Zonegran
How does it work?
Zonegran capsules contain the active ingredient zonisamide, which is a medicine that is used to treat epilepsy. It works by stabilising electrical activity in the brain.
The brain and nerves are made up of many nerve cells that communicate with each other through electrical signals. These signals must be carefully regulated for the brain and nerves to function properly. When abnormally rapid and repetitive electrical signals build up and spread through the brain, the brain becomes over-stimulated and normal function is disturbed. This can result in seizures or fits.
Zonisamide prevents epileptic fits by preventing the excessive electrical activity in the brain. It is not fully understood how zonisamide works, but it is thought to act on sodium and calcium channels found on the nerve cells in the brain. Sodium needs to move into the nerve cells for an electrical signal to build up and then be passed on to other nerve cells. Zonisamide may prevent sodium from entering the nerve cells when they begin to fire abnormally rapid and repetitive electrical signals. This helps stabilise the electrical activity in the brain and prevent the excessive seizure-causing signals from spreading through the brain.
Zonisamide may also affect the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. Neurotransmitters are natural body chemicals that are stored in nerve cells. They are also involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. GABA is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve calming' agent. It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance. Zonisamide may enhance the activity of GABA and so help calm the nerve activity in the brain.
Zonisamide is used as an add-on treatment for adults whose epilepsy has not been well controlled by other anti-epileptic medicines. It is used to prevent partial seizures, and partial seizures that spread to secondary generalised seizures.
What is it used for?
Warning!
Use with caution in
Not to be used in
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
There may be an increased risk of developing kidney stones if this medicine is taken in combination with other medicines that can have this side effect, for example topiramate, acetazolamide.
If this medicine is taken in combination with other medicines that can reduce sweating and raise body temperature, for example topiramate or anticholinergic medicines, there may be an increased risk of raised body temperature and possibly heat stroke, particularly in warm weather.
The following medicines may decrease the amount of zonisamide in your blood. If you start or stop treatment with any of these while taking zonisamide your doctor may need to increase your dose of zonisamide, as they could make it less effective:
Other medicines containing the same active ingredient
There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain zonisamide as the active ingredient.
The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use
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