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What is zonisamide?

Zonisamide is a sulfa drug with anti-convulsant effects.

Zonisamide is used together with other anti-convulsant medications to treat partial seizures in adults with epilepsy.

Zonisamide may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Precautions

Instructions

Side-effects

Interactions

Precautions

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to zonisamide, or to other sulfa drugs such as sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol), sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), or sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim, and others). A sulfa drug allergic reaction can be fatal.

Before using zonisamide, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• liver disease; or
• kidney disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take zonisamide.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several months of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

It is not known whether zonisamide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor.

Zonisamide can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of zonisamide.

Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by zonisamide. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other seizure medication.

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Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include slow heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, and slow or shallow breathing.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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Side-effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: any form of skin rash; hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Stop using zonisamide and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• increased or worsening seizures;
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
• problems with thinking or speech;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• dizziness or weakness and hot, dry skin without sweating;
• urinating less than usual or not at all; or
• sudden back pain, stomach or side pain, pain or bleeding when urinating, bloody or dark urine.

Less serious side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness, headache, tired feeling;
• mild loss of appetite, weight loss;
• loss of balance or coordination;
• sore throat, cough; or
• blurred vision, ringing in your ears.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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Interactions

There may be other drugs that can interact with zonisamide. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

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