Topiramate patient counseling information

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Pratik Bahekar, MBBS [2]

For patient information about topiramate, click here.

Patient Counseling Information[edit | edit source]

Patients and their caregivers should be informed of the availability of a Medication Guide, and they should be instructed to read the Medication Guide prior to taking topiramate. Patients should be instructed to take topiramate only as prescribed. See FDA-approved Medication Guide.

Eye Disorders[edit | edit source]

Patients taking topiramate should be told to seek immediate medical attention if they experience blurred vision, visual disturbances, or periorbital pain [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Oligohidrosis and Hyperthermia[edit | edit source]

Patients, especially pediatric patients, treated with topiramate should be monitored closely for evidence of decreased sweating and increased body temperature, especially in hot weather. Patients should be counseled to contact their healthcare professionals immediately if they develop a high or persistent fever, or decreased sweating [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Metabolic Acidosis[edit | edit source]

Patients should be warned about the potential, significant risk for metabolic acidosis that may be asymptomatic and may be associated with adverse effects on kidneys (e.g., kidney stones, nephrocalcinosis), bones (e.g., osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and/or rickets in children), and growth (e.g., growth delay/retardation) in pediatric patients, and on the fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Suicidal Behavior and Ideation[edit | edit source]

Patients, their caregivers, and families should be counseled that AEDs, including topiramate, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and should be advised of the need to be alert for the emergence or worsening of the signs and symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior or the emergence of suicidal thoughts, or behavior or thoughts about self-harm. Behaviors of concern should be reported immediately to healthcare providers [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Interference with Cognitive and Motor Performance[edit | edit source]

Patients should be warned about the potential for somnolence, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, or visual effects and should be advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on topiramate to gauge whether it adversely affects their mental performance, motor performance, and/or vision [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].

Even when taking topiramate or other anticonvulsants, some patients with epilepsy will continue to have unpredictable seizures. Therefore, all patients taking topiramate for epilepsy should be told to exercise appropriate caution when engaging in any activities where loss of consciousness could result in serious danger to themselves or those around them (including swimming, driving a car, climbing in high places, etc.). Some patients with refractory epilepsy will need to avoid such activities altogether. Physicians should discuss the appropriate level of caution with their patients, before patients with epilepsy engage in such activities.

Fetal Toxicity[edit | edit source]

Inform pregnant women and women of childbearing potential that use of topiramate during pregnancy can cause fetal harm, including an increased risk for cleft lip and/or cleft palate (oral clefts), which occur early in pregnancy before many women know they are pregnant. There may also be risks to the fetus from chronic metabolic acidosis with use of topiramate during pregnancy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1), (8.9)]. When appropriate, prescribers should counsel pregnant women and women of childbearing potential about alternative therapeutic options. This is particularly important when topiramate use is considered for a condition not usually associated with permanent injury or death.

Prescribers should advise women of childbearing potential who are not planning a pregnancy to use effective contraception while using topiramate, keeping in mind that there is a potential for decreased contraceptive efficacy when using estrogen-containing birth control with topiramate [see Drug Interactions (7.3)].

Encourage pregnant women using topiramate, to enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The registry is collecting information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. To enroll, patients can call the toll-free number, 1-888-233-2334. Information about the North American Drug Pregnancy Registry can be found at http://www.massgeneral.org/aed/ [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Hyperammonemia and Encephalopathy[edit | edit source]

Patients should be warned about the possible development of hyperammonemia with or without encephalopathy. Although hyperammonemia may be asymptomatic, clinical symptoms of hyperammonemic encephalopathy often include acute alterations in level of consciousness and/or cognitive function with lethargy or vomiting. This hyperammonemia and encephalopathy can develop with topiramate treatment alone or with topiramate treatment with concomitant valproic acid (VPA).

Patients should be instructed to contact their physician if they develop unexplained lethargy, vomiting, or changes in mental status [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)].

Kidney Stones[edit | edit source]

Patients, particularly those with predisposing factors, should be instructed to maintain an adequate fluid intake in order to minimize the risk of kidney stone formation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)].

