Topamax (Topiramate) – a medicine for treating epilepsy
Topamax (Topiramate) is a new unique medication for treating epilepsy. It is used in adults and children above 2 years old in whom epilepsy is diagnosed for the first time. Topamax (Topiramate) is also used as an effective supplementary treatment for treating epilepsy associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (in adults and children). The minimal daily dose of Topamax (Topiramate) for adult patients who use it as a supplementary treatment in combination with other anti-seizure medicines is 200mg. The common daily dose of Topamax is 200-400mg, the frequency of taking is 2 times a day. It is recommended to start the treatment from 25-50 mg once a day within 1 week. Then the dose is increased by 25-50 mg with one or two week intervals till the right dose is achieved. The maximal daily dose of Topamax is 1600 mg. The criterion for adjustment of drug dosage is the clinical effect.
The recommended daily dose of Topamax (Topiramate) in combination with other anti-seizure medicines in children above 2 years old is 5-9 mg per 1 kg of body weight taken within two 2 times. Dose adjustment is started from 25 mg a day. This dose of Topamax is taken for night within a week. Then it could be increased.
Side effects of Topamax (Topiramate) vary from mild to moderate and are very rare. They might include dizziness, fatigue, distraction, mental confusion, thought disorder or sleepiness.