6 Interactions found for:

The following applies to the ingredients: Topiramate (found in Topamax)

Professional Content

Use only if clearly needed and benefit outweighs potential risk

AU TGA pregnancy category: D
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned

Risk Summary: This drug can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Data from a pregnancy registry and several epidemiologic studies have shown that infants exposed in utero have an increased risk for cleft lip and/or cleft palate (oral clefts) and for being small for gestational age; in multiple animal species, this drug has demonstrated developmental toxicity, including increased incidences of fetal malformations at clinically relevant doses.

Comments:
-If a patient becomes pregnant during therapy, she should be informed of the potential hazard to her fetus; women of childbearing potential should be counseled on the use effective contraception.
-Women of childbearing potential on antiepileptic drug therapy should receive pregnancy counseling regarding the risk of fetal abnormalities. Generally, antiepileptic therapy should be continued during pregnancy, with monotherapy at the lowest effective dose whenever possible. Folic acid supplementation (5 mg) should be commenced four weeks prior to and continued for 12 weeks after conception. Women should be followed by a specialist and offered detailed mid-trimester ultrasound.
-Pregnancy Registry: The North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry collects information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy; enrollment information: toll-free 1-888-233-2334 or http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/

Animal studies in multiple species of animals have revealed evidence of developmental toxicity. Topiramate has shown teratogenicity in mice, rats, and rabbits. In humans, clinical data from a pregnancy registry and several epidemiologic studies have shown infants exposed during the first trimester have an increased incidence of major congenital malformations compared with a reference group not taking antiepileptic drugs (AED). Infants exposed in utero have an increased risk for cleft lip and/or cleft palate (oral clefts) and for being small for gestational age (SGA). SGA has been observed at all doses and appears to be dose-dependent. The prevalence of SGA is greater in infants of women who received higher doses of topiramate during pregnancy. In addition, the prevalence of SGA in infants of women who continued topiramate use until later in pregnancy is higher compared to the prevalence in infants of women who stopped before the third trimester. This drug can cause metabolic acidosis. The effect of topiramate-induced metabolic acidosis has not been studied in pregnancy; however, metabolic acidosis in pregnancy (due to other causes) can cause decreased fetal growth, decreased fetal oxygenation, and fetal death, and may affect the ability of the fetus to tolerate labor. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

AU TGA pregnancy category D: Drugs which have caused, are suspected to have caused or may be expected to cause, an increased incidence of human fetal malformations or irreversible damage. These drugs may also have adverse pharmacological effects. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D and X are being phased out.

The following applies to the ingredients: Metformin

Professional Content

Benefit should outweigh risk

AU TGA pregnancy category: C
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned

Risk Summary: Data are not sufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects or miscarriage; published studies have not reported an increased risk. There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy.

Comments:
-Maternal glucose levels should be well controlled prior to conception and throughout pregnancy to avoid maternal and fetal diabetes-associated risks.
-Premenopausal women should understand the potential for unintended pregnancy with use of this drug as ovulation may occur in some anovulatory women.

Animal studies do not indicate harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryo or fetal development, birth or postnatal development. Poorly-controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, pre-eclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, stillbirth and delivery complications. Poorly controlled maternal diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, stillbirth, and macrosomia related morbidity. Published evidence suggests this drug has a good safety profile in women with no increased long-term effects in offspring up to 18 months; however, much of the evidence is from observational, small, and/or nonrandomized studies, and therefore data must be interpreted cautiously.

Many experts continue to recommend insulin as the drug of choice for type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes when diet alone is unsuccessful in controlling blood sugars. The estimated background risk for major birth defects in women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus with an HbA1C greater than 7 is 6% to 10% and for women with a HbA1C greater than 10, this risk has been reported to be as high as 20% to 25%. In the US, the estimated risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. The estimated risk of miscarriage for pregnant women with diabetes is unknown. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

AU TGA pregnancy category C: Drugs which, owing to their pharmacological effects, have caused or may be suspected of causing, harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations. These effects may be reversible. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

The following applies to the ingredients: Topiramate (found in Topamax)

Professional Content

Benefit should outweigh risk

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for this drug and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from this drug or from the underlying maternal condition.
-If this drug is used during breastfeeding, monitor breastfed infant for diarrhea, drowsiness, adequate weight gain, and developmental milestones, especially younger, exclusively breastfed infants.
-Some authorities recommend avoiding breastfeeding during therapy with this drug.

Limited data in women with epilepsy have shown drug levels in milk similar to those in maternal plasma. The excretion of topiramate has not been evaluated in controlled studies.

The following applies to the ingredients: Metformin

Professional Content

Benefit should outweigh risk

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-Available data have not reported adverse effects in breastfed infants, however, this data is limited.
-Due to this limited data, product manufacturers recommend a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, considering the importance of the drug to the mother.
-Published data suggest this drug is compatible with breastfeeding; they recommend caution when nursing a newborn or premature infant, and those with renal impairment.

Drug levels are expected to be 0.5% (range 0.11% to 1%) of the mother's weight-adjusted dosage and milk/plasma ratio range between 0.13 and 1. Since milk levels are expected to be relatively constant, timing of breastfeeding with drug administration is expected to be of little benefit. One large prospective study found no adverse effects in breastfed infants. Low detectable serum levels were found in some breastfed infants.