Zonegran vs. Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant)

Zonegran (zonisamide) and gabapentin are anticonvulsants used to treat seizures in patients with epilepsy.

Gabapentin is also used to treat nerve pain caused by shingles (herpes zoster).

Brand names for gabapentin include Nurontin, Gralise, Neuraptine, and SmartRx Gaba-V Kit.

Side effects of Zonegran and gabapentin that are similar include drowsiness, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and double vision.

Side effects of Zonegran that are different from gabapentin include headache, tired feeling, loss of appetite, weight loss, sore throat, cough, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, and blurred vision.

Side effects of gabapentin that are different from Zonegran include memory loss, difficulty speaking, viral infections, tremors, fever, unusual eye movements, jerky movements, mood or behavior changes, depression, and anxiety.

Both Zonegran and gabapentin may interact with alcohol, other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for depression or anxiety), and other seizure medications.

Zonegran may also interact with topiramate and cold or allergy medicines that contain antihistamines.

Gabapentin may also interact with naproxen.

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.

Common side effects of Gabapentin include:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• unsteadiness,
• memory loss,
• lack of coordination,
• difficulty speaking,
• viral infections,
• tremors,
• double vision,
• fever,
• unusual eye movements, and
• jerky movements.

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.

Gabapentin is a prescription medicine used to treat:

• Pain from damaged nerves (postherpetic pain) that follows healing of shingles (a painful rash that comes after a herpes zoster infection) in adults.
• Partial seizures when taken together with other medicines in adults and children 3 years of age and older with seizures.

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. Gabapentin may also interact with lithium, hydrochlorothiazide, metformin, atropine, belladonna, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bronchodilators, bladder or urinary medications, or glaucoma medications.

Do Not take Gabapentin if you are allergic to gabapentin or any of the other ingredients in Gabapentin. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Gabapentin.

Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Gabapentin without first talking with your healthcare provider. Taking Gabapentin with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Gabapentin affects you. Gabapentin can slow your thinking and motor skills.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Taking Gabapentin with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

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

Take Gabapentin exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Gabapentin to take.

Do not change your dose of Gabapentin without talking to your healthcare provider.

If you take Gabapentin tablets and break a tablet in half, the unused half of the tablet should be taken at your next scheduled dose. Half tablets not used within 28 days of breaking should be thrown away. Take Gabapentin capsules with water.

Gabapentin tablets can be taken with or without food. If you take an antacid containing aluminum and magnesium, such as Maalox®, Mylanta®, Gelusil®, Gaviscon®, or Di-Gel®, you should wait at least 2 hours before taking your next dose of Gabapentin.

If you take too much Gabapentin, call your healthcare provider or your local Poison Control Center right away at 1-800-222-1222.