Zonisamide for Seizures User Reviews (Page 3)

• Seizu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2021

"Zonisamide has essentially ruined my life since being put on it. It caused one seizure because the memory issues caused by the drug led me to forget to take my seizure meds and seize, but aside from that I’m just anxious, nauseous, and exhausted 24/7! In my house, it is known as Zombisamide. I opted to titrate onto Lamictal as soon as humanly possible."

• livin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 18, 2015

"Have been seizure free for over 10 years now. Ever since my doc put me on zonegran. BUT there was a short time I was having bad migraines so he put me on Topamax (evil drug) caused me to have short term memory loss to the point that I was forgetting I was forgetting. Changed Doctors and back on Zonisamide and all is good. As for side effects I have daily fatigue and less of an appetite but who cares compared to one or more seizures daily."

• Moose
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 31, 2017

"I began taking this drug July 2016 I had to take myself off of it because I had enough of the side effects My docter would not even consider me withdrawing from it completely from and telling me to wait for the appt with my consultant neurologist in the UK which I could not do (2 months) Side effects were terrible aching, burning patches all over my body, very low mood (not quite depression) I have been diagnosed with Epilepsy since I was 18 but the side effects were worse than the condition although I did have several seizures. I am an English woman living in the UK. I have to include that side effects started several months after taking this drug and I can positively state that it was all because of this DRUG Zonisamide"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2021

"5 days on this medication and I started having very bad and scary psychotic thoughts and severe suicide thoughts which are terrifying. Also developed severe headaches which had stopped with nortryptiline but started with this medication. I am STOPPING IT as the suicidal thoughts are too much. I never had a seizure on it which was great but not worth the side effects. Great for seizures."

• Anonymous
• October 26, 2009

"I take Zonisamide with Tegretol and it works great in controlling my seizures. I do have loss of memory, stuttering, and itchy skin. All of these have occurred in the last year and I've been taking it for 2.5 years."

• Jeff
• April 16, 2018

"My second neurologist prescribed me 100mg caps, one at night for a week, then increase to 2 caps for a week, then 3 caps at night for a week. The first week it made me so sick, horribly dizzy, like a bad flu feeling in the morning. Called her, told her about the horrible side effects, she wanted me to give it one more week on just 100mg to try and get use to it. No good, second week I was just as sick. I'm disabled, deaf, had major cervical surgery March of 2017. Next May I was hit with seizures, in ICU for 5 days, 20 seizures first day and night. My first worthless neurologist put me on Depakote, It stopped the seizures at least, but made me so sick I insisted he get me off the poison. Cause of seizures are unknown. Endless tests, EEG showed perfect along with the MRI of my brain. I plan on joining Mensa , after a cochlear implant there in the next few months. Last seizure I had was April 5th, 2017, over a year ago."

• FIDEL
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2023

Zonegran (zonisamide) "I take the medication 100 mg in the morning. I should increase it to 200 mg, but I don't want to take the risk. It's very difficult to think clearly when you have a headache and can't fall asleep at night. It's challenging to function during the day with this medication, you feel confused and lost. However, the seizures have become less frequent. The only downside is that sometimes I have falls during the seizures. I take it along with Keppra and Trileptal."

• VLS
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2019

"I have been on zonisamide for a few weeks and it's horrible. I take three 100mg at bedtime and there is what feels like a combination of side effects, like feeling over medicated and feeling like the drug isn't working. I don't like to leave the house because when I am around florescent lighting for very long I get worse, almost like I am experiencing an aura. I am ready to go on the drug that was costing almost $900.00 a month but worked rather than go through this."

• Satis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 30, 2022

Zonegran (zonisamide) "I have been taking generic zonegran for over 5 years now to control partial seizures that can turn into generalized seizures. I take 300 mg daily and rarely have partials. Before taking this I had them everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. I also have had zero migraines. I’m especially glad to be rid of freaky ocular migraines I used to suffer every few months. The first several months on this drug while going up in dose I was TIRED and foggy. I don’t feel any side effects really now except sometimes notice word finding struggles that I think are from this drug. I have a demanding job and do well with analytical thinking, memory, etc. Definitely do need to plenty of drink water as recommended on this medication or your kidneys/bladder/urinary tract will be unhappy."

• Joe
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2021

Zonegran (zonisamide) "I've been on primidone for 35 years. My doctor wanted to switch to Zonegran because of my headaches. It definitely stopped the headaches but I couldn't sleep. However, I wasn't tired the next day either. Two weeks in, I noticed that I was having heartburn but it was controllable. When I upped my dose to 200 mgs., it was like someone set a fire in my stomach. I called the doctor and went off of it that day. I did notice that my personality changed as well. It didn't work for me but I'm sure others have had better results."

• okiez...
• May 15, 2010

"Been on Zonisamide for maybe 3 years, probably more, can't remember exactly; no grand mal seizures what so ever. Try not to take it late at night though. Take 3 pills all at once, any time during morning hours, or even early afternoon. But this is the best for me, anyhow."

• bean
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2020

"I do not recommend zonisamide unless actually necessary or a last resort medication. I developed kidney stones, rashes, my body is lacking most of the vitamins I need. I’m not absorbing b12, basically anemia. It stopped my seizures but my quality of life is so bad I’m getting off this medication."

• The...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 25, 2022

"I've been on Zonisamide for about 3.5 years now to control my grandmal seizures. From early on at 200mg I noticed some "fog" and chronic depression, but it was manageable and more importantly the seizures were controlled. Later I went up to 300mg when my auras returned, and now I'm in a really bad way. I'm extremely irritable. I get angry over little things and stay angry. I lose my thought mid sentence at least 10 times a day. It's really damaging my relationships and self-efficacy."

• Hannah
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2021

Zonegran (zonisamide) "This medication is toxic. I was on it and vimpat for years and it made me so sick that I couldn’t walk. All of the doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me, and I was in the hospital for 9 days. I stopped the meds as a last resort It effected my mental health, ability to think, and gave me weakness, numbness, muscle cramps, dizziness, and a chronic pain pain that felt my entire skeleton was in a pressure cooker."

• Sherr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 18, 2021

"My husband has suffered three major strokes since 2007. The final one in 2008 left him with partial complex seizures. He was given Tegretol 300 mg twice a day. This didn't stop his seizures and then he was given 300 mg twice a day of Zonegram (Generic Zonisimide) in addition to the Tegretol. His seizures have been controlled and the side effects have been minimal except for the extreme loss of appetite and sleepiness. He was a robust 230 pounds when starting this medicine and now barely weighs 150 pounds. He is physically impaired and practically bedridden due to the weight loss and muscle loss. I am also suspect that it affected his dental health as he kept losing his teeth one by one until he has full dentures now. I know that the weight loss may have been due in part to his dental issues but I have read the many reviews concerning weight loss which I believe is being caused in part to this medication. He has also experienced light headedness and short term memory loss."

• John...
• June 22, 2015

"Had a brain tumor removed in 1988 and was on dilantin and phenobarbital for over 20 years. Got rushed to the hospital for what was thought to be a stroke and ended up being a seizure. My new Nuero Dr. put me on Keppra with phenobarbital, this worked great for about 5 years. Just got out of the hospital again because of a seizure and am now on 3,000 mg of keppra and 400 mg of zonisamide daily. At first, I had a hard time sleeping,only about an hour a day, my fault, as I read the prescription bottle wrong. I was suppose to take the Zonisamide once in the morning and here I was taking 200 mg in the morning and 200 mg at night. So far everything is fine as I am only on week 1 of my new dosage. My Dr. also wants me to lose weight, so this is it."

• Tami
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2023

"This medication has worked wonders for my seizures which is amazing! My weight loss is extreme! I've lost over 50 lb in 1 1/2 years. At first, it was a welcome change, my appetite lessened to one meal a day. But now at 100 lb it's too much! It doesn't seem to matter how much I force myself to eat!"

• Lisa
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2021

"I started having seizures after 3 months of giving birth to my son by c section in 1999. My first Dr put me on zonagran and I was seizure free, but then lost my health insurance due to a divorce, so I moved back to SC, they put me on phenobarbital? Omg no .Then Depakote and that was worse. So I finally got my new neurologist to give zonagran again, just picked it up tonight. It worked for me back then so I'm hoping as I've age it's still gonna be the best for me. We are all different and we know what works for us Praying this will be my magic drug again. I don't remember any bad side effects. I just don't know why we have to fight tooth and nail to get our disability. I have a court hearing I'm Feb of 2022. Been fighting them for 5 year's. I don't drive anymore and already. Wish me luck"

• Aggasi
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 25, 2021

"I have been on this drug for almost 1 year. Originally the doctor wanted me to titrate up to 300mg a day. Starting with 100mg the first week. By day 3, I was afraid to leave the house because of how frequently I was having daily bowel movements. 10+ times a day. And it was loose as if I took a laxative. By the evening of day 4 on the drug, I had a massive seizure like I haven't had in years! They readjusted the titration rate to 50mg a week instead, until reaching the 300mg prescribed dosage. It kind of helped with the digestive issue. But by week 3 when I upped the dose to 150mg, I could not reach R.E.M. sleep at all. So I stopped at 50mg in the a.m. and p.m. The neuro did not seem to be willing to take me off the drug. Instead, recommended melatonin. I still go to the bathroom more than what is considered normal. As for my mood, even though covid was happening last year, I was a much happier person pre Zonisamide. I see a new neuro soon."

• DGIII
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2013

Zonegran (zonisamide) "Diagnosed- generalized juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Completely stopped my sons seizures, he is only 14 years old."

• Kay
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2018

Zonegran (zonisamide) "This drug is great for seizures. I literally don’t have any when taking it. The only side effects I see is fatigue, and serious weight loss. I’m down 20 pounds from this drug."

• Anonymous
• July 7, 2010

Zonegran (zonisamide) "No seizures while taking but have had bad bruising and constipation going on 2 years now. But I'll take no seizures over the side effects!"

• Lots...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 28, 2018

Zonegran (zonisamide) "I've been taking Zonegran for 12 or so years and have had no problems at all-not one seizure for years. I ride Motor cycles fast and not once have I had a problem."

• Anonymous
• October 24, 2008

Zonegran (zonisamide) "I like Zonegran overall, I haven't had a seizure since I started taking it."

• C-DUB
• March 3, 2009

Zonegran (zonisamide) "Loss of appetite but seizure free"