat
Oxycodone
Oxymorphone
Pentazocine
Periciazine
Piperaquine
Remifentanil
Sodium Oxybate
Sufentanil
Tapentadol
Tramadol
Ulipristal
Zolpidem

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Other InteractionsTOP

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication, change some of the other medicines you take, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Ethanol

PrecautionsTOP

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to see if the medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Birth control pills containing estrogen may not work properly if you take them with topiramate. To keep from getting pregnant, use an additional form of birth control together with your birth control pill. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

This medicine may cause vision changes, clumsiness or unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, or trouble with thinking or speaking. Make sure you know how you or your child react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, climb in high places, swim, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, allergies, or colds, prescription pain medicines, or sleep medicines. Check with your doctor before taking any of these medicines while you or your child are using topiramate.

Check with your doctor immediately if you or your child have changes in vision or pain around the eyes during and after treatment with this medicine. Your doctor may want your eyes to be checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

This medicine may make you sweat less which will cause your body temperature to increase. Use extra care not to become overheated during exercise or hot weather with this medicine. Overheating may result in heat stroke and hot baths or saunas may make you dizzy or feel faint.

Topiramate may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you, your child, or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause nausea, muscle tremors, breathing problems, eating problems, fast heartbeats, restlessness, and abdominal or stomach pain. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child have any of these symptoms. You might have a serious condition called metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood).

This medicine may cause slow growth. For children, the doctor will need to keep track of height and weight to make sure that the child is growing properly.

Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor. Stopping the medicine suddenly may cause your seizures to return or to occur more often. Your doctor may want you or your child to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child are having unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, feelings of sluggishness, mental depression or anxiety, nightmares or unusually vivid dreams, or vomiting. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called hyperammonemic encephalopathy.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have sudden back pain, abdominal or stomach pain, pain while urinating, or bloody or dark urine. These may be symptoms of kidney stones.

Tell your doctor if your or your child's skin feels like it is burning, crawling, itching, or if you have numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feeling after using topiramate.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Chemical ClassificationsTOP

Fructopyranose Sulfamate