Zonegran is a drug that is approved for use with other seizure medications to control partial seizures. It works by stopping seizure activity from starting and preventing it from spreading to other parts of the brain. The drug comes in capsule form and is generally taken once or twice a day. Common side effects of Zonegran include drowsiness, nausea, and headaches.
Zonegran
® (
zonisamide) is a prescription medication used to treat partial
seizures, a specific type of epileptic
seizure. Seizures are divided into two major categories: partial seizures (sometimes called focal seizures) and generalized seizures. Partial seizures occur in just one part of the brain, while generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain. Zonegran is approved to be used together with other seizure medications to control partial seizures.
Currently, Zonegran is made by Eisai, Inc.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder caused by recurring, brief changes in the brain's electrical system. These changes in brain activity can lead to a seizure
(see Epilepsy Symptoms).
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 activity of nerve cells, preventing them from firing abnormally. Zonegran may also affect calcium in the brain. Evidence suggests that the medication works to stop seizure activity from starting and preventing it from spreading to other parts of the brain.
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