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hydrochlorothiazide vs topiramate

Side-by-side comparison of hydrochlorothiazide 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

7.5 Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) Topiramate C max and AUC increased when HCTZ was added to topiramate.

Recommendation: Your doctor may need to adjust your topiramate dose or monitor you more closely for side effects.

Drug Class
hydrochlorothiazide Thiazide Diuretic
topiramate Anticonvulsant
Type
hydrochlorothiazide Prescription
topiramate Prescription
Summary
hydrochlorothiazide

No summary available.

topiramate

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

What It Treats
hydrochlorothiazide

Information not available.

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
hydrochlorothiazide

Information not available.

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
hydrochlorothiazide
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Fatigue
topiramate
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Speech problems
  • Tiredness
FAERS Reports
hydrochlorothiazide
  • Tiredness 10,013
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 9,706
  • Loose stools 8,311
  • Discomfort 7,665
  • Difficulty breathing 7,584
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
hydrochlorothiazide

No specific warnings noted.

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
hydrochlorothiazide

No pregnancy information available.

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 hydrochlorothiazide vs topiramate Comparison

hydrochlorothiazide is classified in the Thiazide Diuretic 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, hydrochlorothiazide has 43,279 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 adding this water pill can cause the levels of topiramate in your blood to increase.. 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 hydrochlorothiazide 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.