Zonegran and Weight Loss: What Users Say

• Sti...
• January 4, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking Zonegran for a few years now at 300mg per day. It has really gotten my headaches under control to where I would only have a headache periodically. Weight loss has been a side effect that I haven't minded. The problem is I've had significant memory and focus issues. I hardly felt competent most of the time. I have slowly weaned myself down to 100mg per day. I notified my neurologist of this because it's an anti-seizure medicine, so you shouldn't stop it cold turkey or it could cause a seizure. My memory has improved significantly, but the headaches have returned with a vengeance. I'm back to taking narcotics to address each debilitating headache. I used to take Topamax. It too worked beautifully, but also wiped out the memory."

• Emi...
• October 9, 2013

For Seizures "I have been taking Zonegran, 300mg daily for 8 years. I have complex partial seizures that generalize about 90% of the time. I have tried just about every other medication out there and this is the only one that has kept my epilepsy under control. I do have side effects: some depression, anorexia (defined as loss of appetite). I started this medication weighing around 125 lbs and now after three children weigh 105 lbs and can't remember the last time I was hungry, and I have noticed that it is harder for me to retain information and I sometimes have to read things twice to understand them where before Zonegran I easily understood and retained information. Despite these side effects, I won't ever try a different medication. Totally worth it."

• 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!"

• Rid...
• April 13, 2013

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."

• BLo...
• March 18, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I took 300 mg of Zonegran for nearly 2 years. It worked really well to prevent my migraines at the start-it was like a dream come true. I did experience appetite reduction and weight loss, but I put it back on after about a year. The negative side effects were extreme for me over time. First, my depression got much worse. That could have been external factors, but the time that I started taking Zonegran and the severe increase in my symptoms match. Also, after some time, I noticed my cognitive function was severely inhibited. I was in graduate school at the time and began failing classes, slurring my words when 100% sober, and unable to remember things. When I went off, my migraines returned severely, especially period and allergy migraines."

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

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

• Hol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I just turned 19, and I've seen 3 neurologists, 4 neurosurgeons, and an epileptic specialist all in the last 6 months. None of them can really tell me what’s wrong with me, but Zonegran has helped a lot with the hard-hitting headaches. I still get dull “I can feel it” headaches almost every day, but nothing compared to what I used to get. I don’t get any major side effects, sometimes I slur or jumble words, but I can recover them quickly. If I take it on an empty stomach, my thought process is cloudy, but nothing major. Also, I was normal weight before, but I’ve lost 15 pounds since I started this medication 3 months ago."