Zonegran and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say

• bet...
• June 18, 2020

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"

• Chi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 16, 2014

For Seizures "Been on this medicine for a long time. 10 years. It decreased my seizures a lot and my headaches. Also decreased my appetite and I've lost weight, which I have no problem with. Out of all seizure medicines I've been on, I highly suggest this one!"

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

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 4, 2011

For Seizures "I have recently been on Topamax and Keppra, both maxed out. My headaches were worse and my seizures were still happening. My doctor finally switched me to Zonegran 3 months ago. I am seizure-free, headaches have been much better, and I feel a lot more normal. I do have a low appetite, but not to where I can't eat. I love it!"

• Anonymous
• September 10, 2009

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 (Topamax, Trileptal, Depakote, and Phenobarbital). Best of all, it's only once a day!"

• Let...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2020

For Seizures "This week I've started on 50 mg Zonegran at night, and over the next few weeks, I will be increasing to 200 mg daily. This is the 9th AED I have tried for my complex partial epilepsy. I am taking this in conjunction with 400 mg Tegretol daily and 10-30 mg Frisium daily. I experience auras daily and have seizures approximately once a week. Since starting this drug, I have not experienced any auras or seizures, however, it is too early to know if it is actually working. The side effects so far have been rather uncomfortable. This includes headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, and feeling more tired/foggy than usual. Hoping the side effects will lessen over the next few weeks!"

• C-D...
• March 3, 2009

For Seizures "Loss of appetite, but seizure-free."