Note: This document contains side effect information about zonisamide. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Zonegran.
Applies to zonisamide: oral capsule, oral suspension.
Serious side effects of Zonegran
Along with its needed effects, zonisamide (the active ingredient contained in Zonegran) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking zonisamide:
More common
- Blindness
- blurred vision
- decreased vision
- discouragement
- double vision
- eye pain
- fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
- feeling sad or empty
- headache
- irritability
- lack of appetite
- loss of interest or pleasure
- mood or mental changes
- shakiness or unsteady walking
- tearing
- tiredness
- trouble concentrating
- trouble sleeping
Less common
- Agitation
- black, tarry stools
- bruising
- changes in skin color
- chest pain
- chills
- confusion
- cough
- delusions
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- fever
- hallucinations
- large, flat blue or purplish patches on the skin
- nervousness
- pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg
- painful or difficult urination
- pale skin
- pounding in the ears
- rash
- slow or fast heartbeat
- sore throat
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
- sweating
- swollen glands
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Rare
- Anxiety
- chest tightness
- clay-colored stools
- coma
- dark urine
- decreased urine output
- diarrhea
- dilated neck veins
- indigestion
- irregular breathing
- irregular heartbeat
- small, red or purple spots on the skin
- stiff neck
- stomach pain and cramps
- swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
- trouble breathing
- twitching, twisting, uncontrolled repetitive movements of the tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs
- unpleasant breath odor
- vomiting of blood
- watery or bloody diarrhea
- weight gain
- yellow eyes or skin
Incidence not known
- Change in near or distance vision
- difficulty in focusing eyes
- increase in frequency of seizures
- swelling of the face
Other side effects of Zonegran
Some side effects of zonisamide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears
- diarrhea
- difficulty with memory
- dizziness
- hearing loss
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- restlessness
- sleepiness
- unusual drowsiness
Less common
- Acid or sour stomach
- bad, unusual, or unpleasant taste in the mouth
- belching
- bleeding gums
- change in taste
- constipation
- decreased interest in sexual intercourse
- difficulty with speaking
- difficulty with thinking
- dry mouth
- general ill feeling
- headache
- heartburn
- inability to have or keep an erection
- increased hair growth, especially on the face
- irritation in the mouth
- loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
- loss of strength or energy
- mental slowness
- mouth ulcers
- muscle or joint pain
- redness and swelling of the gums
- 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, oral suspension.
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 lability, 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]
