Zonisamide and Weight Loss: What Users Say

• Sti...
• January 4, 2012

Zonisamide for Migraine Prevention "I've been taking Zonegran for a few years now at 300mg per day. It has really gotten my headaches under control to where I would only have a headache periodically. Weight loss has been a side effect that I haven't minded. The problem is I've had significant memory and focus issues. I hardly felt competent most of the time. I have slowly weaned myself down to 100mg per day. I notified my neurologist of this because it's an anti-seizure medicine, so you shouldn't stop it cold turkey or it could cause a seizure. My memory has improved significantly, but the headaches have returned with a vengeance. I'm back to taking narcotics to address each debilitating headache. I used to take Topamax. It too worked beautifully, but also wiped out the memory."

• Emi...
• October 9, 2013

Zonisamide for Seizures "I have been taking Zonegran, 300mg daily for 8 years. I have complex partial seizures that generalize about 90% of the time. I have tried just about every other medication out there and this is the only one that has kept my epilepsy under control. I do have side effects: some depression, anorexia (defined as loss of appetite). I started this medication weighing around 125 lbs and now after three children weigh 105 lbs and can't remember the last time I was hungry, and I have noticed that it is harder for me to retain information and I sometimes have to read things twice to understand them where before Zonegran I easily understood and retained information. Despite these side effects, I won't ever try a different medication. Totally worth it."

• Chi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 16, 2014

Zonisamide for Seizures "Been on this medicine for a long time. 10 years. It decreased my seizures a lot and my headaches. Also decreased my appetite and I've lost weight, which I have no problem with. Out of all seizure medicines I've been on, I highly suggest this one!"

• Rid...
• April 13, 2013

Zonisamide for Seizures "I was on this medicine at first 200mg a day then 400mg. I turned into a completely different person. I'm normally a happy, positive & outgoing young woman. On Zonisamide I became extremely irritable & depressed. I flipped out over the littlest thing. I also lost a lot of weight because my appetite essentially disappeared. I weighed about 135lbs when I started and dropped to 113lbs. I finally had enough when the depression kicked in. I would have suicidal thoughts multiple times a day. It was scary and debilitating! I cried a lot, for no good reason. My performance at work and my relationships were suffering so I called my Dr. and switched to Lamictal."

• BLo...
• March 18, 2016

Zonisamide for Migraine Prevention "I took 300 mg of Zonegran for nearly 2 years. It worked really well to prevent my migraines at the start-it was like a dream come true. I did experience appetite reduction and weight loss, but I put it back on after about a year. The negative side effects were extreme for me over time. First, my depression got much worse. That could have been external factors, but the time that I started taking Zonegran and the severe increase in my symptoms match. Also, after some time, I noticed my cognitive function was severely inhibited. I was in graduate school at the time and began failing classes, slurring my words when 100% sober, and unable to remember things. When I went off, my migraines returned severely, especially period and allergy migraines."

• Cat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 4, 2020

For Seizures "I’ve been on zonisamide for about 15 years for seizures, and I loved it at first—I lost all my Depakote weight and looked great! No seizures, no big side effects. But since then, I’ve had three surgeries for kidney stones. I have refused to switch, but I’m kind of over this trash. Kidney stones are the worst pain ever. My kidney was full of them, a CT tech told me she’d never seen so many, so big. Also, it gives me the dumbs, and I’m in a smart people field of work, so I frequently feel stupid. My memory sucks, I’m tired, and it’s hard to keep up with the smart people stuff. I’m getting annoyed with it and ready to switch."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2021

Zonisamide for Seizures "I've had complex partial seizures for 14 years, half of my life. The longest I've gone was 3 weeks without a seizure. I have had two brain surgeries and also have the Neuropace implant. I've been on so many different seizure medications and still am, but my doctor wanted to try me on Zonegran a few weeks ago, raising the dose every two weeks. I was terrified of the side effects but also happy about one of them, the weight loss, because I really need that. This medication, so far, has helped me beat my record in 14 years and become one month seizure-free!! And I'm not even on my full dose yet! And I've lost 11 pounds! I really recommend trying out this medication, it might not work for everyone, but it's worth a shot. The side effects can be rough at first, but my body got used to it."

• Hol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2018

Zonisamide for Migraine Prevention "I just turned 19, and I've seen 3 neurologists, 4 neurosurgeons, and an epileptic specialist all in the last 6 months. None of them can really tell me what’s wrong with me, but Zonegran has helped a lot with the hard-hitting headaches. I still get dull “I can feel it” headaches almost every day, but nothing compared to what I used to get. I don’t get any major side effects, sometimes I slur or jumble words, but I can recover them quickly. If I take it on an empty stomach, my thought process is cloudy, but nothing major. Also, I was normal weight before, but I’ve lost 15 pounds since I started this medication 3 months ago."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I've had severe chronic migraines for the last 11 years, age 62 now. I've tried just about everything, Imitrex with Naproxen worked best and had the least side effects. My neurologist took me off Levetiracetam because it wasn't working as a prophylaxis and put me on Zonisamide. He's starting me at 50 mg, and I have noticed a decrease in severity and duration of the migraines, but not a decrease in quantity so far. I don't have any motor side effects, but I've lost 12 lbs. so far, and I can't really afford to lose any weight. If it continues, I'll have to stop as I am now at 157 lbs as a 5'11'' man."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2023

For Seizures "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!"

• Goa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "No effect on my migraines. First, I got a blotchy rash on my neck, then a red rash under my breasts and on bilateral sides of my groin. If I don't use vaginal cream every 1-2 days, I can't hardly touch it with a washcloth. There is clear drainage here. The rest of my body, especially my back, itches like crazy. The ends of a lot of my fingers are split, and they are painful. They have been like this for almost 2 months. My appetite is suppressed, and I've lost some weight."

• Wim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 6, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I had been taking Topamax, and it worked preventing my migraines without bad side effects (just weight/hair loss, which were both appreciated). However, after starting hormonal birth control, I wanted to stop it to eliminate the possibility of it decreasing the effectiveness of the BC. My neurologist recommended Zonegran since it's a similar anticonvulsant, and he's had patients successful with it. Ten days after building up to my full dose (100 mg nightly), I began feeling nauseous. I was lightheaded, out of breath, and had to lay down. For the following week, I was nauseous and sometimes lightheaded, and missed two days of work. After realizing Zonegran was the only change, I began to wean off of it. The nausea was better as my dose decreased and gone after stopping. Unfortunately, I can't take triptans due to the birth control since I get migraines with aura, and my neurologist won't prescribe antidepressants to people already on one. So beta blockers are my next try, regrettably."

• gri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 29, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "It has stopped my migraines for almost a year. I've lost weight and muscle stone, my appetite has gone."

• RJb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2017

For Seizures "Extreme weight loss, tremors at night, increased seizures, loss of memory, shaking, panic attacks, loss of self-confidence, extreme depression."