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| Pronunciation |
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 (toe
PYE ra
mate) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Topamax®; Topamax®
Sprinkle |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Anticonvulsant, Miscellaneous |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to topiramate or any other part of the
medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of seizures. It is usually
used with other medicines.
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| How does it work? |
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- Topiramate decreases the number of seizures. It may slow or block
electrical activity in the brain.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Swallow tablet whole. Do not break. It has a bitter taste.
- Can swallow sprinkle capsules whole or can open capsule and sprinkle
on a spoonful of soft food such as applesauce. The food should be swallowed
whole and not chewed. Drinking liquids may help.
- Take with lots of liquid every day unless told to drink less liquid by
healthcare provider. This is to decrease the chance of kidney
stones.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Wear disease medical alert identification for seizure disorder.
- If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Follow laws in your state about driving with a seizure history. Talk
with healthcare provider.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medication. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or tired. Avoid driving, doing other tasks
or activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine
affects you.
- Changes in balance, feeling shaky or unsteady.
- Problems speaking, poor memory, concentration, and short attention
span.
- Mood changes.
- Numbness and tingling of hands and
feet.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
- Too tired or sleepy.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight container at room temperature. Protect from
moisture.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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