Topiramate

This information from Lexicomp® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

Brand Names: US

Eprontia; Qudexy XR; Topamax; Topamax Sprinkle; Trokendi XR

Brand Names: Canada

ACH-Topiramate; AG-Topiramate; APO-Topiramate; Auro-Topiramate; DOM-Topiramate; GLN-Topiramate; JAMP-Topiramate; Mar-Topiramate [DSC]; MINT-Topiramate; MYLAN-Topiramate; PMS-Topiramate; PRO-Topiramate; RAN-Topiramate [DSC]; SANDOZ Topiramate [DSC]; TEVA-Topiramate; Topamax; Topamax Sprinkle

What is this drug used for?

  • It is used to treat seizures.
  • It is used to prevent migraine headaches.
  • It may be given to your child for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell the doctor BEFORE my child takes this drug?

  • If your child is allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell the doctor about the allergy and what signs your child had.

This drug may interact with other drugs or health problems.

Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all of your child’s drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe to give this drug with all of your child’s other drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug your child takes without checking with the doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while my child takes this drug?

All products:

  • Tell all of your child’s health care providers that your child is taking this drug. This includes your child’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
  • Have your child avoid tasks or actions that call for alertness until you see how this drug affects your child. These are things like riding a bike, playing sports, or using items such as scissors, lawnmowers, electric scooters, toy cars, or motorized vehicles.
  • Do not stop giving this drug to your child all of a sudden without calling the doctor. Your child may have a greater risk of seizures. If your child needs to stop this drug, you will want to slowly stop it as told by the doctor.
  • Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
  • Talk with your child’s doctor before your child uses marijuana, other forms of cannabis, or prescription or OTC drugs that may slow your child’s actions.
  • Sweating less and high body temperatures have happened with this drug. Sometimes, this has led to the need for treatment in a hospital. Have your child be careful in hot weather and while being active. Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has a fever or does not sweat during activities or in warm temperatures.
  • This drug may cause an acid blood problem (metabolic acidosis). The chance may be higher in children and in people with kidney problems, breathing problems, or diarrhea. The chance may also be higher if your child takes certain other drugs, has surgery, or is on a diet high in fat called a ketogenic diet. Over time, metabolic acidosis can cause kidney stones, bone problems, or growth problems in children.
  • This drug may raise the chance of bleeding. Sometimes, bleeding can be life-threatening. Talk with the doctor.
  • Taking this drug with valproic acid can cause low body temperature. This can also cause tiredness, confusion, or coma. Talk with your child’s doctor.
  • If the patient is a child, use this drug with care. The risk of some side effects may be higher in children.
  • This drug may affect growth in children and teens in some cases. They may need regular growth checks. Talk with the doctor.

If your child is or may be sexually active:

  • Have your child use birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking this drug.
  • Birth control pills and other hormone-based birth control may not work as well to prevent pregnancy. Be sure your child uses some other kind of birth control also, like a condom, when taking this drug.
  • If your child is taking hormone-based birth control and has any change in bleeding pattern, talk with the doctor.

If your child is pregnant or breast-feeding a baby:

  • This drug may cause harm to the unborn baby if your child takes it during pregnancy. If your child is pregnant or gets pregnant while taking this drug, call the doctor right away.
  • Tell the doctor if your child is breast-feeding a baby. You will need to talk about any risks to the baby.

Extended-release capsules:

  • Alcohol may interact with this drug. Be sure your child does not drink alcohol. This is most important within 6 hours before or 6 hours after taking this drug.

All other products:

  • Alcohol may interact with this drug. Be sure your child does not drink alcohol.

What are some side effects that I need to call my child’s doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your child’s doctor or get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

  • Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
  • Signs of too much acid in the blood (acidosis) like confusion; fast breathing; fast heartbeat; a heartbeat that does not feel normal; very bad stomach pain, upset stomach, or throwing up; feeling very sleepy; shortness of breath; or feeling very tired or weak.
  • Signs of high ammonia levels like a heartbeat that does not feel normal, breathing that is not normal, feeling confused, pale skin, slow heartbeat, seizures, sweating, throwing up, or twitching.
  • Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
  • Feeling confused, not able to focus, or change in behavior.
  • Memory problems or loss.
  • Trouble speaking.
  • Trouble sleeping.
  • Change in balance.
  • Very bad dizziness or passing out.
  • Not able to eat.
  • Back pain, belly pain, or blood in the urine. May be signs of a kidney stone.
  • A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
  • Bone pain.
  • Chest pain.
  • Muscle pain or weakness.
  • Shakiness.
  • Trouble walking.
  • Not able to control eye movements.
  • Like other drugs that may be used for seizures, this drug may rarely raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. The risk may be higher in people who have had suicidal thoughts or actions in the past. Call the doctor right away about any new or worse signs like depression; feeling nervous, restless, or grouchy; panic attacks; or other changes in mood or behavior. Call the doctor right away if any suicidal thoughts or actions occur.
  • This drug may cause very bad eye problems. If left untreated, this can lead to lasting eyesight loss. Call the doctor right away if your child has eye problems like blurred eyesight or other changes in eyesight, eye pain, or eye redness.
  • Liver problems have rarely happened with this drug. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has signs of liver problems like dark urine, tiredness, decreased appetite, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
  • A severe skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause severe health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if your child has signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in the mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your child’s doctor or get medical help if your child has any side effects that bother your child or do not go away.

  • Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, upset stomach, throwing up, or decreased appetite.
  • Change in taste.
  • Weight loss.
  • Feeling nervous and excitable.
  • Feeling dizzy, sleepy, tired, or weak.
  • Headache.
  • Flushing.
  • Signs of a common cold.
  • Joint pain.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your child’s doctor. Call your child’s doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

How is this drug best given?

Give this drug as ordered by your child’s doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

All products:

  • Give this drug with or without food.
  • Keep giving this drug to your child as you have been told by your child’s doctor or other health care provider, even if your child feels well.
  • Have your child drink lots of noncaffeine liquids every day unless told to drink less liquid by your child’s doctor.

Tablets:

  • Have your child swallow whole. Do not let your child chew, break, or crush.

Regular-release sprinkle capsules and extended-release sprinkle capsules:

  • This drug may be swallowed whole or sprinkled on a spoonful of soft food like applesauce. Do not let your child crush or chew before swallowing.
  • If mixed, have your child swallow the mixed drug right away. Do not store for use at a later time.
  • Have your child drink fluids right after eating the food and drug mixture to make sure the drug is swallowed.

Extended-release capsules:

  • Have your child swallow whole. Do not let your child chew, open, or crush.
  • Do not sprinkle this drug on food.

Oral solution:

  • Measure liquid doses carefully. Use the measuring device that comes with this drug. If there is none, ask the pharmacist for a device to measure this drug.
  • Do not use a household teaspoon or tablespoon to measure this drug. Doing so could lead to the dose being too high.

What do I do if my child misses a dose?

Extended-release capsules:

  • Call your child’s doctor to find out what to do.

Extended-release sprinkle capsules:

  • Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
  • If it is close to the time for your child’s next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time.
  • Do not give 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
  • If you miss giving your child 2 doses, call the doctor.

All other products:

  • Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
  • If it is less than 6 hours until the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to the normal time.
  • Do not give 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
  • If you miss giving your child 2 doses, call the doctor.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

All products:

  • Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
  • Keep lid tightly closed.
  • Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Oral solution:

  • Throw away any part not used 90 days after opening.

Extended-release capsules:

  • Protect from light.

General drug facts

  • If your child’s symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your child’s doctor.
  • Do not share your child’s drug with others and do not give anyone else’s drug to your child.
  • Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
  • If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2023-06-21

Copyright

© 2024 UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.

Last Updated

Monday, December 12, 2022