Cardizem CD® is a registered trademark of Biovail Laboratories Incorporated.

Effexor XR® is a registered trademark of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Manufactured for: Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. 2400 Route 130 North Dayton, NJ 08810

Manufactured by: Aurobindo Pharma Limited Hyderabad–500 072, India

Revised: 11/2012

MEDICATION GUIDE Topiramate Tablets USP

Read this Medication Guide before you start taking topiramate tablets and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. If you have any questions about topiramate tablets, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

What is the most important information I should know about topiramate tablets?

Topiramate tablets may cause eye problems. Serious eye problems include: any sudden decrease in vision with or without eye pain and redness, a blockage of fluid in the eye causing increased pressure in the eye (secondary angle closure glaucoma). These eye problems can lead to permanent loss of vision if not treated. You should call your healthcare provider right away if you have any new eye symptoms. Topiramate tablets may cause decreased sweating and increased body temperature (fever). People, especially children, should be watched for signs of decreased sweating and fever, especially in hot temperatures. Some people may need to be hospitalized for this condition. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have a high fever, a fever that does not go away, or decreased sweating.

Topiramate tablets can increase the level of acid in your blood (metabolic acidosis). If left untreated, metabolic acidosis can cause brittle or soft bones (osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteopenia), kidney stones, can slow the rate of growth in children, and may possibly harm your baby if you are pregnant. Metabolic acidosis can happen with or without symptoms. Sometimes people with metabolic acidosis will: feel tired not feel hungry (loss of appetite) feel changes in heartbeat have trouble thinking clearly Your healthcare provider should do a blood test to measure the level of acid in your blood before and during your treatment with topiramate tablets. If you are pregnant, you should talk to your healthcare provider about whether you have metabolic acidosis.

Like other antiepileptic drugs, topiramate tablets may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.

Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

thoughts about suicide or dying attempts to commit suicide new or worse depression new or worse anxiety feeling agitated or restless panic attacks trouble sleeping (insomnia) new or worse irritability acting aggressive, being angry, or violent acting on dangerous impulses an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania) other unusual changes in behavior or mood Do not stop topiramate tablets without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping topiramate tablets suddenly can cause serious problems. Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes. How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions? Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled. Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms. Topiramate tablets can harm your unborn baby. If you take topiramate tablets during pregnancy, your baby has a higher risk for birth defects called cleft lip and cleft palate. These defects can begin early in pregnancy, even before you know you are pregnant. Cleft lip and cleft palate may happen even in children born to women who are not taking any medicines and do not have other risk factors. There may be other medicines to treat your condition that have a lower chance of birth defects. All women of childbearing age should talk to their healthcare providers about using other possible treatments instead of topiramate tablets. If the decision is made to use topiramate tablets, you should use effective birth control (contraception) unless you are planning to become pregnant. You should talk to your doctor about the best kind of birth control to use while you are taking topiramate tablets. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking topiramate tablets. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will continue to take topiramate tablets while you are pregnant. Metabolic acidosis may have harmful effects on your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if topiramate tablets have caused metabolic acidosis during your pregnancy. Pregnancy Registry: If you become pregnant while taking topiramate tablets, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. What are topiramate tablets?

Topiramate tablets are a prescription medicine used: to treat certain types of seizures (partial onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures) in people 10 years and older, with other medicines to treat certain types of seizures (partial onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome) in adults and children 2 years and older. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking topiramate tablets?

