Consumer Information

Add to list

Comments

Zonegran

Generic Name: zonisamide (zoe NIS a mide)
Brand Names: Zonegran

What is Zonegran?

Feedback for Zonegran

0 Comments

Rate it!

8.0

Zonegran is a sulfa drug with anti-convulsant effects.

Zonegran is used together with other anti-convulsant medications to treat partial seizures in adults with epilepsy. Partial seizures are a form of epilepsy in which neural disturbances are limited to a specific region of the brain and the victim remains conscious throughout the attack.

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

Important information about Zonegran

Do not use Zonegran 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.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Zonegran. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments. 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.

Zonegran 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. Do not stop taking Zonegran without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel fine. Stopping Zonegran suddenly may cause you to have seizures. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking Zonegran, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking a seizure medication.

Before taking Zonegran

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 Zonegran, 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 Zonegran.

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 Zonegran 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.

How should I take Zonegran?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day to prevent kidney stones while you are taking Zonegran.

Zonegran can be taken with or without food.

Swallow the Zonegran capsule whole. Do not crush, chew, open, or break it.

It is important to take Zonegran regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Seizures are often treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

Do not stop taking Zonegran without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel fine. Stopping Zonegran suddenly may cause you to have seizures. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

If you do stop taking Zonegran for any reason, talk with your doctor before restarting the medication. You may need to restart at a lower dose.

Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking Zonegran, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking a seizure medication. Store Zonegran at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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.

What happens if I overdose?

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.

What should I avoid while taking Zonegran?

Zonegran 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 Zonegran.

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

Zonegran 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.

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 Zonegran 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.

What other drugs will affect Zonegran?

There may be other drugs that can interact with Zonegran. 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.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Zonegran.

What does my medication look like?

Zonisamide is available with a prescription under the brand name Zonegran. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medicine, especially if it is new to you.

Zonegran 100mg-red and white capsules

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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.