Zonisamide User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• goldi...
• November 25, 2013

Zonegran (zonisamide) for Seizures "I have been taking Topirimate for complex partial seizures following my second sub arachnoid bleed in 2005 but started to lose my hair so I am now taking Zonegran and since changing over I feel very well, and the hair loss seems to be much improved and I am feeling great !"

• We...
• July 18, 2019

For Seizures "Oh boy, do I have a story for you. Two to three months ago, I began seeing a new Neurologist for my Epilepsy. I was on Dilantin and Fycompa and my seizures had become fairly scarce and quasi-controlled, except for the fact the Dilantin was ruining my teeth. I needed to change since I am in my early twenties and not quite ready for Dentures. I was driving, had a min. wage job life was pretty good. Then Zonisamide came into my life. I couldn't function, I had a sense of aggression that was never a part of my personality before this, angry for minuscule things that wouldn't have bothered me in the past. My functionality was almost completely gone on Zonisamide, I had to have family members advocate on my behalf because I couldn't escape the "brain fog" not to mention the depression that came along with it. I'm unsure if I was just extremely sensitive to that medication, but it has encouraged me to seek therapy, and some sort of stress management."

• msqui
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 23, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I am up to 200mg a day. The only problems I have is, some loss of appetite; which I definitely don't mind. And I get a little upset tummy every now and then. All in I feel fine, my memory is fine, & I'm just glad I can live a normal life pain free! My last migraine was during my dosage increase @ 175mg. Hopefully its smooth sailing from here."

• Perse...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 15, 2019

For Seizures "Started having seizures at 14 years old due to traumatic brain injury. LUCKILY I've only been on one kind of medication since then (I'm the big 30 now) and that medication is Zonisamide. The dosage has gone up since then, I am now taking 400mg a day but it works. A major thing that runs me the wrong way though.... my memory is pretty much gone. I've resorted to taking pictures of EVERYTHING because it's a little scary to think that I can't remember anything from my childhood or my 20's. It's sad really...and it makes me wonder is this medication increasing the risk of Alzheimers disease? I tried doing some research but I couldn't find anything on it. What do you guys think?"

• Anonymous
• September 10, 2009

Zonegran (zonisamide) for Seizures "I've been on this for over 6 months now and seizure free since then. I do have a very mild loss in appetite, but that has not stopped me from eating, only how much I eat. Side effects are the lowest overall from all the other medicines I've been on in the past (Topomax, Triliptal, Depakote & Phenobarbital). Best of all it's only once a day!"

• Kathy...
• May 13, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "Was diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia and the pain was excruciating. 25 plus days a month in pain. Now taking 150mg Zonisamide and have been pain free for 21 days straight. First time in 3 years. So far not experienced any side effects."

• EriR
• December 8, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I was prescribed Zonisamide and took it for about 5 weeks before I was diagnosed with DRESS Syndrome (severe drug reaction). I landed in the hospital for a week and later was told to have drug induced Hepatitis after having experienced a rash, itching, fever, high liver enzymes, triple levels of bilirubin, loss of Magnesium and Potassium, and severe upper quadrant pain. The treating physicians sought the assistance of other specialists, being that they were extremely concerned and had never seen such a bad drug reaction. I'm told that my liver will recover, only they are not able to anticipate how long it will take. It's been two weeks since I was taken off this drug and I'm still experiencing the issues mentioned above."

• Feeling...
• August 27, 2020

For Seizures "After 2 days of feeling ok on zonisamide I quickly started experiencing some extreme side effects. Anxiety, depression, panic, suicidal thoughts, sense of impending doom and uncontrollable fear. Those are just the side effects that I was worried about. Unfortunately I had others too. I asked to be taken off the medication and was instead lowered to a 25mg dose but still had the same side effects daily. After 2 days of unprovoked crying episodes and a trip to the emergency room for chest pain I asked the emergency room doctor what I should do. The doctor advised me to stop taking it because it is notorious for causing bad side effects. The worst part about the whole experience is that I still had seizures and I believe the side effects caused a permanent anxiety disorder."

• ephy
• October 4, 2009

Zonegran (zonisamide) for Seizures "So far this is my choice of seizure medicines (complex partial and absence). Dilantin makes me sleepy, Tegretol and Topamax both gave me migraines. No seizures AND no headaches, yay! Zonegran does leave me a bit fatigued, and seems to lessen the appetite (but that's not really a bad thing)."

• stex
• July 3, 2016

Zonegran (zonisamide) for Seizures "This is one of the worst AEDs I've tried over the past 41+ years since surviving Reyes. It caused hostility, agitation, nervousness, restless legs syndrome, suicidal thoughts, and made me so impulsive that I requested an early retirement from a position paying about $104k per year. I probably would have not gone for retirement if the effects of the med had not been there. To top things off it gave me gingival hyperplasia so my front teeth are ruined, gum overgrowth is worse than it has been while on any of the other 24 meds I've been given. Intractable epilepsy is tough but this med might help persons who haven't had trauma or brain surgery. FDA and the maker FAILED to warn me about this. I got off of it."

• Keanie
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 4, 2019

Zonegran (zonisamide) for Seizures "Taking 800mg of Tegretol, 200mg of Pregabalin, 10mg of Clobazam & 100mg of Zonisamide twice a day plus 125mg of Primidone once at night didn’t work on me. Even after having part of my brain removed didn’t completely stop me from having seizures but increasing Zonisamide to 150mg twice a day thankfully stopped me having seizures in 2010, I’d suffered with them for 9 and a half years. Certainly would never reduce these - I got my life back in my thirties so can do all I used to. Cope with going to soccer matches alone & abroad alone, I didn’t even leave town I lived in alone when suffering with epilepsy. I live in the UK so lucky as do not pay for these."

