Zonisamide and Brain Fog: What Users Say

• bet...
• June 18, 2020

Zonisamide for Seizures "I have been on 100mg daily of Zonegran for 1 week. Today I will be upping my dose to 200mg daily. Next week I will be upping it to 300mg daily and maxing out there for about a month to see how my body fully reacts to the 300mg daily. Zonegran, so far, is the first medication to help with the seizures. It definitely has lessened the length of my seizures, and how often. The side effects aren’t even close to how bad side effects have been on any other anti-seizure meds. I am definitely very drowsy, a little more irritable, moving slower, and feeling foggy. Have way less of an appetite and not eating early as much. I am having some headaches. Aside from that, I’m happy with this medicine so far. Finding the right medicine can be so frustrating and makes you feel so alone sometimes. Hoping this comment can help others as well! Xo"

• dwe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2017

Zonisamide for Seizures "I took Zonegran (zonisamide) for approximately 4 weeks. That should tell you something. I knew by the third week that something was wrong with me. This drug ruined my thinking process. I got 'brain fog,' was unable to concentrate or focus on anything more than 2-3 minutes. I could not remember 50% or more of anything I read or was told. It made me depressed and discouraged, and I completely lost interest in nearly everything. It began to affect me emotionally, and I became extremely irritable at times. It also made me very sleepy and reduced my appetite tremendously. *Worst of all, it did not stop my seizures. Zonegran must be one of, if not the worst anti-seizure medications I've taken in my life. I don't recommend it."

• 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."

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

For Migraine Prevention "Switched from Topamax 15 mg to Zonisamide 50 mg for 1 1/2 months. 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Yca...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 30, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I have tried everything in the book preventatively, but this is the first thing that's worked with the fewest side effects that I notice (I haven't noticed any of the brain fog or cognitive issues that I know of...but maybe I have them and just don't know, lol); I'm on 300 mg for a few years now - lost weight at first, which I didn't mind at all. But recently, every time there's going to be rain in the forecast, I wake up with a migraine...I wake up, have a headache - check the weather and sure enough, there's rain today, so I take a concoction and lay back down until it goes away. I'm going back for my regular checkup next month and we're going to have to discuss options because I cannot manage life around the weather like this."

• Jes...
• February 22, 2018

For Seizures "Started Zonisamide about a week ago, and at first, it was okay. I had a bit of mind fog, and now I feel as if I have the flu. My head hurt constantly, even though I was told to take my meds at night. I couldn't sleep for hours, even though I was exhausted. I lose my breath easily and get super anxious for no reason. Even worse, I called my doctor, and they won't take me off of it. Side effects are awful."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 13, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I was put on Zonegran for back issues. I was in so much pain with discs out of place in my upper and lower back that I honestly thought I had cancer. I am a breast cancer survivor, and when this pain hit, I started looking for answers and started seeing doctors. The doctors, including my oncologist, ran tests, and they came out normal. I was referred to a neurologist, and he ran tests only to find out the problem was my back and my options were surgery or meds. This medication causes brain fog and hair loss, and sometimes I can’t find my words. It can also cause UTIs if you don’t drink enough water. For the hair loss, add vitamin B6 100 mg a day, it helped me! I take 400 mg a day and 200 mg of topiramate for the last 3 years and have lost over 100 pounds, so then there’s that."