Zonegran Uses (Cont.)

How Does Zonegran Work?

During a seizure, brain cells (neurons) may fire as many as 500 times a second, much faster than the normal rate of about 80 times a second. It is not known exactly how Zonegran works to prevent partial seizures in people with epilepsy. It may work by blocking sodium channels in the brain. By blocking sodium channels, Zonegran may decrease the activity of nerve cells, preventing them from firing abnormally. The medication may also affect calcium in the brain. Evidence suggests that Zonegran works to stop seizure activity from starting and preventing it from spreading to other parts of the brain.
 

Zonegran Uses in Children

Zonegran is approved to be used along with other seizure medications to treat partial seizures in adolescents with epilepsy age 16 and older. It is not approved for younger children. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children.
 

Off-Label Zonegran Uses

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Zonegran for something other than partial seizures. At this time, using the drug to treat other types of seizures is considered an off-label Zonegran use.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;