Course Summary
Topiramate is an anticonvulsant drug that has been approved for the treatment of various kinds of epilepsy. It has also been studied as a treatment for neurological and psychiatric disorders. The mechanisms by which topiramate acts as an anticonvulsant are not completely understood. The pharmacokinetic interactions of topiramate with other medications, especially other antiepileptics and medications affecting the central nervous system, should be understood and monitored when prescribing topiramate.
Course Format
Homestudy
Course Syllabus
- I. Introduction
- II. Pharmacological Profile
- 1. Drug Category
- 2. Mechanism of Action
- 3. Uses
- 4. Dosing: Adult
- 5. Dosing: Geriatric
- 6. Dosing Adjustment: Hepatic Impairment
- 7. Dosing Adjustment: Rental Impairment
- 8. Available Forms
- 9. Contraindications
- 10. US Boxed Warning
- 11. Warnings
- 12. Adverse Effects
- 13. Drug Interactions
- 14. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- III. Clinical Pearls: Topiramate
- 1. Monotherapy
- 2. Adjunctive Therapy
- 3. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
- 4. Migraine Headache
- IV. Topiramate Overdose
- 1. Treatment of Overdose
- V. Case Study
- 1. Discussion
- VI. Summary
Author
Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI
Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.