What Is Zonisamide Used For? (Cont.)

How Does Zonisamide Work?

During a seizure, brain cells (neurons) may fire as many as 500 times a second, much faster than the normal rate of about 80 times a second. It is not known exactly how zonisamide works to prevent partial seizures in people with epilepsy. It may work by blocking sodium channels in the brain. By blocking sodium channels, the drug may decrease activity of nerve cells, preventing them from firing abnormally. Zonisamide may also affect calcium in the brain. Evidence suggests that it works to stop seizure activity from starting and preventing it from spreading to other parts of the brain.
 

Is Zonisamide Used for in Children?

Zonisamide is approved to be used along with other seizure medications to treat partial seizures in adolescents with epilepsy age 16 and older. It is not approved for younger children. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children.
 

Is Zonisamide Used for Off-Label Reasons?

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend zonisamide for something other than partial seizures. At this time, using the drug to treat other types of seizures is considered an off-label zonisamide use.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;