My experience with zonisamide for seizures (a sulfa drug)

Hello @lsittll

How wonderful that you found a drug that would help seizures! You must be thrilled after dealing with this disorder for over 50 years. It really is quite amazing that a sulfa drug could help so much.

I found an article on the Epilepsy Foundation website about Zonisamide for those who might be interested in learning more. Here is the link,
https://www.epilepsy.com/connect/forums/medication-issues/zonegran-zonisamide-0

I'm tagging fellow members @lady35 @dhramsey @lmcquade and @searching71, who will be interested in your experience with zonisamide (Zonegran),

@lsittll, how long have you been taking the combination of Lamcital, Depakote and zonisamide? Any side effects?

I started taking zonisamide approximately one year ago. It was added to the combination of Depakote and lamotrigine that I had already been taking. I have not had any side effects.

My doctor increased my zonisamide in September. I had no seizures in September and no seizures in October. After all the seizures I have had this is unreal.

@isittll
Congratulations Laurie, great news you haven't had any seizures in a couple of months.
Hopefully, they are fully controlled with the additional medication. My seizures stopped after 44 years without any medication changes so who knows what the future holds. We'll hope for the best.
Take care,
Jake

I am on keppra and need to get off it is really messing up my brain.Does anyone have any experience with vimpat or lamictal or depakote.The doctor is no help at all

@1710dave
I am sorry to hear the doctor is no help at all. Unfortunately that is how some of them are. I have taken lamictal for about fifteen years. I am on a hefty dose of 350mg daily. I have never noticed any side effects with it. The only potential side effect of it is a rash. Depakote I have taken for about fifty years. It can cause drowsiness. The only negative side effect I have found with it is it makes dieting a great challenge. The best of luck.

@1710dave
Hi Dave,
Trying to find an effective drug or drug cocktail can be a tedious journey.
Has the Keppra reduced your seizures either in number or severity?
I have never taken Vimpat and I don't think I took Lactical but did take Depakote. I used Depakote to control focal Aware seizures which worked well but didn't help my Tonic-Clonics.
I've probably heard more successful outcomes with Lactimal than any other Anticonvulsant.
Sometime back you asked about Phenobarbital. Did you ever talk to your Neurologist about it. Since you mentioned you had/have a lot of stress Phenobarbital may help any anxiety/stress as well as seizures. I was wondering if anxiety/stress may be a trigger for you.
Take care,
Jake

Completely understand and can sympathize with the experience with Keppra. My experience with Keppra was absolutely miserable as well. Ironically that was the one drug the doctors kept saying had the least side effects and was the most widely used/accepted AED. Got prescribed Vimpat but didn't fill the prescription because I can't afford a drug that costs a mortgage payment per month (~$1200 and a mere ~$350 after insurance). Hence why I continue to be on Zonisamide, which work well, keeps seizures at bay, and has a minimum of side-effects. The worst I have to deal with is the fact it is a diuretic.

Hi @waterryan
Happy to know that Zonisamide works well for you. My experience with Vimpat was absolutely miserable with severe side-effects, it was the worst AED I have tried. But again, each body reacts differently.
Have a nice day!
Santosha