Bipolar Disorder/Zonisamide

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Expert: - 9/10/2007


Question
I recently started taking this medication and have been taking it for about 3 months.
How do I stop taking this medication appropriately. What are the side effects and how long do they last.

Answer
Hi Lisa . . .

For direction on how to stop a medication you will have to ask you doctor. I am not able to give specific medical advice.

As for the side effects of zonisamide. The following is from a book I am in the process of completing:

Q: What are the most common side effects of zonisamide (Zonegran)?

A: The most common side effects of zonisamide (Zonegran), and the percentage of patients reporting them are:

•   Altered taste         47%
•   Fatigue                   47%
•   Dry mouth         47%
•   Cognitive problems       40%
•   Insomnia          33%
•   Nausea                  33%

Rarely zonisamide (Zonegran) causes a severe allergic reaction, depression, mania or psychosis.

Refs: Drug Facts and Comparisons, 60th Ed. St. Louis, Mo: Facts and Comparisons; 2006. Mago R, Huege S, Ahuja N, et al. Zonisamide-induced suicidal ideation. Psychosomatics, 2006, 47, 68-69. Anand A, Bukhari L, Jennings SA, et al. A preliminary open-label study of zonisamide treatment for bipolar depression in 10 patients. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2005, 66, 195-198. McElroy SL, Suppes T, Keck PE Jr, et al. Open-label adjunctive zonisamide in the treatment of bipolar disorders: A prospective trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2005, 66, 617-624. Majeres KD, Suppes T. A cautionary note when using zonisamide in youths: A case report of association with toxic epidermal necrolysis Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2004, 65, 1720. Ozaawa K, Kobayashi K, Noda S, et al. Zonisamide-induced depression and mania in patients with epilepsy. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2004, 24, 110-111. Miyamoto T, Kohsaka M, Koyama T. Psychotic episodes during zonisamide treatment. Seizure, 2000, 9, 65-70. Charles C, Stoez L, Tollefson G. Zonegran-induced mania. Psychosomatics, 1990, 31, 214-221.

Best regards . . .
Ivan
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Bipolar Disorder

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Ivan Goldberg, M.D.

Expertise

I am a psychiatrist/psychopharmacologist with many years of expereince in treating individuals with depressions, manic-depression (Bipolar Disorder), other mood disorders,. I am especially interested in the psychopharmacologic treatment of individuals with so called "treatment-resistant" syndromes.

Experience

I have been on the staff of the National Institute of Mental Health, Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. I am currently in full-time private practice in New York City.

A.B. Johns Hopkins University
M.D. N.Y.U. College of Medicine

I am the creator of Depression Central:http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html

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