Topamax (Page 11 of 12)

16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING

16.1 How Supplied

TOPAMAX ® Tablets

TOPAMAX ® (topiramate) Tablets are available as debossed, coated, round tablets in the following strengths and colors:

  • 25 mg cream tablet (debossed “OMN” on one side; “25” on the other) and are available in bottles of 60 count with desiccant (NDC 50458-639-65)
  • 50 mg light yellow tablet (debossed “OMN” on one side; “50” on the other) and are available in bottles of 60 count with desiccant (NDC 50458-640-65)
  • 100 mg yellow tablet (debossed “OMN” on one side; “100” on the other) and are available in bottles of 60 count with desiccant (NDC 50458-641-65)
  • 200 mg salmon tablet (debossed “OMN” on one side; “200” on the other) and are available in bottles of 60 count with desiccant (NDC 50458-642-65)

TOPAMAX ® Sprinkle Capsules

TOPAMAX ® (topiramate capsules) Sprinkle Capsules contain small, white to off-white spheres. The gelatin capsules are white and clear and are marked as follows:

  • 15 mg capsule with “TOP” and “15 mg” on the side and are available in bottles of 60 (NDC 50458-647-65)
  • 25 mg capsule with “TOP” and “25 mg” on the side and are available in bottles of 60 (NDC 50458-645-65)

16.2 Storage and Handling

TOPAMAX ® Tablets

TOPAMAX ® Tablets should be stored in tightly-closed containers at controlled room temperature (59° to 86°F, 15° to 30°C). Protect from moisture.

TOPAMAX ® Sprinkle Capsules

TOPAMAX ® Sprinkle Capsules should be stored in tightly-closed containers at or below 25°C (77°F). Protect from moisture.

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).

Eye Disorders

Instruct patients taking TOPAMAX ® to seek immediate medical attention if they experience blurred vision, visual disturbances, or periorbital pain [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1, 5.2)] .

Oligohidrosis and Hyperthermia

Closely monitor TOPAMAX ® -treated patients, especially pediatric patients, for evidence of decreased sweating and increased body temperature, especially in hot weather. Counsel patients to contact their healthcare professionals immediately if they develop a high or persistent fever, or decreased sweating [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] .

Metabolic Acidosis

Warn patients 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 (5.4), Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] .

Suicidal Behavior and Ideation

Counsel patients, their caregivers, and families that AEDs, including TOPAMAX ® , may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, and advise 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. Instruct patients to immediately report behaviors of concern to their healthcare providers [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] .

Interference with Cognitive and Motor Performance

Warn patients about the potential for somnolence, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, or visual effects, and advise patients not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on TOPAMAX ® to gauge whether it adversely affects their mental performance, motor performance, and/or vision [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)] .

Even when taking TOPAMAX ® or other anticonvulsants, some patients with epilepsy will continue to have unpredictable seizures. Therefore, advise all patients taking TOPAMAX ® for epilepsy 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. Discuss the appropriate level of caution with patients, before patients with epilepsy engage in such activities.

Fetal Toxicity

Inform pregnant women and women of childbearing potential that use of TOPAMAX ® during pregnancy can cause fetal harm. TOPAMAX ® increases the risk of major congenital malformations, including but not limited to cleft lip and/or cleft palate (oral clefts), which occur early in pregnancy before many women know they are pregnant. Also inform patients that infants exposed to topiramate monotherapy in utero may be SGA [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] . There may also be risks to the fetus from chronic metabolic acidosis with use of TOPAMAX ® during pregnancy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7), Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] . When appropriate, counsel pregnant women and women of childbearing potential about alternative therapeutic options.

Advise women of childbearing potential who are not planning a pregnancy to use effective contraception while using TOPAMAX ® , keeping in mind that there is a potential for decreased contraceptive efficacy when using estrogen-containing or progestin-only contraceptives with topiramate [see Drug Interactions (7.4)] .

Encourage pregnant women using TOPAMAX ® , to enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The registry is collecting information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] .

Decrease in Bone Mineral Density

Inform the patient or caregiver that long-term treatment with TOPAMAX ® can decrease bone formation and increase bone resorption in children [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)].

Negative Effects on Growth (Height and Weight)

Discuss with the patient or caregiver that long-term TOPAMAX ® treatment may attenuate growth as reflected by slower height increase and weight gain in pediatric patients [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)].

Serious Skin Reactions

Inform patients about the signs of serious skin reactions. Instruct patients to immediately inform their healthcare provider at the first appearance of skin rash [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11)] .

Hyperammonemia and Encephalopathy

Warn patients 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 and/or vomiting. This hyperammonemia and encephalopathy can develop with TOPAMAX ® treatment alone or with TOPAMAX ® treatment with concomitant valproic acid (VPA).

Instruct patients to contact their physician if they develop unexplained lethargy, vomiting, or changes in mental status [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12)].

Kidney Stones

Instruct patients, particularly those with predisposing factors, to maintain an adequate fluid intake in order to minimize the risk of kidney stone formation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13)].

Instructions for a Missing Dose

Instruct patients that if they miss a single dose of TOPAMAX ® , it should be taken as soon as possible. However, if a patient is within 6 hours of taking the next scheduled dose, tell the patient to wait until then to take the usual dose of TOPAMAX ® , and to skip the missed dose. Tell patients that they should not take a double dose in the event of a missed dose. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they have missed more than one dose.

Manufactured by:

Janssen Ortho LLC

Gurabo, Puerto Rico 00778

Manufactured for:

