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.
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Precautions
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Instructions
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Side Effects
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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.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before you take zonisamide, tell your doctor if you have:
- liver disease;
- kidney disease;
- asthma or other breathing problems;
- stomach flu or illness causing diarrhea; or
- if you have been on a high-protein, low-carb diet.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking zonisamide, 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.
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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, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
- the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;
- increased or worsening seizures;
- rapid breathing or feeling short of breath with dry mouth, confusion, dizziness or weakness, numbness or tingling, chest pain;;
- fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
- 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, trouble concentrating;
- 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. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Interactions
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.
Tell your doctor about all other seizure medications you use, especially:
- carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
- phenytoin (Dilantin); or
- phenobarbital (Solfoton).
This list is not complete and 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.
Other Names
Zonegran and zonisamide
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Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04
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