The dosage of Aptiom medication is based on the response to treatment and tolerability of side effects, rather than on medication levels in the blood as with some other anti-seizure medications. Any dose increases should be separated by at least one week.
Aptiom may be used alone or in combination with other anti-seizure medications. The dose of Aptiom may have to be increased when it is used in combination with some other anti-seizure medications, such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and primidone.
For adults, Aptiom is usually started at a dose of 400 mg once a day. After one week the dose is usually increased to 800 mg once daily, which is the recommended maintenance dosage. If necessary, the dose may be further increased after one week. The maximum recommended dose is 1,200 mg once a day.
For people with moderate to severe kidney impairment, the dose is usually halved, so that the starting dose is 200 mg once a day, increased after one week to 400 mg once a day, and with a maximum daily dose of 600 mg once a day.
For children ages 4 to 17, the dose is based on body weight. As with adults, the medication is given once a day, and should not be increased more frequently than once a week. Aptiom is not available in a suspension for children.