Topiramate
Consumer Medicine Information
This leaflet answers some common questions about TOPAMAX® tablets and Sprinkle capsules. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking TOPAMAX against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
The name of your medicine is TOPAMAX. It contains the active ingredient topiramate.
TOPAMAX belongs to a group of medicines known as antiepileptics. TOPAMAX is used for the treatment of various types of seizures in adults and children, aged 2 years and over. It can also be used for the prevention of migraines in adults. TOPAMAX is not used to treat severe migraines that come on suddenly (acute).
It prevents seizures and migraines by acting on the nerves and chemicals in the brain.
Your doctor may prescribe TOPAMAX on its own, or in addition to another medicine for controlling your seizures or migraines.
Your doctor may have prescribed TOPAMAX for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Do not take TOPAMAX if you have an allergy (hypersensitivity) to:
Symptoms of an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction may include:
Do not take TOPAMAX if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. Do not take TOPAMAX after the expiry date (month and year) printed on the pack has passed.
You must tell your doctor if you:
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking TOPAMAX.
Your doctor will advise you whether or not to take TOPAMAX or if you need to adjust the dose or adapt your treatment.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food store.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:
These medicines may be affected by TOPAMAX or may affect how well TOPAMAX works. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
Follow your doctor's instructions about when and how to take TOPAMAX.
You can take the tablets or capsules with or without food. Always swallow the tablets whole with plenty of water.
TOPAMAX Sprinkle capsules are available for people who cannot swallow tablets. These capsules can be opened and all of the contents sprinkled onto a teaspoon of soft food which does not require chewing. This mixture should be swallowed immediately and not chewed. It should not be stored for future use. The capsules can also be swallowed whole with water.
The doses shown below are the usual recommended doses. However, your doctor may tell you to take higher or lower doses. Your doctor will start with a low dose and slowly increase the dose to the lowest amount needed to control your epilepsy.
At the start of treatment TOPAMAX may be taken once a day, preferably at night. After the dose is increased, it is taken twice a day.
You should continue taking TOPAMAX until your doctor tells you to stop. Before stopping, it is recommended that the dose be reduced gradually.
Adults
Epilepsy
Treatment starts at a low dose of 25 mg to 50 mg per day. The dose is then gradually increased by 25 mg to 100 mg over weekly periods or longer, until the most suitable dose is reached.
Migraine
Treatment starts at a low dose of 25 mg nightly for one week. The dose is then increased over weekly periods or longer by 25mg/day, until the most suitable dose is reached.
Children (2 years and over) - epilepsy only
Treatment starts at 25 mg or less per day, depending on the body weight. This dose is then gradually increased over weekly periods or longer, until the most suitable dose is reached.
If you have missed more than one dose, or are not sure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre for advice, or go to Accident & Emergency at your nearest hospital.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Poisons Information Centre telephone numbers:
Keep these numbers handy in case of an emergency.
If you take too much TOPAMAX, you may experience headache, dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness, convulsions, speech disturbances, double or blurred vision, difficulty with thinking, abnormal coordination, stomach pain, depression, agitation, faster breathing or you may lose consciousness.
Changes to your medication
If you are seizure free or your seizures are well controlled, a reduction in your dose, discontinuation or substitution of your current medication should first be assessed by your doctor and pharmacist, and any changes should be implemented gradually.
Effects on thoughts and behaviour
Medicines used to treat epilepsy can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour. If you experience feelings of deep sadness and unworthiness (depression) or a worsening of these feelings, any unusual changes in your mood or the emergence of suicidal thoughts, behaviour or thoughts of self-harm, you should report this to your doctor immediately.
Decreased sweating and elevation in body temperature
TOPAMAX 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.
Effects on driving and operating machinery
TOPAMAX may cause drowsiness, dizziness or other symptoms which could affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. It may also cause visual disturbances and/ or blurred vision. Make sure you know how you are affected by this medicine before you drive or use machinery.
Particular care is recommended when you first start taking TOPAMAX or if the amount of TOPAMAX or any other medicine you are taking is increased or decreased.
Effects of food and alcohol
TOPAMAX can be taken with or without food.
Do not drink alcohol while taking TOPAMAX. Alcohol may increase the risk of unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some side effects. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if any of the following continue or worry you:
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following as you may need medical attention:
Tell your doctor immediately if you have:
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.
Tablets
TOPAMAX tablets are available in blister packs of 60:
Capsules
TOPAMAX Sprinkle capsules are available in bottles of 60. The capsules consist of a clear cap and a white body. They contain white to off-white spheres.
Tablets
Capsules
JANSSEN-CILAG Pty Ltd
1-5 Khartoum Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Australia
Telephone: 1800 226 334
NZ Office: Auckland New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 800 806
Australian Registration Numbers:
TOPAMAX Tablets.
Blister packs:
25mg - 62709
50mg - 62710
100mg - 62711
200mg - 62712
TOPAMAX Sprinkle Capsules
Bottle:
15mg - 167729
25mg - 167730
50mg - 167731
This leaflet was prepared in March 2017
sku | 9317376731843 |
---|---|
Tax Class | Taxable Goods |
Refrigeration Required | No |
Manufacturer | Janssen-Cilag |
Poisons Schedule | S4 |
Flammable Goods | No |
Small orders (less than 500g) cost $7.70 to be delivered anywhere in Australia. For larger orders, shipping costs are calculated on distance and weight (leaving Sydney) and an exact price can be obtained in the shopping cart prior to checkout.
The Online Pharmacy offers Shipping DISCOUNT on orders over $150. A discount of $7.70 is automatically applied during checkout. Additional shipping costs for bulky goods or priority delivery are paid by the customer.
The weight limit for Australia Post is 22kg and orders that weigh more than this cannot be shipped. We recommend placing multiple smaller orders to work around this problem.
Please refer to our shipping page if you would like the full details regarding our shipping information.
The Online Pharmacy has a simple pricing structure for prescription medicines that does not involve the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The advertised price is available to anyone with a valid Australian prescription.
Please be aware that when a prescription is dispensed as a private prescription you do not receive any safety net contribution toward your PBS safety net.
Always read the label. Follow directions for use. If symptoms persist talk to your healthcare professional. This medicine may not be right for you. Read the warnings before purchase. The pharmacist reserves the right to not supply contrary to our professional and ethical obligation.
Ordering your prescription medication online is simple once you understand the process. Please refer to the following guide before ordering prescription medicines for the first time.