Eprontia: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings - Drugs.com

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# Eprontia

Generic name: topiramate
Dosage form: oral solution
Drug class: Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor anticonvulsants

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 8, 2021.

## What is Eprontia?

Eprontia 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.

## Important information

Eprontia 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.

Eprontia 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.
Eprontia 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 Eprontia. If you are pregnant, you should talk to your healthcare provider about whether you have metabolic acidosis.
Like other antiepileptic drugs, Eprontia 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
- new or worse depression
- feeling agitated or restless
- trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
- an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
- attempts to commit suicide
- new or worse anxiety
- panic attacks
- new or worse irritability
- acting on dangerous impulses
- other unusual changes in behavior or mood

Do not stop Eprontia without first talking to a healthcare provider.

- Stopping Eprontia 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.

Eprontia can harm your unborn baby.

- If you take Eprontia during pregnancy, your baby has a higher risk for birth defects called cleft lip and cleft palate. These defects can begin early in pregnancy, even before you know you are pregnant.
- Cleft lip and cleft palate 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 Eprontia. If the decision is made to use Eprontia, you should use effective birth control (contraception) unless you are planning to become pregnant. You should talk to your healthcare provider about the best kind of birth control to use while you are taking Eprontia.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking Eprontia. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will continue to take Eprontia while you are pregnant.
- If you take Eprontia 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 Eprontia has caused metabolic acidosis during your pregnancy.

Pregnancy Registry: If you become pregnant while taking Eprontia, 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 Eprontia and other antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.

## Related/similar drugs

Qulipta, gabapentin, clonazepam, propranolol, atenolol, lamotrigine, diazepam

## Before taking Eprontia

Before taking Eprontia, 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. Eprontia passes into breast milk. Breastfed babies may be sleepy or have diarrhea. It is not known if the Eprontia 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 Eprontia.

Eprontia pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (more detail)

## What other drugs will affect Eprontia?

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Eprontia and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

- Valproic acid (such as Depakote).
- any medicines that impair or decrease your thinking, concentration, or muscle coordination.
- birth control pills. Eprontia may make your birth control pills less effective. Tell your healthcare provider if your menstrual bleeding changes while you are taking birth control pills and Eprontia.

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.

Eprontia drug interactions (more detail)

## How should I take Eprontia?

- Take Eprontia Oral Solution exactly as prescribed.
- Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider.
- Eprontia can be taken with or without food. Drink plenty of fluids during the day. This may help prevent kidney stones.
- Take Eprontia using a marked (calibrated) measuring device. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a measuring device and for instructions on how to measure the correct dose. Do not use a household teaspoon or tablespoon.
- If you take too much or overdose, call your healthcare provider right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
- If you miss a single dose, 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, and skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose. If you have missed more than 1 dose, you should call your healthcare provider for advice.
- Do not stop taking Eprontia without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping treatment suddenly may cause serious problems. If you have epilepsy and you stop taking Eprontia suddenly, you may have seizures that do not stop. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to stop taking Eprontia slowly.

Your healthcare provider may do blood tests while you take Eprontia.

## Dosing information

Usual dose for Epilepsy Monotherapy in Adults and Pediatric Patients (10 years of age and older)

The recommended dose for Eprontia monotherapy in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older is 400 mg/day in two divided doses. The dose should be achieved by titration according to the following schedule:

| Morning Dose | Evening Dose
Week 1 | 25 mg | 25 mg
Week 2 | 50 mg | 50 mg
Week 3 | 75 mg | 75 mg
Week 4 | 100 mg | 100 mg
Week 5 | 150 mg | 150 mg
Week 6 | 200 mg | 200 mg

Usual dose for Epilepsy Monotherapy in Pediatric Patients (2 to 9 Years of Age)

Dosing in patients 2 to 9 years of age is based on weight. During the titration period, the initial dose of Eprontia is 25 mg/day nightly for the first week. Based upon tolerability, the dosage can be increased to 50 mg/day (25 mg twice daily) in the second week. Dosage can be increased by 25–50 mg/day each subsequent week as tolerated. Titration to the minimum maintenance dose should be attempted over 5–7 weeks of the total titration period. Based upon tolerability and clinical response, additional titration to a higher dose (up to the maximum maintenance dose) can be attempted at 25–50 mg/day weekly increments. The total daily dose should not exceed the maximum maintenance dose for each range of body weight.

Weight (kg) | Total Daily Dose (mg/day)* Minimum Maintenance Dose | Total Daily Dose (mg/day)* Maximum Maintenance Dose
Up to 11 | 150 | 250
12-22 | 200 | 300
23-31 | 200 | 350
32-38 | 250 | 350
Greater than 38 | 250 | 400

* Administered in two equally divided doses

Usual dose for Epilepsy Adjunctive Therapy in Adults (17 Years of Age and Older)

The recommended total daily dose of Eprontia as adjunctive therapy in adults with partial onset seizures or Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome is 200 to 400 mg/day in two divided doses, and 400 mg/day in two divided doses as adjunctive treatment in adults with primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Eprontia should be initiated at 25 to 50 mg/day, followed by titration to an effective dose in increments of 25 to 50 mg/day every week. Titrating in increments of 25 mg/day every week may delay the time to reach an effective dose. Doses above 400 mg/day have not been shown to improve responses in adults with partial-onset seizures.

