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drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol vs topiramate

Side-by-side comparison of drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol and topiramate. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampin, topiramate and products containing St.

Recommendation: Talk to your doctor about using a backup method of birth control, like condoms, while taking this medication.

Drug Class
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol Combined Oral Contraceptive
topiramate Anticonvulsant
Type
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol Prescription
topiramate Prescription
Summary
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

This medicine contains drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, which are hormones that prevent pregnancy. It also contains folate to help raise folate levels.

topiramate

Topiramate is a medicine that can help prevent seizures and migraines. It works by calming the brain.

What It Treats
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

This medicine can prevent pregnancy. It can also treat symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) if you also want birth control. This medicine can also treat moderate acne in women at least 14 years old who also want birth control.

topiramate

Topiramate can be used alone or with other medicines to treat certain types of seizures in people 2 years and older. These seizures include partial-onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It also treats seizures related to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Topiramate can also help prevent migraine headaches in people 12 years and older.

How It Works
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

This medicine prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). It also changes the lining of the uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant. The folate helps increase folate levels in the body.

topiramate

Topiramate works by reducing the excitability of brain cells. It also increases the activity of a brain chemical called GABA. These actions help to prevent seizures and migraines.

Common Side Effects
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol
  • Headache or migraine
  • Irregular periods
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Breast pain or tenderness
topiramate
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Speech problems
  • Tiredness
FAERS Reports
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol
  • Pain 13,037
  • Injury 10,860
  • Blood clot in the lungs 9,316
  • Blood clot in a deep vein 8,390
  • Anxiety 6,996
topiramate
  • Headache 6,464
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 5,710
  • Feeling very tired 5,292
  • Pain 4,486
  • Migraine headache 4,373
Serious Warnings
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems when using birth control pills. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke. Women over 35 who smoke should not use this medicine.

topiramate

Topiramate can cause serious side effects. It can cause vision problems, including sudden nearsightedness and glaucoma. It can decrease sweating and increase body temperature, especially in children. It can cause metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood). It may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. It can affect thinking and coordination. It can harm an unborn baby. It can decrease bone mineral density. It can slow growth in children. It can cause serious skin reactions. It can cause kidney stones. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. This medicine can reduce milk production while breastfeeding. If possible, use other birth control methods until you stop breastfeeding.

topiramate

Topiramate can harm your unborn baby. It may cause birth defects like cleft lip or cleft palate. It can also cause the baby to be smaller than normal. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking topiramate.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol vs topiramate Comparison

drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol is classified in the Combined Oral Contraceptive drug class, while topiramate sits within the Anticonvulsant class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol has 48,599 submissions while topiramate has 26,325. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to topiramate causes your body to process birth control hormones faster than normal. this can make the birth control pill less effective at preventing pregnancy.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol and topiramate - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.