Fish Oil & Zonegran

Zonegran is the brand name of zonisamide, a medication used to control the symptoms of several neurological disorders. Scientific research indicates that some of these disorders may also be treated by supplementing with fish oil pills, which contain omega-3 fatty acids. The two, however, should not be used together unless you are under a doctor's supervision. Speak to your doctor about the possible side effects and other ways to include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet if you are on Zonegran and want to supplement with fish oil.

Uses

Zonegran is classified as an anticonvulsant, a drug that lowers high levels of electrical impulses in the brain to prevent seizures. It is most often used as part of epilepsy treatment, but it is also used for other mental illnesses that cause abnormally high brain activity. Although more research is needed, fish oil pill supplementation may also help treat some mental disorders, according to Medline Plus. Scientists have studied fish oil's effect on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psychosis, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, but the results have been mixed. According to the Schiffert Health Center at Virginia Tech, both Zonegran and fish oil pills may also help relieve headaches in migraine sufferers.

Interaction

The American Hospital Formulary Service consumer medication information for Zonegran does not specifically list fish oil pills as dangerous to combine with Zonegran. It does, however, recommend that you do not use any alternative nutritional supplements, vitamins or nonprescription medications with Zonegran until you've notified your physician. Zonegran may cause easy bruising and an increased chance of bleeding in some users, and the University of Maryland Medical Center warns that you should not consume fish oil pills with drugs known to thin the blood. In addition, Medline Plus reports that in clinical trials of fish oil supplementation, some participants' mental illness symptoms increased instead of decreasing. Until more research proves the safety of the combination, do not take both Zonegran and fish oil pills.

Expert Insight

British Nutrition Foundation scientist Anna Denny told "The Daily Mail" that people who want to increase their omega-3 fatty acid intake are better off regularly consuming fish than taking fish oil supplements. MayoClinic.com concurs, saying that the only people who may benefit from fish oil pills along with eating fish are individuals with heart disease. If you take Zonegran and eat two 3-ounce servings of omega-3-rich fish like salmon or herring weekly, you'll still receive the benefits of the fatty acids without having to worry about possible interactions between the drug and the pills.

Warning

If you still want to take fish oil pills while you are on Zonegran, remember that fish oil supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not checked for purity or safety. In 2006, some fish oil supplements were recalled after being contaminated with carcinogenic substances, and a 2012 study conducted by ConsumerReports.org found that several major brands of fish oil pills contained levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, that exceed safety regulations.