Zonisamide

[dbarber634]

Hi there. I was recently taking Zonisamide for TLE (CP Seizures). I got very sick while taking the medication (muscle problems, GI, increase in sz). After seeing the FDA warning on the medication today, I reviewed the information regarding metabolic acidosis and a great deal of it matches what i went through. It has now been 4 months and I am doing much better but still have on-going weakness/shakiness. Can there be long term effects of metabolic acidosis? Or would any effects of this resolve with removal of the drug (I felt much better as I tapered off but just don't seem to have recovered completely). Thanks.

[MG (Admin)]

Did any blood tests suggest acidosis?
If you did have met acidosis then it would not cause any longterm problems. I am not sure this is the only cause though.
What meds are you on now?
What did you take before?
Why the change to zonisamide?

[dbarber634]

Hi there. I was diagnosed with TLE in March of 2008, started Zonisamide (initially 200 mg/day eventually ramped up to 500 mg/day over about 8 weeks). I have sinced ramped off of the Zonisamide and take 500 mg Tegretol. As soon as I started the Zonisamide, I started getting sick (had been healthy with exception of the sz prior). I did discuss it with neuro but he did not believe it was the drug but I was rather convinced. As the dose increased I got sicker. Symptoms were inability to eat, vomiting, diahrrea, muscle problems (weakness, couldn't bend joints- knees wouldn't go to 90 degrees), very irritable, etc. As I ramped off (decision was made because a follow-up EEG and a couple of bouts with cluster szs indicated it wasn't enough to control the sz). As I came off symptoms improved (and I still do feel much better than before). I have been off since September. Now, while I do feel much better than when on the drug, I still seem to have a couple of problems that haven't resolved, primariy muscle weakness and a problem when I eat any sugars/carbs (get very disconnected and have had a couple of sz). So, my question is if I had met acidosis (which we don't know because they never did check electrolytes), could there be any long term effects. I know that at this point, I would have ph balance back, but could some of the muscle issues be related to whatever it is that happened as a result of taken Zonisamide.

[MG (Admin)]

So, my question is if I had met acidosis (which we don't know because they never did check electrolytes), could there be any long term effects.

Cannot say for sure (as there has not been enough research on this topic) ...but IMHO it would be highly unlikely.