Zonisamide



Zonegran®







Zonisamide

(zoe NIS ay mide)

U.S. Brand Names
Zonegran®
Canadian Brand Names
Zonegran®
Pharmacologic Category
Anticonvulsant, Miscellaneous
Reasons not to take this medicine
  • If you have an allergy to zonisamide or any other part of this medicine.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
  • If you have a sulfonamide (“sulfa”) allergy, talk with healthcare provider.
What is this medicine used for?
  • This medicine is used to prevent or treat seizures.
How does it work?
  • Zonisamide calms the brain.
How is it best taken?
  • This medicine is used in combination with other seizure medicine.
  • Use prescription as directed, even if feeling better.
  • Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
  • Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.
  • Swallow capsule whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)
  • Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
  • If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
  • Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
  • Do not change dose or stop medicine. This could cause seizures. Talk with healthcare provider.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
  • Wear disease medical alert identification.
  • Follow laws about driving with a seizure condition.
  • If you have been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk with healthcare provider before stopping. You may want to gradually withdraw this medicine.
  • If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.
  • If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.
  • Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
  • Do not take St John's wort with this medicine. It may make this medicine less effective.
  • You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.
  • Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
  • Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
What are some possible side effects of this medicine?
  • Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.
  • Nervous and excitable.
  • Headache.
  • Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
  • Not hungry.
What should I monitor?
  • Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
  • Check blood work (kidney function). Talk with healthcare provider.
  • Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.
  • Follow up with healthcare provider.
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
  • If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center immediately or dial 911.
  • Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.
  • Severe dizziness.
  • Significant change in balance.
  • Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.
  • Back pain, belly pain, or blood in the urine. May be signs of a kidney stone.
  • Feeling extremely tired or weak.
  • If seizures are worse or different after starting medicine.
  • Any rash.
  • No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
How should I store this medicine?
  • Store at room temperature.
  • Protect from light.
  • Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
General statements
  • If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
  • Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
  • Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Brand Names: