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medroxyprogesterone vs topiramate

Side-by-side comparison of medroxyprogesterone 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

John’s wort topiramate HIV protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors : Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma levels of progestin have been noted in some cases of coadministration of HIV protease inhibitors.

Recommendation: You should use a backup form of birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking these drugs together.

Drug Class
medroxyprogesterone Progestogen
topiramate Anticonvulsant
Type
medroxyprogesterone Prescription
topiramate Prescription
Summary
medroxyprogesterone

Medroxyprogesterone acetate injection is a medicine used to prevent pregnancy in women. It is given as a shot every 3 months.

topiramate

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

What It Treats
medroxyprogesterone

This medicine is used to prevent pregnancy in women who are able to have children. It works by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). It is not recommended for long-term use (more than 2 years) unless other birth control options are not good enough for you.

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
medroxyprogesterone

This medicine is a progestin, a synthetic form of the natural hormone progesterone. It prevents pregnancy mainly by stopping the release of an egg from your ovary. It also changes the lining of the uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant.

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
medroxyprogesterone
  • Irregular periods or spotting
  • No periods
  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Weight gain (more than 10 pounds)
  • Dizziness
topiramate
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Speech problems
  • Tiredness
FAERS Reports
medroxyprogesterone
  • Breast cancer in women 9,772
  • Breast cancer 8,167
  • Brain tumor (meningioma) 1,680
  • Breast cancer that has spread 1,385
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,039
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
medroxyprogesterone

This medicine can cause you to lose bone mineral density. The longer you use it, the more bone density you may lose. It is not known if this bone loss can be fully reversed. Using this medicine as a teenager or young adult may reduce your peak bone mass and increase your risk of osteoporosis later in life. Because of this risk, it is not recommended for long-term use (longer than 2 years) unless other birth control options are not adequate.

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
medroxyprogesterone

You should not use this medicine if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Small amounts of this medicine can pass into breast milk.

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 medroxyprogesterone vs topiramate Comparison

medroxyprogesterone is classified in the Progestogen 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, medroxyprogesterone has 22,043 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 can cause the levels of medroxyprogesterone in your blood to change significantly.. 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 medroxyprogesterone 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.