Usual dose for Epilepsy Adjunctive Therapy in Pediatric Patients (2 to 16 Years of Age)

The recommended total daily dose of Eprontia as adjunctive therapy for pediatric patients 2 to 16 years of age with partial-onset 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/day (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. The total daily dose should not exceed 400 mg/day.

Usual dose for Preventive Treatment of Migraine

The recommended total daily dose of Eprontia as treatment for patients 12 years of age and older for the preventive treatment of migraine is 100 mg/day administered in two divided doses. The recommended titration rate for Eprontia for the preventive treatment of migraine is as follows:

| Morning Dose | Evening Dose
Week 1 | None | 25 mg
Week 2 | 25 mg | 25 mg
Week 3 | 25 mg | 50 mg
Week 4 | 50 mg | 50 mg

Dose and titration rate should be guided by clinical outcome. If required, longer intervals between dose adjustments can be used.

Detailed Eprontia dosage information

## What should I avoid while taking Eprontia?

- You should not drink alcohol while taking Eprontia. Eprontia 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 Eprontia affects you. Eprontia can slow your thinking and motor skills and may affect vision.

## Eprontia side effects

Eprontia may cause serious side effects including:
See Important information

- 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 Eprontia is taken with a medicine called valproic acid (Depakote). Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop unexplained tiredness, vomiting, slowing of your thinking or reaction time, or changes in your mental activities.
- Effects on thinking and alertness. Eprontia may affect how you think and cause confusion, problems with concentration, attention, memory, or speech. Eprontia may cause depression or mood problems, tiredness, and sleepiness.
- Dizziness or loss of muscle coordination.
- Serious skin reactions. Eprontia may cause a severe rash with blisters and peeling skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Eprontia 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 Eprontia to decrease your chances of getting kidney stones.
- Low body temperature. Taking Eprontia 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 include:

- tingling of the arms and legs nervousness slow reactions (paresthesia)
- nausea
- diarrhea
- nervousness
- speech problems
- dizziness
- slow reactions
- pain in the abdomen
- decreased feeling or sensitivity, especially in the skin
- not feeling hungry
- a change in the way foods taste
- weight loss
- upper respiratory tract infection
- tiredness
- sleepiness/drowsiness
- difficulty with memory
- fever
- abnormal vision

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 Eprontia. 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 Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-855-379-0383.

Eprontia side effects (more detail)

## How should I store Eprontia?

- Store Eprontia at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
- Throw away (discard) unused portion 30 days after first opening.
- Avoid freezing and excessive heat.
- Keep container tightly closed

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children and pets.

## General information about the safe and effective use of Eprontia.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use this medicine for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give it 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 that is written for health professionals.

## What are the ingredients in Eprontia?

Active ingredient: Topiramate
Inactive ingredients: glycerin, methylparaben, mixed berry flavor, polyethylene glycol, propylparaben, and sucralose.

## Popular FAQ

Does this drug cause weight loss?

Yes, topiramate (Topamax) has been shown to cause weight loss when used for both seizure control and migraine prevention. Topiramate by itself is not specifically approved by the FDA for weight loss, but is used in an "off-label" fashion for this condition. Qsymia, an extended-release medicine that contains phentermine and topiramate, is FDA approved for weight loss, along with diet and exercise. Continue reading

Does topiramate cause hair loss?

Yes, topiramate has been shown to cause hair loss in studies, but it is not a common side effect. Hair loss (also called alopecia) has been reported in 1% to 4% of children ages 6 to 16 years of age, and in 3% to 4% of patients older than 16 years of age. Higher daily doses (400 mg/day) of topiramate were associated with greater rates of hair loss than lower doses (50 mg/day) in both age groups. Continue reading

How long do you stay on Topamax for migraines?

You can usually stay on Topamax (topiramate) to help prevent your migraine headaches as long as the treatment is needed and remains safe for you. You and your doctor will decide how long you stay on treatment. This will be based on how well it is working for you and any side effects you may experience. Continue reading

How long does it take for Topamax to start working?

It may take 8 to 12 weeks for you to see the full effect of Topamax on your migraine headaches. In clinical studies, some people had fewer headaches after 4 weeks of treatment. In the treatment of epilepsy, Topamax is also started slowly and the dose is increased over a 6-week period. Continue reading

How long does Topamax stay in your system?

Topamax stays in your system for approximately 4 to 5 days after the last dose, but this may vary depending on personal factors, such as your age, weight, dosage, and what other medications you currently take. This estimate is based on the half-life of Topamax which is about 21 hours and experts agree that it takes up to 5 half-lives for a drug without active metabolites to be completely removed from the body. A drug’s half-life is the time it takes for 50% of that drug to be removed from the body. Topamax does have some metabolites, but these are not considered active and only make up about 5% of an administered dose. This means it takes 84 to 105 hours for Topamax to leave your body. Continue reading

How does Trokendi XR help with weight loss?

Trokendi (topiramate) XR can lead to weight loss when used for prevention of migraine headaches or seizures, but it is not approved as a weight loss medicine. Loss of appetite and other digestive issues, which may contribute to weight loss, have been reported in topiramate studies. Continue reading

### More FAQ

- What not to take with topiramate?

## More about Eprontia (topiramate)

- Check interactions
- Pricing & coupons
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- FDA approval history
- Drug class: carbonic anhydrase inhibitor anticonvulsants
- Breastfeeding

### Patient resources

#### Other brands

Topamax, Trokendi XR, Topiragen, Qudexy XR

### Professional resources

- Prescribing Information

### Related treatment guides

- Migraine Prevention
- Epilepsy
- Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
- Seizures

## Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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