What is the most important information I should know about zonisamide?
Taking zonisamide can cause permanent vision loss. Tell your doctor right away if you have any eye pain or redness or any changes in your vision.
Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking zonisamide. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.
What is zonisamide?
Zonisamide is used together with other medicines to treat partial seizures in adults and teenagers at least 16 years old.
Zonisamide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking zonisamide?
You should not use zonisamide if you are allergic to it.
You may not be able to take zonisamide if you have ever had a severe allergic to a sulfa drug.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver disease;
- kidney disease;
- high levels of ammonia;
- stomach flu or illness causing diarrhea;
- a growth disorder;
- a bone disorder that causes soft or weak bones or low bone mineral density;
- depression, or suicidal thoughts or actions;
- if you have ever had metabolic acidosis (too much acid in your blood); or
- if you have been on a ketogenic diet (high-fat, high-protein, low-carb).
Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking zonisamide. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Zonisamide may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of zonisamide on the baby.
You should not breastfeed while using zonisamide.
Zonisamide is not approved for use by anyone younger than 16 years old.
How should I take zonisamide?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Zonisamide can be taken with or without food.
Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.
While using zonisamide, you may need frequent blood tests.
Do not stop using zonisamide suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.
Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include slow heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, and slow or shallow breathing.
What should I avoid while taking zonisamide?
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.
Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.
What are the possible side effects of zonisamide?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: any form of skin rash, hives; fever, swollen glands, feeling weak or tired, severe muscle pain, unusual bruising or bleeding; yellowing of your skin or eyes; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: sudden mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- eye pain or redness or any changes in your vision;
- decreased sweating, feeling very hot;
-
signs of metabolic acidosis --confusion, vomiting, lack of energy, irregular heartbeats;
-
symptoms of a blood cell disorder --fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;
-
symptoms of a kidney stone --severe pain in your stomach or lower back, blood in your urine;
- increased or worsening seizures;
- the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild; or
-
severe skin reaction --fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common side effects may include:
- drowsiness, dizziness;
- problems with memory or concentration;
- feeling agitated or irritable;
- loss of coordination, trouble walking; or
- loss of appetite.
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.
What other drugs will affect zonisamide?
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking zonisamide with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or depression.
Other drugs may interact with zonisamide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about zonisamide.
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.
Copyright 1996-2022 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 12.01. Revision date: 5/21/2020.
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