TOPIRAMATE

(toe PYRE a mate) Brand: Topamax, Topamax Sprinkle, Topiragen

What is the most significant information I must know about topiramate?

• Topiramate may reason harm to an unborn child, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both the mother and the child. Speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking topiramate for seizures. Do not start or stop taking topiramate during pregnancy without your doctor's advice.

• Search abnormal medical attention if you have a sudden change in vision or pain near or behind the eyes. These may be early signs of a serious and permanent side effect on your vision.

• Do not stop using topiramate without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel beautiful. You may have heighten seizures if you stop using topiramate suddenly. You may need to use smaller and smaller till you stop the medicine completely.

• Contact your doctor if your seizures get worse or you have them more often while taking topiramate.

What is topiramate?

• Topiramate is a seizure medicine, also called an anticonvulsant.

• Topiramate is used alone or in combination with another medications to treat seizures in adults and children who are at least 2 years old.

• Topiramate is also used to prevent migraine headaches in adults. Topiramate will only prevent migraine headaches or reduce the number of attacks. It will not treat a headache that has already begun.

• Topiramate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking topiramate?

• You must not use topiramate if you are allergic to it.

• To create certain you can safely take topiramate, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· kidney malady or a history of kidney stones;

· liver disease;

· glaucoma;

· a history of depression or suicide attempt;

· a growth disorder;

· a history of metabolic acidosis;

· osteoporosis or low bone density;

· asthma, emphysema, or another breathing mess; or

· if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using topiramate.

• You may have thoughts about suicide while taking topiramate. Speak your doctor if you have new or worsening symptoms of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Your family or another caregivers must also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits.

• FDA pregnancy category D. Taking topiramate during pregnancy may magnify the risk of cleft lip and/or cleft palate in the newborn. Do not start taking topiramate without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Use effective birth control while you are taking topiramate.

• Seizure control is very significant during pregnancy. The benefit of preventing seizures may outweigh any risks posed by taking topiramate. Follow your doctor's instructions about taking topiramate while you are pregnant.

• Although topiramate may harm an unborn child, having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and child. If you become pregnant while taking topiramate, do not stop taking the medication without your doctor's advice.

• Topiramate can create birth control pills smaller effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking topiramate. If you are not planning a pregnancy while taking topiramate, use effective birth control, and speak your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

• Topiramate can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take topiramate?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.

• Topiramate can be taken with or without food. The topiramate tablet should be swallowed intact. It has a bitter taste when chewed or broken.

• You may open the topiramate capsule and sprinkle the medication into a spoonful of applesauce or another soft food to create swallowing easier. Swallow right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.

• Drink plenty of liquids while you are taking topiramate. This will lower your risk of having kidney stones or an electrolyte imbalance. Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea. You can easily become dehydrated while taking this medication.

• If you need surgery, speak the surgeon onward of time that you are using topiramate. You may need to stop using the medication for a short time.

• Contact your doctor if your seizures get worse or you have them more often while taking topiramate. To be certain this medicine is not causing deleterious effects, your blood may need to be tested often. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take topiramate. Any medical care provider or dentist who treats you must know that you are taking a seizure medication.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Hold the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• If you are smaller than 6 hours late in taking your medication, take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

• Call your doctor for instructions if you miss two or more doses.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, dizziness, agitation or depression, blurred vision, problems with speech or balance, stomach pain, chest pain, quick or pounding heartbeats, feeling light-headed, fainting, and seizure (convulsions).

What must I avoid while taking topiramate?

• Topiramate may reason blurred vision or impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.

• Avoid drinking alcohol. It can magnify determined side effects of topiramate, and can also magnify your risk of a seizure.

• Ketogenic or "ketosis" diets that are tall in thick and low in carbohydrates can magnify the risk of kidney stones. Avoid the use of such diets while you are taking topiramate.

What are the possible side effects of topiramate?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Message any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· sudden vision loss, pain near or behind your eyes;

· dry mouth, heighten thirst, drowsiness, decreased sweating, heighten body temperature, and hot, dry skin,

· confusion, slowed thinking, memory problems, trouble concentrating, problems with speech or balance;

· vomiting, loss of appetite, weary feeling, irregular heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out; or

· severe pain in your side or lower back, painful or difficult urination.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· mild dizziness, feeling nervous;

· numbness or tingly feeling;

· diarrhea, weight loss; or

· cool symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Speak your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect topiramate?

• Cool or allergy medication, sedatives, narcotic pain medication, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medication for depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by topiramate. Speak your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any another seizure medication.

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· lithium (Eskalith, LithoBid);

· hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic);

· metformin (Glucophage, Actoplus Met, Avandamet, Fortamet, Janumet, PrandiMet, Riomet);

· atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine), belladonna (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);

· bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva);

· bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), solifenacin (Vesicare), and others;

· glaucoma medications such as acetazolamide (Diamox) or methazolamide (Neptazane); or

· another seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), phenytoin (Dilantin), divalproex sodium (Depakote), valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor), or zonisamide (Zonegran).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with topiramate. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about topiramate.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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