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Drug Interactions With Zonisamide
Luminal, Dilantin, and Mysoline are just a few of the medications that can lead to drug interactions with zonisamide. These interactions can cause problems such as decreased drug levels in the blood, which may affect the drugs' effectiveness. To learn more about the specific drug interactions with zonisamide that may apply to you, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider.
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Zonisamide (Zonegran®) can potentially interact with other medications, particularly other seizure medications. Some of the medicines that may lead to zonisamide drug interactions include:
- Carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro™, Tegretol®)
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, such as:
- Acetazolamide (Diamox®)
- Dichlorphenamide (Daranide®)
- Methazolamide
- Topiramate (Topamax®)
The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when zonisamide is combined with any of the drugs listed above.
Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine can decrease the level of zonisamide in your blood, perhaps making it less effective. Your healthcare provider will likely recommend a higher zonisamide dosage if you are taking carbamazepine, and may lower your dosage if you stop taking carbamazepine.
Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
Zonisamide has carbonic anhydrase-inhibiting properties (carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme in the body). Taking zonisamide with other medications that have such properties may increase the risk of kidney stones and metabolic acidosis (a condition in which there is too much acid in the body).
Phenobarbital
Combining zonisamide with phenobarbital can decrease the level of zonisamide in your blood, possibly making it less effective. Your healthcare provider will likely recommend a higher zonisamide dosage if you are taking phenobarbital, and may lower your dosage if you stop taking phenobarbital.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD