Dosage & Drug Interaction


Dosing With TOPAMAX

The rule with TOPAMAX is to "start low and go slow." That is, your healthcare professional will adjust your medication. You'll start with a low dose and then slowly increase the amount of TOPAMAX you take until you reach the dosage that works best for you. Like many other medications, TOPAMAX needs time to build up to the right level in your bloodstream before it is completely effective, so remember to be patient.

Your healthcare professional will determine your starting dose and when to make adjustments to your dose.

Be patient. TOPAMAX can take time to work.

Although you'll be taking TOPAMAX every day, it may take some time to work. In clinical studies, TOPAMAX was proven to help reduce the frequency of migraines. Some patients experienced fewer migraines after 1 month of treatment; however, it may take 2 to 3 months to realize the full benefit of TOPAMAX. That's why it's so important to continue to take your medication every day to give it the best chance to work.

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What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a single dose of TOPAMAX, 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 TOPAMAX, and skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose. If you have missed more than one dose, you should call your healthcare professional for advice.

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TOPAMAX Dosing Details:

TOPAMAX can be taken with or without food.


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Drug interaction

Before starting any new medication, tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you are currently taking, including nonprescription products, food supplements, vitamins, and herbal products.

If you're taking birth control pills, be sure to tell the healthcare professional who prescribed them that you're taking TOPAMAX. There's a possibility that birth control pills may be made less effective by TOPAMAX. Be sure to report any changes in bleeding patterns to your healthcare professional.

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TOPAMAX

Attention TOPAMAX Patients and Medical Professionals
Dispensing errors have been reported between TOPAMAX® (topiramate) tablets and Toprol-xl® (metoprolol succinate) extended-release tablets.

Please be sure to check your tablets to ensure you are taking the right medicine.

*Toprol-xl is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.



TOPAMAX is approved for migraine prevention in adults only.
TOPAMAX is not used to stop a migraine after it starts.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Serious risks associated with TOPAMAX include lowered bicarbonate levels in the blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis). Symptoms could include hyperventilation (rapid, deep breathing), tiredness, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat or changes in the level of alertness. Call your doctor immediately if you get these symptoms. Your doctor may want to do simple blood tests. Chronic, untreated metabolic acidosis may increase the risk for kidney stones or bone disease.

Other serious risks include decreased sweating, increased body temperature, kidney stones, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and increased eye pressure (glaucoma). Call your doctor immediately if you have any decrease in vision or eye pain. These problems can lead to blindness if not treated right away.

More common side effects are tingling in arms and legs, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, taste change and weight loss.

Tell your doctor about other medications you take. Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information.