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Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador
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| Drug Alert Notices | |
Children Taking the Anti-Epileptic Drug Topamax (topiramate) May Develop Kidney Stones
Children taking the anti-epileptic drug topiramate may develop kidney stones, according to a new study.
Researchers at Tufts University studied 40 children given topiramate to treat their epilepsy between 1997 and 2003. Test to analyse the levels of calcuim and creatine in the urine were taken, both at the start of the study and at a later date.
Seven of the 40 children have "high levels of calcium" at the start of the trial and of these three developed kidney stones or nephrocalcinosis found on ultrasound. When compared to the normal group, the seven showed a greater increase in the rate of change in levels of calcium and creatine.
However, lead author and paediatric neurologist Dr Sarah Barnett, presenting the research to the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology, said that despite the appearance of kidney stones in these children, some as young as 18 months, she still considered topiramate to still be the "drug of choice" for seizure disorders, but cautioned that children on topiramate must be followed closely.
She said:
"In adults, only 1.5 per cent had evidence on ultrasound of kidney stones, but it's almost 10 per cent in kids. This is a new anti-epileptic drug and does really well in controlling seizures that are not controlled well by traditional medications... It was a serendipitous finding, something picked up by our nephrologists working with neurologists. We just found we were sending a lot of these kids over to nephrology for help managing kidney stones."
"When we took the kids off the drug, [the effect] was totally reversible. We did another renal ultrasound and the stone had gone. So some we took off the drug and found another, or we brought down the dosage. Basically, we were just vigilant and watched the calcium levels and did periodic ultrasounds."
Dr Barnett and her colleagues now plan to do further studies on topiramate and kidney stones.
Epilepsy Action News, December 3, 2003
Disclaimer
The materials contained on the Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador website are to provide general information about epilepsy to the public. The information presented is not intended as medical or legal advice. Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador, its employees, board members, medical advisors, volunteers, agents and sponsors do not assume responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions or for the consequences from the use of the information obtained over this site or any links accessed through this site. Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador is not liable for any outcome or damages resulting from information in either a direct or indirect form. We recognize that each individual's experience of epilepsy is different. Consult your physician and/or neurologist with any questions you have.
People with epilepsy should never discontinue anti-epileptic medications or make changes in activities unless specifically advised to do so by an attending physician.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others and use this medication only for the condition prescribed.
