Table 4. Recommended Dosing and Administration Guide for Oral Antiepileptic Agents
Drug Initiating Dose Titrating Schedule/Usual dose Max Dose
Felbamate (divide dose TID or QID) Adults: 1.2 gm/day

Children: 15 mg/kg/day
Adults: Increase by 600 mg/day at 2W              intervals to 2.4 g/day
Children: Increase by 15 mg/kg/day at 1 W intervals
Adults:
3.6 gm/day

Children: 45 mg/kg/day
Gabapentin

Adults: 300 mg HS x 1,  then 300 mg TID

Children: 5- 15 mg/kg/day

 

Adults: 900-2,400 mg/day divided TID

Children: (3-12 years): 35-65 mg/kg/day divided TID

Adults:
4,800 mg/day

Children:
90 mg/kg/day

Lamotrigine (Dose must be titrated over 8 to 12W to decrease incidence of rash)

Adults:
1) 50 mg QD x 2W1,
then 50 mg BID or 2W
       or
2) 25 mg QOD x 2W, followed by 25 mg QD
x 2W2

Children:
1) 0.6 mg/kg/day x 2W, then 1.2 mg/kg/day x 2W1
      or
2) 0.15 mg/kg/day
(>6.7 to <14 kg, give 2 mg QOD) x 2W, then 0.3 mg/kg/day
(>14 kg give 2 mg/day)
x 2W2,
then 0.3 mg/kg/day

 

Adults:
Increase by 100 mg/day every 1-2W effective dose range is 300-500 mg divided BID1

Increase by 25-50 mg/day every 1-2W to maintenance dose of 200 mg QD2

Children:
Increase by 1.2 mg/kg/day every 1-2W, to an effective dose of 5-15 mg/kg/day QD or divided BID1

Increase by 0.3 mg/kg/day every 1-2W to effective dose of 1-5 mg/kg/day QD or divided BID2

Adults:
700 mg QD1
200 mg QD2

 

Children: 400mg/day1
200 mg/day2

Tiagabine Adults: 4 mg QD x 1W

Children (12 to 18 years):
4 mg QD x 1W
Adults: Increase by 4-8 mg at 1W intervals to a maintenance dose of 32-56 mg/day divided BID-QID

Children: Increase to 8 mg daily in 2 divided doses for 1W; then increase by 4-8 mg weekly to response
Adults: 56 mg/day

Children:
32 mg/day
Topiramate Adults: 25-50 mg/day
divided BID x 1W

Children: 1-3 mg/kg/day
Adults: Increase daily dose by 25-50 mg at 1W intervals to a maintenance dose of 200-400 mg/day divided BID

Children: 5-9 mg/kg/day divided BID

Adults: 800 mg/day

Children: 9 mg/kg/day

Oxcarbazepine Adults: 300 mg BID

Children: 8-10 mg/kg/day divided BID

Adults: 1,200 mg/day as add-on therapy and 2,400 mg/day as monotherapy divided BID

Children: Increase to maintenance dose over 2W; Maintenance dose dependent on weight

Adults: 2,400 mg/day

Children: 600 mg/day

Levetiracetam Adults: 1,000 mg/day divided BID Adults: Increase by 1,000 mg/day every 2W Adults:
3,000 mg/day
Zonisamide Adults: 100 mg QD x 2W Adults: Increase dose to 200 mg daily or  divided BID x 2W and further inreases by 100 mg daily in 2W intervals

Adults:
800 mg/day


QID = Four times a day; TID = Three times a day; BID = Two times a day; QD = Once a day; QOD = Every other day; HS = At bedtime; W = Week(s) 1 = with hepatic enzyme-inducing AEDs (no VPA); 2 = with VPA
**Note: Must consider patient-specific factors (e.g., weight, concomitant medications, hepatic function, renal function) when dosing oral antiepileptic agents.

 

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