Zonisamide medication belong to Anticonvulsant/Sulfonamide class. Zonisamide may produce anticonvulsant effects through action at sodium and calcium channels. Zonisamide is used in the adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in adult epileptic patients.
How to Take Zonisamide
Take Zonisamide exactly as prescribed by health care provider. Zonisamide is generally available in market in the form Tablets 5 mg , Tablets 10 mg.
Dosage Instructions for Zonisamide Drug
Hypersensitivity to sulfonamides or zonisamide.
Interactions of Zonisamide with other drugs
Drugs that induce liver enzymes (eg, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin): May increase the metabolism and Cl and decrease the t ? of zonisamide.
What are the Side Effects of Zonisamide -
Because zonisamide is used as adjunctive therapy, figures obtained when zonisamide is added to concomitant antiepileptic drug therapy cannot be used to predict the frequency of adverse events in the course of usual medical practice. Except for potentially serious adverse effects (eg, blood dyscrasias, CV events), which have been reported to occur in less than 1% of the patients, the following adverse reactions have been reported in at least 1% of zonisamide-treated patients:
Like other medicines, Zonisamide can cause side effects. Some of the more common side effects of Zonisamide include
Warnings and precautions before taking Zonisamide :
* Advise patientt before taking Zonisamide that if medication needs to be discontinued it will be slowly withdrawn over a period of weeks unless safety concerns (eg, rash) require a more rapid withdrawal.
* Caution patient that drug may cause drowsiness and to use caution while driving or performing other tasks requiring mental alertness until tolerance is determined.
* Advise women t before taking Zonisamide of childbearing potential to use effective contraception during treatment with zonisamide.
* Advise women t before taking Zonisamide to notify health care provider if pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
* Instruct patientt before taking Zonisamide to contact health care provider immediately if developing a skin rash, sudden back pain, abdominal pain, blood in urine, fever, sore throat, oral ulcers, easy bruising, depression, unusual thoughts, speech or language problems, decreased sweating, or rise in body temperature.
* Instruct parent or caregiver to contact health care provider immediately if a child taking zonisamide is not sweating as usual with or without a fever.
* Instruct patient to inform health care provider if seizures become worse or if new types of seizures occur.
* Advise patient t before taking Zonisamide to inform health care provider if experiencing symptoms of depression.
* Advise patient not to take any prescription or OTC medications or dietary supplements unless advised by health care provider.
* Advise women to notify health care provider if pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
* Caution patient before taking Zonisamide to inform the health care provider if pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
What if Overdose of Zonisamide ?
If you think you or anyone else taken overdose of Zonisamide , immediately telephone your doctor or contact your local or regional Poisons Information Centre Seek medical attention immediately. You may need urgent medical attention. CNS symptoms, bradycardia, hypotension, respiratory depression, coma are may be the overdose symptoms of Zonisamide .
What if Missed Dose of Zonisamide ?
If you miss a dose of Zonisamide medicine and you remember within an hour or so, take the dose immediately. If you do not remember until later, skip the dose you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage Conditions for Zonisamide :
* Administer Zonisamide qd or bid as prescribed.
* Zonisamide May be administered without regard to meals. Administer with food if GI upset occurs.
* Administer Zonisamide capsules whole. Do not chew or break capsules.
* Increase dose of Zonisamide no more often than q 2 wk.
* Do not administer to patient with Ccr less than 50 mL/min.
* Store Zonisamide capsules at controlled room temperature (59? to 86'F). Protect from moisture and light.