• Peggy
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 16, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on zonisamide for years in combination with an antidepressant and betablocker (propranolol). Before this I was having 20 or more migraines a month with trouble word finding, memory, and focus- concentration. The first neurologist took me as far as he could on the AEDs and migraine rescues as he could. I took Topamax, depakote, Elavil, dilantin, fromig, maxault, imitrex, you name it. Either they were no help, just a few times, or some unacceptable side effects. I had a total of 50 lbs weight gain over ten years that I couldn't lose. Zonisamide was the first drug I felt I could really be a human being!"

• 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."

• Meemf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2017

Zonegran (zonisamide) for Migraine Prevention "The medication worked well to prevent migraines. However after one month of use I developed joint pain/swelling and a rash. It was determined I had drug induced lupus and the medication was discontinued."

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

Zonegran (zonisamide) for Seizures "I've had complex partial seizures for 14 years half of my life the longest I've went was 3 weeks without a seizure. I have had two brain surgeries also have the Neuropace implant. I've been on so many different seizure medications, 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 of one of them, the weight loss because I really need that, this medication so far has helped me beat my record in 14 years 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."

• Tay
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 30, 2020

For Seizures "It controls the seizures. I had a grandmal seizure in 2000 and I have been on medicine ever since to control seizure activity during sleep. I’ve probably been on Zonegran for 10-15 years now. Throughout all these years I have struggled with fatigue and Im now 27, married and I still want to take a daily nap and I realize that’s not normal. I want to come off of this medicine. Sometimes I’m slow with my words as well."

• Newto...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2020

For Seizures "I started having generalized seizures once per month shortly after turning 30, no previous hx. Started taking zonisamide 50mg BID and increased to 100mg BID, did not stop seizures. Neurologist increased to 150mg BID, started having serious GI issues, diarrhea that has lasted for over one month, have lost over 40# in the last 2 months, have no interest in food at all depersonalization and no interest in things that I used to enjoy in life. I am now having B12 deficiencies, kidney stone, which is ridiculous at my age and with having no other medical issues and taking no other medications. Neurologist is now advising me to switch to Keppra XR, nervous about switching, wonder if not taking any meds would be better than how this one has made me feel. This medication has serious side effects also including short term memory loss! I used to have great memory, however This medicine will decrease your memory significantly!"

• Sulle...
• July 26, 2011

Zonegran (zonisamide) for Seizures "On maximum dose with Keppra, and still having some break through seizures. Still less then I was having before. No side effects. Had a full term pregnancy while on medication. Baby is very healthy."

• bobbi
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I did experience some appetite loss at 1st, which was OK because I wanted to loss about 5 pounds-but I started gaining weight, face was puffy, while eating very little and no decrease in exercise. The worst, however, was the onset of depression and feeling of hopelessness. I was up to 100 mg a day, on it for 2-3 weeks, and stopped cold turkey. Taking Topamax, years ago, did help with headaches and I lost weight (actually too much in beginning but body adjusted) but I also lost word facility. Not good trade off so I had to go off Topamax. Help!"

• seeki...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "Switched from Topamax 15 mg to Zanisamide 50 mg for 1 1/2 month. Had one migraine so far. Very bad upset stomach, acid, and burping sensation. Will hold on a little longer to see. Topamax made me lose hair. Foggy memory from both medicines."

• Aloha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Have suffered with headache/migraines for 22 years and have tried many meds. Tried Topamax a couple different times and finally had to get off it for some of the side effects and it really kinda stopped working for me. On dose 200 mg of Zonisamide and seems to have decreased the frequency and the severity of my migraines. Have noticed a bit of a loss of appetite at this current dose and thirsty and dry mouth. All in all happy so far with my current situation."

• TBrowne
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I took this medication after numerous failed attempts to control my chronic daily migraines with other medications. I started at 25 mg and was eventually suppose to be on 200 mg. I never went beyond 100 mg. By week three (at 75 mg) I was so nauseous that I could rarely eat more than a bite of food. I was also an emotional wreck. I would go from being irritable to crying uncontrollably in minutes. The night I took the first 100 mg dose, I began vomiting within 30 mins. After an hour of constant vomiting, I fell asleep for 12 hours. It took days to feel better - exhausted, nauseous, depressed. My family called it “ the medicine that makes you sick”. This is NOT the medication for me."

• My_Life
• June 20, 2015

For Seizures "If looking like a meth user is your thing, while trying to become 'seizure free', then this is your drug. Horrible drug. Not sure how this drug even passed the FDA. Even my grandma thought I was doing street drugs. Yeah. Not cool. Good luck to all my bro's and sis's living with epilepsy out there."

• Sarah
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2020

Zonegran (zonisamide) for Migraine Prevention "I woke up one day with a feeling that I was rocking in a boat, severe head pressure, and nausea. This lasted 3 months until my neurologist prescribed this medication for migraines. It made me feel like I could live my life again. I do get a little forgetful on it but it is worth it to not have my migraines and constant dizziness."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 26, 2019

For Seizures "I have been Zonisamide since the age of 21 years and have nearly been on the drug for 3 years. Unfortunately I feel they have gradually ruined my life ever since. I have noticed the side effects of of uncontrollable anger, confusion, bone pains and dizziness coming over me at any point. I also suffer from being forgetful, brain fog and slow thinking "