Topiramate is a generic drug doctors prescribe for epilepsy and migraine in certain situations. How and when you take topiramate depends on what condition you’re taking the drug to treat.

Doctors prescribe topiramate to adults and some children to:

Topiramate oral tablets are a generic medication that contains the active drug topiramate. This active drug is also available as the brand-name medication Topamax.

This article only describes how and when to take topiramate oral tablets. If you’d like to learn more about other forms of topiramate, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

To learn more about topiramate, including its side effects, uses, cost, and more, see this in-depth article. You can talk with your doctor to learn whether topiramate (or its brand-name form, Topamax) may be a good treatment option for you.

Your doctor can explain how to take topiramate oral tablets. They can also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

You can take topiramate oral tablets by mouth. Topiramate oral tablets are immediate-release tablets. Immediate release means the active drug experiences a release into your body shortly after you swallow it.

For more answers to questions about how and when to take topiramate, see the “Questions about taking topiramate oral tablet” section.

How often you take topiramate oral tablet depends on what condition you’re taking it to treat.

The usual dosage of topiramate for migraine prevention is twice per day. And the usual dosage of topiramate for seizures is twice per day.

Your doctor may have you start taking a low dosage of topiramate. Then, they may slowly increase it over time until they find the lowest effective dosage for your condition.

If you have questions about how often to take your dosage of topiramate oral tablets, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Below are some common questions about taking topiramate oral tablets.

  • What if I miss a dose of topiramate oral tablets? It depends on how much time remains until your next scheduled dose. If your next dose is more than 6 hours away, take your missed dose as soon as possible. But if there are 6 hours or less until your next dose is due, just skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
  • Will I need to take topiramate oral tablets in the long term? Topiramate oral tablets are usually a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor decide that topiramate is safe and effective for your condition, you may take it long term.
  • Can I chew, crush, or split topiramate oral tablets? Due to their bitter taste, do not break, chew, or crush topiramate oral tablets. Instead, swallow these tablets whole.
  • Should I take topiramate oral tablets with food? You can take topiramate oral tablets with or without food. It’s best to avoid a ketogenic diet (a diet high in fat and low in carbs) while you’re taking topiramate. Following a ketogenic diet could increase your risk of side effects from topiramate. These side effects include kidney stones and metabolic acidosis (high acid levels in your blood).
  • How long do topiramate oral tablets take to work? Your doctor can prescribe a low dose when you start taking topiramate oral tablets. Then, they can slowly increase your dose over the first few weeks of treatment. During this time, the drug’s levels slowly build up in your system. So, it may take a few weeks or a month for you to notice an improvement in your condition.

If you have additional questions about how or when to take topiramate oral tablets, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Topiramate is a generic drug prescribed to treat epilepsy and help prevent migraine headaches. Take topiramate exactly as your doctor prescribes to get the most from your topiramate treatment.

If you have questions about how or when to take topiramate oral tablets, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. For a full overview of the drug, see this in-depth article.