Two medicines, side by side
Sumatriptan vs topiramate
Sumatriptan and topiramate are both labeled for migraine. Drugs@FDA records approvals of sumatriptan since 1992 and of topiramate since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.302 per sumatriptan succ 50 mg tablet and $0.0567 per topiramate 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Sumatriptan's other strengths are brand-only: $108.22 per unit (Tosymra 10 mg nasal spray).
Check it at the source: the sumatriptan FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the topiramate FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026).
Highlights of the sumatriptan record
Sumatriptan (Imitrex) · label of May 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsSumatriptan tablets are indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Limitations of Use: Use only if a clear diagnosis of migraine headache has been established. If a patient has no response to the first migraine attack treated with sumatriptan tablets, reconsider the diagnosis of migraine before sumatriptan tablets are administered to treat any subsequent attacks. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 28, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 39 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.302 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
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 (Sumatriptan label of May 12, 2026, Topiramate label of June 1, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do sumatriptan and topiramate differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Sumatriptan, “Sumatriptan binds with high affinity to human cloned 5-HT 1B/1D receptors.”; 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: Sumatriptan, “Elimination The elimination half-life of sumatriptan is approximately 2.5 hours.”; Topiramate, “The mean plasma elimination half-life is 21 hours after single or multiple doses.”
Generics: sumatriptan since 2009; topiramate since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
| Sumatriptan | Topiramate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Migraine | Seizures and epilepsy, Migraine |
| Pharmacologic class | Serotonin-1b and Serotonin-1d Receptor Agonist | n/a |
| How it works (label) | Sumatriptan binds with high affinity to human cloned 5-HT 1B/1D receptors. | 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) | Elimination The elimination half-life of sumatriptan is approximately 2.5 hours. | The mean plasma elimination half-life is 21 hours after single or multiple doses. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 28, 1992 | December 24, 1996 |
| First generic approved | February 6, 2009 | December 17, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 39 labelers | 47 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.302 per tablet (Sumatriptan succ 50 mg tablet) | $0.0567 per tablet (Topiramate 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 44,847 | 91,067 |
| DEA schedule | none | 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 sumatriptan
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions