How do you say topiramate? (Pronunciation Series Episode 60)

In this episode, I divide Topamax and topiramate into syllables, tell you which syllables to emphasize, and share my sources. As a bonus, I share a common mispronunciation for topiramate. The written pronunciations are below and in the show notes on https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com.

 

Note: we don’t cover pharmacology in this series. Just pronunciations. The FULL show notes are available at https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com/podcast. 

 

Topamax = TOE-PA-MAX

• TOE, like the toes on your feet
  PA, like pajamas 
• MAX, like maximum. 
• No emphasis is indicated in the literature. (I recommend equal emphasis among all three syllables.)
• Sources: For the written pronunciation, read the medication guide for Topamax on the FDA’s website. For the spoken pronunciation, visit drugs.com.

 

topiramate = toe-PIR-a-mate

• toe, like the toes on your feet
• PIR, as in a landing place for ships (pier)
• a, which is a short “A” sound (Uh)
• mate, as in “Checkmate,” which is move in the game of chess
• Emphasize PIR
• Sources: For the written pronunciation, read the USP Dictionary Online. For the spoken pronunciation, visit drugs.com.

 

Thank for listening to the 60th episode in my drug pronunciation series!

 

If you’d like to recommend a drug name for this series, please reach out through the contact form on my website, thepharmacistsvoice.com.

 

If you know someone who would like to learn how to say Topamax and topiramate, please share this episode with them. Subscribe for all future episodes. This podcast is on all major podcast players and YouTube. Popular links are below. ⬇️

 

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Host Background: Kim Newlove has been an Ohio pharmacist since 2001 (BS Pharm, Chem Minor). Her experience includes hospital, retail, compounding, and behavioral health. She is also an author, voice actor (medical narrator and audiobook narrator), podcast host, and consultant (audio production and podcasting). 

 

Links for this episode

 

• USP Dictionary Online (subscription-based resource) https://www.usp.org/products/usp-dictionary 
• USP Dictionary’s pronunciation guide (Free resource on The American Medical Association’s website) https://www.ama-assn.org/about/united-states-adopted-names-usan/usan-drug-name-pronunciation-guide
• Topamax medication guide on the FDA’s website (accessed 7-31-25) https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/020844s041lbl.pdf 
• Spoken pronunciations for both drug names: drugs.com

 

Other episodes in this series

The Pharmacist’s Voice Podcast Episode 339, Pronunciation Series Episode 59 (Suboxone)

The Pharmacist’s Voice Podcast Episode 337, Pronunciation Series Episode 58 (rosuvastatin) 

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