Zonisamide

Zonisamide is used for:

Treating certain types of seizures (partial seizures) in patients with epilepsy. It is used in along with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Zonisamide is an anticonvulsant. Exactly how Zonisamide works is not known.

Do NOT use Zonisamide if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Zonisamide or to a sulfonamide (eg, sulfamethoxazole)
• you have kidney failure

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Zonisamide :

Some medical conditions may interact with Zonisamide . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances (including tartrazine)
• if you are allergic to aspirin
• if you have a history of liver or kidney problems, kidney stones, mental or mood problems, suicidal thoughts or actions, or status epilepticus (eg, long periods of continuous seizure activity or a series of seizures without a full return to consciousness)
• if you have a skin rash

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Zonisamide . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Anticholinergics (eg, benztropine) or carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (eg, acetazolamide) because the risk of heatstroke may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Zonisamide may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Zonisamide :

Use Zonisamide as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet may be available with Zonisamide . Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• Take Zonisamide by mouth with or without food.
• Swallow Zonisamide whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
• Drink plenty of liquids (6 to 8 glasses of water a day) while taking Zonisamide to help prevent kidney stones.
• Do not suddenly stop taking Zonisamide . Suddenly stopping Zonisamide may cause seizures to occur more often. If you need to stop Zonisamide , follow your doctor's instructions for slowly lowering your dose.
• If you miss a dose of Zonisamide , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Zonisamide .

Important safety information:

• Zonisamide may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or vision changes. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Zonisamide with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Zonisamide may reduce sweating, which could raise body temperature, especially in children. The risk is greater in hot weather and/or during vigorous exercise. Drink plenty of fluids. Dress lightly while in hot climates or when exercising. Check carefully for signs of decreased sweating. If this occurs, promptly seek cooler or air-conditioned shelter and/or stop exercising. Seek medical attention right away if you have an unexplained fever, or if you have mental or mood changes, headache, or dizziness.
• Contact your doctor at once if your seizures worsen or is you develop a skin rash.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Zonisamide before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Carry an ID card at all times that says you take Zonisamide .
• This product may contain tartrazine dye (FD&C Yellow No. 5). This may cause an allergic reaction in some patients. If you have ever had an allergic reaction to tartrazine, ask your pharmacist if your product has tartrazine in it.
• Women who take Zonisamide should use effective birth control while using Zonisamide .
• Lab tests, including kidney function tests, may be performed while you use Zonisamide . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Zonisamide should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 16 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. CHILDREN may be at a higher risk of heatstroke.
• PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING: Zonisamide may cause harm to the fetus. Do not become pregnant while you are using it. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Zonisamide while you are pregnant. It is not known if Zonisamide is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Zonisamide , check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Zonisamide :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Abnormal skin sensations; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; flu-like symptoms; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach upset; tiredness; trouble sleeping.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); changes in the amount of urine produced; confusion; dark or bloody urine; decreased sweating; double vision or other vision problems; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever or sore throat; loss of coordination; memory problems; mental or mood changes (eg, agitation, depression, irritability); mouth sores; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent drowsiness; sudden stomach or back pain; suicidal thoughts or actions; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; tremor; trouble speaking or other speech problems; trouble thinking or concentrating; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual eye movements; unusual or disturbing thoughts; unusual tiredness or weakness.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing; severe or persistent dizziness; slow heartbeat; weakness.

Store Zonisamide at room temperature, between 68 to 77 degrees F (20 to 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Zonisamide out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Zonisamide , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Zonisamide is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Zonisamide . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

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