Zonisamide/Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors Interactions
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
In addition to treating seizures, zonisamide also inhibits the carbonic anhydrase enzyme. When this enzyme is inhibited, there is a risk of your blood becoming acidic. Also, your kidneys do not remove as much citrate as they normally do and the acidity of your urine is decreased. These conditions can increase the risk of a kidney stone forming.The combination of zonisamide and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors may increase your risk of heat stroke, which can be serious.
What might happen:
If you use these medicines together, you may develop too much acid in your blood, or you may get a kidney stone.Your temperature may become elevated and you may become dehydrated.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together.Tell your doctor if you are on a special diet for weight loss or epilepsy. Some of these diets may also increase your risk of your blood becoming acidic or developing a kidney stone. Your doctor may want to change one of your medicines.Tell your doctor right away if you develop fast breathing, fatigue/tiredness, loss of appetite, or irregular heart beat or palpitations.You may need to drink more water while taking these medicines together. If you develop any symptoms of a kidney stone (blood in your urine, a burning sensation when urinating, or pain in the lower back), contact your doctor.Monitor for signs of heat stroke or dehydration, which may include skin feeling hot, little or no sweating, confusion, muscle cramps, fast heartbeat, fast breathing, dry mouth, urinating less than usual, or irritability. Maintain hydration and avoid exposure to excessive temperatures and strenuous physical exercise.In children, if any of the following occur, the child needs urgent medical attention: skin feels very hot with little or no sweating, confusion, muscle cramps, fast heartbeat, or fast breathing. Take the child to a cool, shaded place. Keep the child's skin cool with water. Give the child cold water to drink.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
- 1.Zonisamide Dr. Reddy's UK summary of product characteristics. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Ltd April 17, 2018.
- 2.Zonegran (zonisamide) US prescribing information. Sunovion Pharms Inc April 13, 2020.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.