Zonegran Side Effects

Generic Name: zonisamide

Note: This page contains side effects data for the generic drug zonisamide. It is possible that some of the dosage forms included below may not apply to the brand name Zonegran.

For the Consumer

Applies to zonisamide: oral capsule, oral tablet

As well as its needed effects, zonisamide (the active ingredient contained in Zonegran) may cause unwanted side effects that require medical attention.

Major Side Effects

If any of the following side effects occur while taking zonisamide, check with your doctor immediately:

• Discouragement
• feeling sad or empty
• irritability
• lack of appetite
• loss of interest or pleasure
• mood or mental changes
• shakiness or unsteady walking
• tiredness
• trouble with concentrating
• trouble with sleeping

• Agitation
• bruising
• delusions
• hallucinations
• large, flat blue or purplish patches on the skin
• rash

If any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking zonisamide, get emergency help immediately:

• Difficult or labored breathing
• faintness
• loss of consciousness
• slow or irregular heartbeat

Minor Side Effects

Some zonisamide side effects may not need any medical attention. As your body gets used to the medicine these side effects may disappear. Your health care professional may be able to help you prevent or reduce these side effects, but do check with them if any of the following side effects continue, or if you are concerned about them:

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• anxiety
• difficulty with memory
• dizziness
• double vision
• headache
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• restlessness
• sleepiness
• sleeplessness
• unusual drowsiness
• unusual tiredness or weakness

• Aching muscles or joints
• acid or sour stomach
• bad, unusual, or unpleasant taste in the mouth
• belching
• change in taste
• chills
• constipation
• diarrhea
• difficulty with speaking
• difficulty with thinking
• dry mouth
• fever
• general ill feeling
• headache
• heartburn
• indigestion
• mental slowness
• nervousness
• runny or stuffy nose
• sneezing
• tingling, burning, or prickly feelings on the skin
• uncontrolled, back and forth, or rolling eye movements
• weight loss

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to zonisamide: oral capsule

General

The most common adverse reactions to this drug are somnolence, dizziness, and anorexia.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Anorexia (13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, constipation, dry mouth^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Somnolence (17%), dizziness (13%), headache (10%), ataxia
Common (1% to 10%): Paresthesia, fatigue, tiredness, bradyphrenia, tremor
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Convulsion
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Coma, grand mal seizure, myasthenic syndrome, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, status epilepticus
Postmarketing reports: Restless legs syndrome^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Speech abnormalities, difficulties in verbal expression, taste perversion^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Very common (10% or more): Agitation, irritability, confusional state, depression
Common (1% to 10%): Difficulty concentrating, difficulty with memory, mental slowing, insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, affect liability, psychotic disorder
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anger, aggression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hallucination, amnesia, mania^[Ref]

Ocular

Common (1% to 10%): Nystagmus, diplopia^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Rash
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, anhidrosis, erythema multiforme, pruritus, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis^[Ref]

Metabolic

Very common (10% or more): Anorexia
Common (1% to 10%): Weight loss
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Metabolic acidosis
Postmarketing reports: Elevated creatine phosphokinase^[Ref]

Hematologic

Common (1% to 10%): Ecchymosis
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, leukocytosis, leucopenia, lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Rhinitis
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pneumonia^[Ref]

Endocrine

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary tract infection
Postmarketing reports: Acute pancreatitis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Postmarketing reports: Rhabdomyolysis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary tract infection^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Common (1% to 10%): Hypersensitivity
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Drug induced hypersensitivity syndrome^[Ref]

Immunologic

Common (1% to 10%): Influenza syndrome^[Ref]

Renal

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Renal tubular acidosis
Frequency not reported: Nephrolithiasis, hydronephrosis, renal failure, urine abnormality^[Ref]

It is possible that some side effects of Zonegran may not have been reported. These can be reported to the FDA here. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.

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