Topamax vs. Zonegran

• Are Topamax and Zonegran the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Topamax?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Zonegran?
• What is Topamax?
• What is Zonegran?
• What Drugs Interact with Topamax?
• What Drugs Interact with Zonegran?
• How Should Topamax Be Taken?
• How Should Zonegran Be Taken?

Topamax (topiramate) and Zonegran (zonisamide) are anticonvulsants used to prevent epileptic seizures.

Topamax is also used to prevent migraine headaches.

Common side effects of Topamax include:

• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• dizziness,
• blurred vision,
• constipation,
• weight gain,
• trouble urinating,
• headache,
• increased hunger, and
• changes in taste.

Common side effects of Zonegran include:

• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• tired feeling,
• loss of appetite,
• weight loss,
• loss of balance or coordination,
• sore throat,
• cough,
• trouble sleeping,
• diarrhea,
• blurred vision, or
• double vision.

Tell the doctor immediately if you notice serious side effects of Zonegran including increased or worsening seizures, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating, fever, chills, sores in your mouth and throat, severe pain in your lower back, blood in your urine, feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, or severe skin reaction.

Topamax (topiramate) is an anticonvulsant prescribed for preventing epileptic seizures and migraine headaches. Topamax is available as a generic drug.

Zonegran (zonisamide) is a sulfonamide anticonvulsant and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in adults with epilepsy.

Topamax may interact with other medicines that can make you sleepy (cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for depression or anxiety), other seizure medications, lithium, hydrochlorothiazide, metformin, atropine, belladonna, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bronchodilators, bladder or urinary medications, or glaucoma medications.

Zonegran may interact with other medicines that can make you sleepy (cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for depression or anxiety) or other seizure medications. Topamax may also interact with lithium, hydrochlorothiazide, metformin, atropine, belladonna, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bronchodilators, bladder or urinary medications, or glaucoma medications.

Topamax usual adult dose is 200mg twice a day. Drug interactions include acetazolamide (Diamox), methazolamide (Neptazane), dichlorphenamide (Daranide), carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin) and oral contraceptives. There are no adequate studies of Topamax in pregnant women and it is not known if Topamax is secreted in human breast milk. Use during pregnancy is not recommended unless the potential benefit outweighs the potential unknown risk to the fetus. Topamax passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The dose of Zonegran is 25 mg or 100 mg capsules administered orally once or twice daily.