Topiramate (Oral Route)

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Proper Use

Take this medicine every day exactly as ordered by your doctor in order to improve your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take 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, on a full or an empty stomach.

Swallow the tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew them. The bitter taste may be more noticeable if the tablets are held in the mouth or chewed.

The sprinkle capsules may be swallowed whole, or the capsule may be opened and the contents be sprinkled on a small amount (teaspoonful) of soft food (such as applesauce, custard, ice cream, oatmeal, pudding, or yogurt). This mixture must be swallowed immediately without chewing.

It is important that you drink extra water every day while you take topiramate to help prevent kidney stones.

This medicine will be used together with other seizure medicines. Keep using all of your medicines unless your doctor tells you to stop.

Dosing

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 forms (capsules or tablets):
  • For seizures (taken with other medicines):
    • Adults—At first, 25 or 50 milligrams (mg) once a day for the first week. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose every week as needed and tolerated. The dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day.
    • Children 2 years of age and older—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) nightly for the first week. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose every 1 or 2 weeks to be taken in two divided doses.
    • Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For seizures (taken alone):
    • Adults, teenagers, and children 10 years of age and older—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) once a day divided in two doses for the first week. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose every week as needed and tolerated. The dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day taken in two divided doses.
    • Children 2 to 10 years of age—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) nightly for the first week. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose every week to be taken in two divided doses and as tolerated.
  • For migraine headaches:
    • Adults—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) once a day (in the evening) for the first week. Then, your doctor may increase your dose to 25 mg to be taken in the morning and 25 mg in the evening. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose every week as needed and tolerated. The dose is usually not more than 100 mg per day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

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.

Storage

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.

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