Zonisamide weight loss prescriptions online

Zonisamide is an antiepileptic drug that targets both dopamine and serotonin — 2 of the 3 main neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain that help regulate appetite. In a randomized controlled trial of zonisamide for weight loss, researchers found that patients who took 400 milligrams of zonisamide lost more weight during the study than those who took a placebo. In trials, people who took zonisamide lost about 4.5% of their body weight in 16 weeks.

Providers typically recommend taking zonisamide in combination with an adjusted diet from a dietitian and lifestyle counseling for optimal weight loss results. While providers can prescribe overweight and obese patients a daily dose of zonisamide alone, they also sometimes prescribe it along with other weight loss drugs to target different weight loss mechanisms.

Zonisamide and brand-name Zonegran come as an oral capsule. Zonisade is a liquid form of zonisamide that comes as an oral suspension. Capsules come in 25-, 50-, and 100-milligram strengths and are typically taken 1 or 2 times a day. The oral suspension comes as a white to off-white, strawberry-flavored liquid at 100 milligrams per 5 milliliters. Any form can be taken with or without food.

You take your doses at the same time each day to make it easier to remember to take it. Swallow the capsules whole rather than crushing, chewing, or splitting them. Carefully follow the prescription label instructions. And ask your provider for an explanation of anything you don’t understand.

The recommended initial dose of zonisamide is typically 100 milligrams per day. The maximum dose is 600 milligrams per day, but studies show that a dose above 400 milligrams a day doesn’t offer added benefits. Your provider will most likely start you off with a low dose of zonisamide then increase your dose gradually, no more than once every 2 weeks. It can take at least 2 weeks before you notice the full benefits of zonisamide.

If you’re taking zonisamide for seizures, your dose should be decreased gradually when you stop taking it.

The FDA approved Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate) in 2012 as a prescription medication for weight loss. Unlike zonisamide, Qsymia contains 2 different ingredients for weight loss: phentermine and topiramate. In trials on the clinical utility of Qsymia for treating obesity, patients taking Qsymia lost about 5% to 10% of their initial body weight within 56 weeks. 

Contrave (naltrexone HCI/bupropion HCI) is a prescription weight loss medication, approved in 2014 by the FDA for weight loss in adults who are obese or overweight with a related medical condition. Like Qsymia, Contrave contains 2 ingredients that work together to decrease your appetite and overall food intake while speeding up your metabolism. Patients taking Contrave for the treatment of obesity lost 5% to 10% of their initial body weight within 56 weeks. 

Phentermine is an oral weight loss medication, approved by the FDA in 1959 for appetite suppression and the treatment of obesity. Phentermine is approved for people to take for 3 months for weight loss when paired with increased physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet. In a retrospective cohort study on the safety and effectiveness of longer-term phentermine use, about 62% of patients taking phentermine for short-term use saw over 3% weight loss in 3 months. 

Xenical (orlistat) is a weight loss medication, approved by the FDA in 1999 to help overweight and obese individuals manage weight and reduce the risk of weight gain after previous weight loss when paired with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet. According to a pharmacotherapy of obesity medication update, patients taking Xenical lost 13.4 pounds over 1 year on average, and about 57% of patients lost at least 5% of their initial body weight.

Like zonisamide, these medications also have side effects. Qsymia’s common side effects include dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, constipation, changes in taste, dizziness, and tingling or numbness in the face, feet, arms, or hands. Contrave’s side effects are headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, diarrhea, and constipation. Phentermine’s adverse effects include high blood pressure, fast heartbeat, restlessness, insomnia, dry mouth, headache, diarrhea, and constipation. Xenical’s side effects are oily stool, fatty stool, oily spotting, nausea, stomach pain, loose stools, and an inability to control bowel movements.

The best way to find out which weight loss medication, if any, is best for you is to talk to a weight loss provider.