Two medicines, side by side
Brivaracetam vs topiramate
Brivaracetam and topiramate are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of brivaracetam since 2016 and of topiramate since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.259 per brivaracetam 100 mg tablet and $0.0567 per topiramate 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the brivaracetam FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 20, 2026); the topiramate FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026).
Highlights of the brivaracetam record
Brivaracetam (Briviact) · label of August 20, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsBRIVIACT is indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older. BRIVIACT is indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 18, 2016
- Generic labelers
- 16 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.259 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the topiramate record
Topiramate (Topamax) · label of June 1, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTopiramate is indicated for: Epilepsy: initial monotherapy for the treatment of partial-onset or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 2 years of age and older (1.1); adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, or seizures associated with Lennox- Gastaut syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older (1.2) Preventive treatment of migraine […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 24, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 47 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0567 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Brivaracetam label of August 20, 2026, Topiramate label of June 1, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do brivaracetam and topiramate differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Brivaracetam, “The precise mechanism by which BRIVIACT exerts its anticonvulsant activity is not known.”; Topiramate, “The precise mechanisms by which topiramate exerts its anticonvulsant and preventive migraine effects are unknown; however, preclinical studies have revealed four properties that may contribute to …”
Half-life, in each label's words: Brivaracetam, “The terminal plasma half-life (t 1/2 ) is approximately 9 hours.”; Topiramate, “The mean plasma elimination half-life is 21 hours after single or multiple doses.”
Generics: brivaracetam since 2022; topiramate since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: brivaracetam CV; topiramate none.
| Brivaracetam | Topiramate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Seizures and epilepsy | Seizures and epilepsy, Migraine |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | n/a |
| How it works (label) | The precise mechanism by which BRIVIACT exerts its anticonvulsant activity is not known. | The precise mechanisms by which topiramate exerts its anticonvulsant and preventive migraine effects are unknown; however, preclinical studies have revealed four properties that may contribute to topiramate's efficacy for epilepsy and the … |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal plasma half-life (t 1/2 ) is approximately 9 hours. | The mean plasma elimination half-life is 21 hours after single or multiple doses. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 18, 2016 | December 24, 1996 |
| First generic approved | June 9, 2022 | December 17, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 16 labelers | 47 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.259 per tablet (Brivaracetam 100 mg tablet) | $0.0567 per tablet (Topiramate 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 8,940 | 91,067 |
| DEA schedule | CV | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Topiramate label, drug interactionsBecause of the potential of topiramate to cause CNS depression, as well as other cognitive and/or neuropsychiatric adverse reactions, topiramate should be used with extreme caution if used in combination with alcohol and other CNS depressants.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to brivaracetam
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions