Two medicines, side by side
Topiramate vs gabapentin
Topiramate and gabapentin are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of topiramate since 1996 and of gabapentin since 1993. Pharmacies paid $0.0567 per topiramate 100 mg tablet and $0.0218 per gabapentin 100 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the topiramate FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026); the gabapentin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026).
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
Highlights of the gabapentin record
Gabapentin (Neurontin) · label of May 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsNEURONTIN ® is indicated for: • Management of postherpetic neuralgia in adults • Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, with and without secondary generalization, in adults and pediatric patients 3 years and older with epilepsy NEURONTIN is indicated for: • Postherpetic neuralgia in adults ( 1 ) • Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, with and without secondary generalization, in adults and pediatric patients 3 years and older with epilepsy […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 85 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0218 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 22
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Topiramate label of June 1, 2026, Gabapentin label of May 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do topiramate and gabapentin differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: 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 …”; Gabapentin, “The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Topiramate, “The mean plasma elimination half-life is 21 hours after single or multiple doses.”; Gabapentin, “Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing.”
Generics: topiramate since 2003; gabapentin since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
| Topiramate | Gabapentin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Seizures and epilepsy, Migraine | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Anti-epileptic Agent |
| How it works (label) | 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 … | The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown. |
| Half-life (label) | The mean plasma elimination half-life is 21 hours after single or multiple doses. | Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 24, 1996 | December 30, 1993 |
| First generic approved | December 17, 2003 | September 12, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 47 labelers | 85 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0567 per tablet (Topiramate 100 mg tablet) | $0.0218 per capsule (Gabapentin 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | +0.9% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 22 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 91,067 | 362,654 |
| 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 topiramate
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions