6/23/08 - Topamax dosage for two-year-old child with seizures?

Full Question:

The dosage of Topamax for a 2 year old?

2 year old having seizures dosage 15 mg was instructed by doctor.
 

Answer:

Dear ganma2005;

I'm sorry, but nobody on this site is qualified to answer questions regarding dosages for seizures. If there's a question of dosage, the child's doctor is the best person to answer it. If there is doubt after that discussion, a second opinion from another doctor is in order.

I can, however, give you some basic information from the prescribing information for Topamax. This might help you in your discussion with the child's doctor...

"Pediatric Patients (Ages 2-16 Years) - Partial Seizures, Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures, or Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

 

The recommended total daily dose of TOPAMAX® (topiramate) as adjunctive therapy for patients with partial seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, or seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is approximately 5 to 9 mg/kg/day in two divided doses. Titration should begin at 25 mg (or less, based on a range of 1 to 3 mg/kg/day) nightly for the first week. The dosage should then be increased at 1- or 2-week intervals by increments of 1 to 3 mg/kg/day (administered in two divided doses), to achieve optimal clinical response. Dose titration should be guided by clinical outcome.

 

In the study of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures the initial titration rate was slower than in previous studies; the assigned dose of 6 mg/kg/day was reached at the end of 8 weeks..."

That said, I would encourage any parent to talk with their child's doctor about all options before going with Topamax. Topamax has some very serious potential side effects, and a child so young is too young to notice and tell their parents about side effects. If this were my child, Topamax would not even be considered until all other options had been exhausted. If you'd like more information about Topamax and its potential side effects, please see our Topamax info section.

Good luck,
John Claude Krusz and Teri Robert

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