Zonisamide (Zonegran) Uses

Zonisamide is used for the treatment of partial seizures in adults. Also called focal seizures, partial onset seizures, or focal onset aware seizures, these seizures involve only one part of the brain. Zonisamide is used as adjunctive therapy, along with other antiepileptic drugs, to treat epilepsy. 

There may be other uses of zonisamide—your health system pharmacists or healthcare professionals can give you further drug information.

Zonisamide (Zonegran) Mechanism of Action

Zonisamide works by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain of people with epilepsy. Zonisamide is believed to act on voltage-gated sodium channels in brain cells.

Zonisamide (Zonegran) Doses

Zonisamide is available as 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg capsules (brand name Zonegran) and a 100 mg/5 mL oral suspension (brand name Zonisade). 

The typical starting dose of zonisamide in adults and children 16 years of age and older is 100 mg daily. This dose may be increased to 200 mg daily after two weeks, and then to 300 mg per day and 400 mg per day at two-week intervals, if needed. 

Zonisamide doses of 100 mg to 600 mg daily have been studied in clinical trials, but doses above 400 mg per day are rarely prescribed. People with kidney disease or liver disease may need to start at a lower dose and may need a slower dosage adjustment.