Seizures after Zonisamide in dogs

The FDA has received 141 reports of seizures in dogs after Zonisamide. That is 46% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

141Reports
84%Marked serious
39%Recovered
17%Died or euthanised
6 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
20 21%
1–2 days
24 25%
3–7 days
10 10%
1–4 weeks
8 8.3%
Over a month
34 35%

How the animals did

Recovered
53 38%
Recovered with lasting effects
2 1.4%
Still unwell when reported
39 28%
Died
4 2.8%
Euthanised
20 14%
Not known
23 16%

Problems reported at the same time

24 17%
18 13%
13 9.2%
12 8.5%
Behaviour change
11 7.8%
Disorientation
10 7.1%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
3
1–3 years
27
4–7 years
44
8–11 years
36
12+ years
25

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Zonisamide cause seizures in dogs?
141 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?
In half of the reports with dates, it started within 6 days of the first dose.
What should I do?
Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Seizures with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Zonisamide in dogs · Medicines most reported with seizures