Zonisamide and Irritability: 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"

• 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."

• was...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 23, 2020

Zonisamide for Seizures "Started taking 300 mg of Zonegran/Zonisamide my freshman year of high school and have been on it for 3 years. The drug is good at what it’s supposed to do-control seizures. However, the side effects are getting so extreme that I’m in the process of changing medicine. Lost 60 lbs, hands/feet feeling tingly, slurred speech, getting agitated, and more forgetful. Although those were tolerable and pretty mild, I started experiencing cloudy urine that would be incredibly painful and, at this point, unbearable. If you're thinking about taking this medication, make sure to DRINK WATER!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Took zonisamide 50 mg/day for 30 days, for vestibular migraine. Took away my appetite. Went from 118 to 107 lbs, and counting. I also had side effects of insomnia, agitation, anxiety, full-blown panic attacks. I do not feel like myself! Told my doc, and she said to stop the zonisamide. 5 days off, and praying my body will recover. This stuff is 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."