ZONEGRAN - epilepsy drug

Written by

mosweeny

Sun, October 07, 2007

just wanted to share:

ZONEGRAN (ZONISAMIDE) 100mg

my sister and i have had migraines for more than 15 years.

we've tried everything.

she was put on zonegran as a mood stabilizer and her migraines STOPPED. weird.

so i gave it a try. i went from 6-10 migraines a month - to 1. too weird. too amazing.

just thought i'd pass on the news...

hope this helps someone else...

(p.s., it's not like "stup-a-max"/topamax - you don't loose your memory like that; no real side effects for us besides a bit of weight loss in the first couple weeks)

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msmigraine

10/ 9/07 4:12am

I have never heard of this drug. Is this something that is common for a dr. to subscribe for a migraine sufferer? I know I've brought up different medications I have heard about here to my dr. and he says well, I haven't heard of that drug having any success on migraines....I get approx 12 migraines a month and am willing to try anything to get rid of them. I'm definately going to mention this to him. Did you get any side effects from this drug....Thanks Sarah

mosweeny

10/ 9/07 10:59am

no, it's not common for a dr to prescribe. my dr didn't know anything about it. but some dr prescribe topamax - which i guess is another anit-epileptic medicine, but my sister and i didn't do well on it (very bad memory loss). this is just another epilespy med. it's probably not the first thing doctors think about - but maybe if people start having more success, they will... my sis and i both had itchy skin (but no rash) for the first 2 weeks (and loss of appetite). no other side effects i've noticed and i've been on it for about 3 months. (i'm also on 100 mg effexor)

Nancy Harris Bonk

10/12/07 11:05am

Hello, and welcome to MyMigraineConnection.com!

What wonderful news, thank you for sharing.

Thank you for creating a SharePost. SharePosts are a form of blogging, and there are many things you can do with them. You can share an experience, suggest something that's helped you, use SharePosts as a Migraine and headache journal, and many other things.

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michelle

12/ 5/07 9:40am

I just started taking zonegran for migraines,myself. I am tapering up to 100mg, started at 25mg. I've only taken the med for 1 1/2 weeks. Haven't noticed any help with my daily headaches. How long did it take you to notice a difference?

Thanks,

mosweeny

1/11/08 12:10pm

sorry it's taken me forever to write! i noticed a difference in the first 3 weeks or so - but i didn't have daily headaches - just migraines when i ovulated and menstruated. hope it's working for you...

molly

Anonymous

3/19/09 3:52pm

I have bee a migrain sufferer for 20 years! I am 30 and I started at 9. Ive tried BP medications (which I have very normal BP so that didnt work) and over the counter stuff. I am getting sometimes 1 a week or 3 on a bad week, but always have a dull headache that almost never goes away. CAT screens show nothing, my sinuses are clear, so my new Dr rec'd this drug as well, 100mg at night every day. i start tomarro so I will post my side effects and my progress after my 4 week check up. Thanks for sharing.

Candy (Texas)

Donna

4/21/09 1:13am

Hello:

My 15 year old has had a constant headache now for 18 months. Please let me know if you have any sucess. Donna

Candy

4/21/09 12:32pm

Hello Donna, Well I took the medications for almost 3 weeks, and I did get relief from the headaches but the side effects were too bad so I discontinued. I felt like I had water on the back of my head..almost like a drugged feeling. I had on going insomia. I had no relief from that no matter what I took. I dropped 7 lbs cause I had no appetite what so ever. If I had continued the medications, maybe that would have passed. My co-worker takes 400mg of this daily and lots of other stuff and it works for her but we all react different I suppose. But I have gone to my OBGYN. I noticed when I started the patch 6 weeks after my first child (I was 20) I had a lot of migraines. They seemed to have gotten worse. I got off the patch in 2004 for 9 months to get pregnant with my son who is now 4. They seemed to have gotten better through my pregnancy...and hardly had any while I breast fed. I just started back in the last year or so and I stopped breat feeding in November of 2006. Ive been thinking about the last several years and I am beginning to think it was all due to hormones. My OBGYN agrees and on my next cycle I will be trying a birth control that treats migraines and adult acne and most of those symptoms that come with your period. It's a combined hormone therapy I believe. If she has recently started in the last few years it may have alot to do with her hormones. I am due for a hysterectomy in the next few years and he thinks that will help a bunch. I'd go see her OBGYN and see if hormone levels are normal or if it is recommended she start birth control. You could try it for about 6 months and see if that helps. I take Frova for an onset of a migraine and this helps. Its $50 co pay with insurance but its worth it. It'll make you feel kinda out of it but it'll help her. I hope she finds relief but I bet its those yucky hormones!!!

Donna

4/21/09 4:59pm

Thanks for your reply. I have her at the Mayo Headache Clinic and they are the ones that started her on the Topamax. She had some trouble with memory, so I backed her off. She had been on the birth control pill where you only have a period once every three months, and that did not help. After a year we stopped it. Her headaches started 18 months after her cycles started. She is very bright and in a tough Prep. school, and I know this makes it hard for her. We have had occipital nerve blocks and botox done with no response.

I think I will call her doctor back and ask about this medication and see what happens. Have you tried the Topamax before?

Donna

Candy

4/21/09 5:58pm

Topamax no..but my friend had tried that with no luck. But he has blood pressure fluctuation so that may be an underlying factor there. I haven't heard anything negative about it so maybe. Certain types of birth control will cause migraines I found out. I have a follow up appointment in the morning and I will ask him about her age and so forth and Topamax. I will be in touch tomarro. :)

Adita

10/30/09 12:55pm

Hello all! I was just started on Topamax about 2 weeks ago and it was HORRIBLE, I felt so OFF and I couldnt concentrate and I started having this flashing in my eyes so I was taken off the medication. My doctor just called this in for me and I am hoping this works! These migraines are ridiculous and knock me out... I am 34 years old and I've dealt with migraines now since I was about 18. I am willing to try anything. I am just afraid of having the same side effects as I did with the Topamax... did anyone have similar symptoms with Topamax?

Anonymous

2/24/10 10:39pm

Hi everyone...i just started zonegran this week for my daily migraines which have been ongoing for 2 and a half years. this was helpful to read other peoples results. i'll check back in with mine. after everything from medications to nerve blocks with no relief, im praying this is it!

ZONEGRAN - epilepsy drug

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