Zonisamide and Anger: What Users Say

• Pea...
• May 2, 2021

Zonisamide for Seizures "Zonegran has stopped my seizures, but I'd rather have seizures than deal with these side effects. I lost my job due to this medication. I am 21 years old and tried watching Harry Potter... couldn’t understand a thing. Words do not click for me anymore. I had to set reminders for everything because I can’t even remember simple tasks. Social activities are out of the question. I am so anxious and paranoid all the time. I get a feeling that someone is behind me even if I’m lying down or standing up against a wall. I haven’t battled with depression that’s been this intense before. This stuff makes me feel non-existent. All I want to do is sleep. It made me weak physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s changing my personality and my relationships. It made me so angry and hurtful. It’s scary stuff. I wouldn’t recommend this medication, especially for those who already cannot communicate clearly due to age or disability."

• Dav...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 16, 2020

Zonisamide for Seizures "This drug Zonegran made me angry, depressed, and generally uninterested in life. The cognitive effects are pretty severe as well. Almost lost my job due to my performance while on Zonegran. When I stopped taking it, I felt like someone lifted the fog and turned the lights on again."

• 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 that 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 minimum 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 over 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."

• ste...
• July 3, 2016

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 not have 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."

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

For Seizures "I have been on Zonisamide since the age of 21 years and have nearly been on the drug for 3 years. Unfortunately, I feel it has gradually ruined my life ever since. I have noticed the side effects 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."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2018

For Seizures "Took this epilepsy drug, and within a few weeks, I lost the plot. I felt as though my brain would explode with the rage inside, then felt suicidal. Obviously, I don't recommend this in any shape or form. Be aware, as the dose increases, your brain starts to shut down."

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

For Seizures "I've been on zonisamide for about 3.5 years now to control my grand mal seizures. From early on at 200 mg, I noticed some 'fog' and chronic depression, but it was manageable and, more importantly, the seizures were controlled. Later, I went up to 300 mg 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 thoughts mid-sentence at least 10 times a day. It's really damaging my relationships and self-efficacy."

• Bru...
• June 30, 2016

Zonisamide for Seizures "I first took it in 1984 as part of the study. It was so, so, it didn't work sufficiently, and the epileptologist took me off of it for fear of kidney stones impacting a teenager. When having major problems with Onfi and having tried 25+ meds over the past 41+ years, I thought I'd see if Zonegran had improved. A physician at Georgetown University in DC failed, like the FDA, to provide information stating that the medication can make a person who has had trauma and/or brain surgery go into orbit. It controlled seizures for a few months, made me do impulsive things like request retirement from a position paying over $104k/year. It made me hostile, nervous, go nuts, and elevated my Dilantin level, caused gingival hyperplasia so my teeth are painful and ruined."

• Art...
• October 9, 2017

For Seizures "This drug made me angry to the point that I could not use it. I am normally very laid-back, but this made me aggressive and difficult to live with."

• Art...
• October 9, 2017

For Seizures "This drug made me angry to the point that I could not use it. I am normally very laid-back, but this made me aggressive and difficult to live with."