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Titusville, NJ 08560, USA

© 2009 Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies

MEDICATION GUIDE TOPAMAX ® (TOE-PA-MAX) (topiramate) TABLETS, for oral use TOPAMAX ® (TOE-PA-MAX) (topiramate capsules) SPRINKLE CAPSULES, for oral use
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Revised:5/2023
What is the most important information I should know about TOPAMAX? TOPAMAX 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, including any new problems with your vision.
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. If a high fever, a fever that does not go away, or decreased sweating develops, call your healthcare provider right away. TOPAMAX 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 TOPAMAX. If you are pregnant, you should talk to your healthcare provider about whether you have metabolic acidosis. Like other antiepileptic drugs, TOPAMAX 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 TOPAMAX without first talking to a healthcare provider.
  • Stopping TOPAMAX 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.
TOPAMAX can harm your unborn baby.
  • If you take TOPAMAX during pregnancy, your baby has a higher risk for birth defects including cleft lip and cleft palate. These defects can begin early in pregnancy, even before you know you are pregnant.
  • Birth defects 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 TOPAMAX. If the decision is made to use TOPAMAX, 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 TOPAMAX.
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking TOPAMAX. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will continue to take TOPAMAX while you are pregnant.
  • If you take TOPAMAX during pregnancy, your baby may be smaller than expected at birth. The long-term effects of this are not known. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about this risk during pregnancy.
  • Metabolic acidosis may have harmful effects on your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if TOPAMAX has caused metabolic acidosis during your pregnancy.
  • Pregnancy Registry: If you become pregnant while taking TOPAMAX, 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 TOPAMAX and other antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
TOPAMAX may decrease the density of bones when used over a long period. TOPAMAX may slow height increase and weight gain in children and adolescents when used over a long period.
What is TOPAMAX? TOPAMAX is a prescription medicine used:
  • to treat certain types of seizures (partial-onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures) in adults and children 2 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,
  • to prevent migraine headaches in adults and adolescents 12 years and older.
Before taking TOPAMAX, tell your healthcare provider about all of 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 or plan to breastfeed. TOPAMAX passes into breast milk. Breastfed babies may be sleepy or have diarrhea. It is not known if the TOPAMAX that passes into breast milk can cause other serious harm to your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take TOPAMAX.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TOPAMAX 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 that contains hormones (such as pills, implants, patches or injections). TOPAMAX may make your birth control less effective. Tell your healthcare provider if your menstrual bleeding changes while you are using birth control and TOPAMAX.
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 TOPAMAX?
  • Take TOPAMAX exactly as prescribed.
  • Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider.
  • Take TOPAMAX Tablets whole. Do not chew the tablets. They may leave a bitter taste.
  • TOPAMAX Sprinkle Capsules may be swallowed whole or may be opened and sprinkled on a teaspoon of soft food. Drink fluids right after eating the food and medicine mixture to make sure it is all swallowed. Do not chew the food and medicine mixture.
  • Do not store any medicine and food mixture for later use.
  • TOPAMAX can be taken before, during, or after a meal. Drink plenty of fluids during the day. This may help prevent kidney stones while taking TOPAMAX.
  • If you take too much TOPAMAX, call your healthcare provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room.
  • 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 provider for advice.
  • Do not stop taking TOPAMAX without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping TOPAMAX suddenly may cause serious problems. If you have epilepsy and you stop taking TOPAMAX suddenly, you may have seizures that do not stop. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to stop taking TOPAMAX slowly.
  • Your healthcare provider may do blood tests while you take TOPAMAX.
What should I avoid while taking TOPAMAX?
  • You should not drink alcohol while taking TOPAMAX. TOPAMAX and alcohol can affect each other causing side effects such as sleepiness and dizziness.
  • Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how TOPAMAX affects you. TOPAMAX can slow your thinking and motor skills, and may affect vision.
What are the possible side effects of TOPAMAX? TOPAMAX may cause serious side effects including: See ” What is the most important information I should know about TOPAMAX?
  • 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 TOPAMAX is taken with a medicine called valproic acid (DEPAKENE and DEPAKOTE).
  • Effects on thinking and alertness. TOPAMAX may affect how you think and cause confusion, problems with concentration, attention, memory, or speech. TOPAMAX may cause depression or mood problems, tiredness, and sleepiness.
  • Dizziness or loss of muscle coordination.
  • Serious skin reactions. TOPAMAX may cause a severe rash with blisters and peeling skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). TOPAMAX may also cause a rash with blisters and peeling skin over much of the body that may cause death (toxic epidermal necrolysis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a skin rash or blisters.
  • Kidney stones. Drink plenty of fluids when taking TOPAMAX to decrease your chances of getting kidney stones.
  • Low body temperature. Taking TOPAMAX when you are also taking valproic acid can cause a drop in body temperature to less than 95°F, or can cause tiredness, confusion, or coma.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms above. The most common side effects of TOPAMAX 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
  • speech problems
  • tiredness
  • dizziness
  • sleepiness/drowsiness
  • slow reactions
  • difficulty with memory
  • pain in the abdomen
  • fever
  • abnormal vision
  • decreased feeling or sensitivity, especially in the skin
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 TOPAMAX. 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 Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-JANSSEN (1-800-526-7736).
How should I store TOPAMAX?
  • Store TOPAMAX Tablets at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
  • Store TOPAMAX Sprinkle Capsules at or below 77°F (25°C).
  • Keep TOPAMAX in a tightly closed container.
  • Keep TOPAMAX dry and away from moisture.
Keep TOPAMAX and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about the safe and effective use of TOPAMAX. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use TOPAMAX for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give TOPAMAX to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about TOPAMAX that is written for health professionals.
What are the ingredients in TOPAMAX? Active ingredient: topiramate Inactive ingredients:
  • Tablets – carnauba wax, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, pregelatinized starch, purified water, sodium starch glycolate, synthetic iron oxide, and titanium dioxide.
  • Sprinkle Capsules – black pharmaceutical ink, cellulose acetate, gelatin, povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, sorbitan monolaurate, sugar spheres (sucrose and starch) and titanium dioxide.
Manufactured by: Janssen Ortho LLC, Guarabo, Puerto Rico 00778; Manufactured for: Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Titusville, NJ 08560, USA © 2009 Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies For more information, go to www.topamax.com or call 1-800-JANSSEN (1-800-526-7736).

All MedLibrary.org resources are included in as near-original form as possible, meaning that the information from the original provider has been rendered here with only typographical or stylistic modifications and not with any substantive alterations of content, meaning or intent.

This site is provided for educational and informational purposes only, in accordance with our Terms of Use, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a medical doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner or other qualified health professional.

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.