Tiagabine Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Tiagabine Tablet (tiagabine hydrochloride) is a prescription anticonvulsant that works as a GABA reuptake inhibitor. It is used along with other medicines to treat partial seizures in adults and children age 12 and older. It is taken with food, exactly as prescribed, and should not be stopped suddenly.

What is Tiagabine Tablet

Tiagabine is a prescription anti-seizure medicine (anticonvulsant) used along with other medicines to treat partial seizures in adults and children age 12 and older.

Tiagabine Tablet uses

• Treats partial-onset seizures in epilepsy.
• Used as an add-on treatment with other anti-seizure medicines.
• Helps manage seizures that begin in one area of the brain.
• Used when one anti-seizure medicine alone does not adequately control seizures.
• Supports ongoing treatment of difficult-to-control partial seizures.

Benefits of Tiagabine Tablet

• May reduce how often seizures occur.
• May improve seizure control when added to another medicine.
• May reduce interruptions to daily routines.
• May help maintain independence when seizures are controlled.
• May support safer participation in everyday activities.

How Tiagabine Tablet works

Tiagabine is thought to work by blocking the reabsorption (reuptake) of GABA, a brain chemical that calms nerve activity. This leaves more GABA available to calm overactive electrical signals in the brain, which helps prevent seizures.

Tiagabine Tablet dosage

Take tiagabine exactly as your healthcare provider tells you, and take it with food. Do not use a loading dose. Do not stop taking tiagabine suddenly without talking to your healthcare provider, since stopping suddenly can cause seizures that will not stop. If you miss a dose, do not take two doses at the same time; contact your healthcare provider if you miss more than one dose. Your dose may need to change if you start or stop other seizure medicines. Tiagabine is not recommended for children younger than 12 years old.

Available forms and strengths

• 2 mg tablet
• 4 mg tablet
• 12 mg tablet
• 16 mg tablet
• 20 mg tablet

Side effects of Tiagabine Tablet

Common

• Dizziness
• Lack of energy/weakness (asthenia)
• Drowsiness/somnolence
• Nausea
• Nervousness/irritability
• Tremor
• Stomach/abdominal pain
• Abnormal thinking
• Difficulty with concentration or attention
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Increased appetite

Serious

• Seizures that happen more often or get worse, including seizures in people who do not have epilepsy
• Suicidal thoughts or actions
• Trouble concentrating, problems with speech and language, confusion, extreme sleepiness, and problems thinking
• Weakness all over the body
• Eye and vision problems (including blurred or worsening vision)
• Serious skin rash
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, or hives
• Nonconvulsive or convulsive status epilepticus (seizures that do not stop)

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine may cause seizures, including seizures that do not stop, in people who do not have a seizure disorder.
• Like other antiepileptic drugs, this medicine can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in a small number of people.
• Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly, as this can cause serious problems including more frequent seizures or seizures that will not stop.
• This medicine can cause serious rash that, if extensive, can cause lasting harm or even death.
• This medicine has been linked to new onset seizures and status epilepticus even in people without epilepsy, sometimes at low doses, especially when combined with medicines that lower the seizure threshold.
• It is not known if tiagabine can harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant, and you and your provider will decide whether you should continue taking it. Pregnant patients can consider joining a pregnancy registry that tracks antiepileptic drug safety.
• It is not known if tiagabine passes into breast milk or if it can harm a nursing baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine.
• Because tiagabine is cleared from the body more slowly in people with liver disease, a lower dose may be needed. Tell your healthcare provider if you have liver problems before starting this medicine.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking tiagabine without first talking to your healthcare provider, since it may make sleepiness or dizziness worse.
• Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how this medicine affects you, since it can slow your thinking and motor skills.

Storage

• Store between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Keep out of light
• Keep dry
• Keep out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Call your healthcare provider right away if you have a seizure and are not taking this medicine for epilepsy.
• Call a healthcare provider right away if you have new or worsening thoughts of suicide or dying, suicide attempts, depression, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, aggression, acting on dangerous impulses, mania, or other unusual changes in mood or behavior.
• Call your healthcare provider right away if you have seizures that happen more often or get worse, trouble concentrating, speech or language problems, confusion, sleepiness, weakness all over your body, eye or vision problems, or a serious rash.
• If you take too much of this medicine, call your healthcare provider or local poison control center right away.

Alternatives

• Topiramate
• Lacosamide
• Levetiracetam