Zonegran
Generic Name
Zonisamide
Storage
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Uses
Zonisamide is a sulfa drug with anti-convulsant effects.
Zonisamide is used together with other anti-convulsant medications to treat partial seizures in adults with epilepsy.
Dose and Administration
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Possible Side Effects
As with most anticonvulsant drugs, zonisamide can cause drowsiness, incoordination and a depressed appetite in dogs. However, there is concern that there may be side effects associated with zonisamide of which we are currently unaware because it has had limited usage in dogs compared to many of the other drugs that we use routinely. Nevertheless, zonisamide does seem to be relatively safe for dogs.
Zonisamide also appears to be relatively safe in cats based on the what we know so far. Zonisamide has had even more limited use in cats than in dogs though and some veterinarians worry that we may not be fully aware of the safety profile and potential side effects that may occur using zonisamide for cats.
Zonisamide is known to cause birth defects in puppies and kittens and should not be given to pregnant or nursing animals.
Precautions
You should not use this medication if your pet is allergic to zonisamide, or to other sulfa drugs such as sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol), sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), or sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra, Sulfatrim, SMX-TMP, and others). A sulfa drug allergic reaction can be fatal.
Signs of Toxicity/Overdose
Overdose symptoms may include slow heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, and slow or shallow breathing.If you know or suspect your pet has had an overdose, or if you observe any of these signs in your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children and pets.
This information may not cover all possible uses, directions, side effects, precautions, allergic reactions, drug interactions, or withdrawal times. Always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet.