Before taking topiramate tablets, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you: have or have had depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior have kidney problems, have kidney stones, or are getting kidney dialysis have a history of metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood) have liver problems have weak, brittle, or soft bones (osteomalacia, osteoporosis, osteopenia, or decreased bone density) have lung or breathing problems have eye problems, especially glaucoma have diarrhea have a growth problem are on a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates, which is called a ketogenic diet are having surgery are pregnant or plan to become pregnant are breastfeeding. Topiramate passes into breast milk. It is not known if the topiramate that passes into breast milk can harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take topiramate tablets. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Topiramate tablets and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take: Valproic acid (such as DEPAKENE® or DEPAKOTE®) any medicines that impair or decrease your thinking, concentration, or muscle coordination birth control pills. Topiramate tablets may make your birth control pills less effective. Tell your healthcare provider if your menstrual bleeding changes while you are taking birth control pills and topiramate tablets. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if your medicine is listed above.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine. Do not start a new medicine without talking with your healthcare provider.

How should I take topiramate tablets? Take topiramate tablets exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider. Topiramate tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not chew the tablets. They may leave a bitter taste. Topiramate tablets can be taken before, during, or after a meal. Drink plenty of fluids during the day. This may help prevent kidney stones while taking topiramate tablets. If you take too much topiramate tablets, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away or go to the nearest emergency room. If you miss a single dose of topiramate tablets, take it as soon as you can. However, if you are within 6 hours of taking your next scheduled dose, wait until then to take your usual dose of topiramate tablets, and skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose. If you have missed more than one dose, you should call your healthcare provider for advice. Do not stop taking topiramate tablets without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping topiramate tablets suddenly may cause serious problems. If you have epilepsy and you stop taking topiramate tablets suddenly, you may have seizures that do not stop. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to stop taking topiramate tablets slowly. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests while you take topiramate tablets. What should I avoid while taking topiramate tablets? Do not drink alcohol while taking topiramate tablets. Topiramate tablets and alcohol can affect each other causing side effects such as sleepiness and dizziness. Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery until you know how topiramate tablets affect you. Topiramate tablets can slow your thinking and motor skills, and may affect vision. What are the possible side effects of topiramate tablets?

Topiramate tablets may cause serious side effects including:

See “What is the most important information I should know about topiramate tablets?” Metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis can cause: tiredness loss of appetite irregular heartbeat impaired consciousness

High blood ammonia levels. High ammonia in the blood can affect your mental activities, slow your alertness, make you feel tired, or cause vomiting. This has happened when topiramate tablets are taken with a medicine called valproic acid (DEPAKENE® and DEPAKOTE®). Low body temperature. Taking topiramate tablets when you are also taking valproic acid can cause a drop in body temperature to less than 95oF, feeling tired, confusion, or coma. Kidney stones. Drink plenty of fluids when taking topiramate tablets to decrease your chances of getting kidney stones. Effects on thinking and alertness. Topiramate tablets may affect how you think and cause confusion, problems with concentration, attention, memory, or speech. Topiramate tablets may cause depression or mood problems, tiredness, and sleepiness. Dizziness or loss of muscle coordination. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms above.

The most common side effects of topiramate tablets include: tingling of the arms and legs (paresthesia) not feeling hungry nausea a change in the way foods taste diarrhea weight loss nervousness upper respiratory tract infection Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of topiramate tablets. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-­800-FDA-1088.

You may also report side effects to Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. at 1-866-850-2876.

How should I store topiramate tablets? Store topiramate tablets at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). Keep topiramate tablets in a tightly closed container. Keep topiramate tablets dry and away from moisture. Keep topiramate tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children. General information about topiramate tablets.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use topiramate tablets for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give topiramate tablets to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. They may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about topiramate tablets. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about topiramate tablets that is written for health professionals.

For more information, call Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. at 1-866-850-2876.

What are the ingredients in topiramate tablets?

Active ingredient: topiramate

Inactive ingredients: hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, pregelatinized starch, sodium starch glycolate, and titanium dioxide. In addition, the 50 mg and 100 mg tablets contain iron oxide yellow and 200 mg tablet contains iron oxide red.

DEPAKENE® and DEPAKOTE® are registered trademarks of Abbott Laboratories

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Manufactured for: Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. 2400 Route 130 North Dayton, NJ 08810

Manufactured by: Aurobindo Pharma Limited Hyderabad–500 072, India

Revised: 11/2012^[1]

References[edit | edit source]

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