Type of medicine: sulfonamide; antiseizure
Generic and brand names: zonisamide, oral; Zonegran
This medicine is taken by mouth to treat partial seizures. It is taken with other seizure medicines. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Usually you will start with a low dosage and your provider will increase it gradually to reach the dosage needed to prevent your seizures. Be sure you understand how much medicine to take.
You can take this medicine with or without meals. Swallow the capsules whole. Do not crush or chew them. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day while you are taking this medicine.
Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may have to reduce your dosage gradually.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: dizziness, headache, restlessness, lightheadedness, fainting, slow shallow breathing.
Antiseizure medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some people. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have new or increased thoughts of suicide.
This medicine may cause kidney stones. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day to help prevent them. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
You may need to have blood tests to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments. Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.
If you develop fast breathing, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, or irregular heart beat while taking this medicine, contact your health care provider right away.
While taking this medicine, be careful when you exercise, especially when it is hot. This medicine affects your body's ability to cool down, and you may get too hot. If you get too hot, you might vomit, feel dizzy, have a fast heartbeat, get very stiff muscles, or be confused. Contact your provider right away if you have these symptoms.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and can see clearly.
This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Worse seizures, sudden back pain, abdominal pain, blood in your urine, dark urine, trouble urinating, depression or thoughts of suicide, trouble concentrating, trouble speaking, decreased sweating, fever, sore throat, mouth sores, unusual bruising or bleeding, problems with balance or walking, severe muscle pain or weakness, memory problems.
Other: Drowsiness, dizziness, loss of appetite, headache, tiredness, trouble sleeping, restlessness, confusion, diarrhea, nausea, constipation.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
Do not take this medicine with grapefruit juice because it increases the effects of the medicine.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
