Zonisamide Use in Clinical Practice: Experience in 45 Patients.
Abstract number :
2.268
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
2280
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
J. Schimschock, MD, Child Neurology Clinic, Portland, OR; B. Burkholder Garen, RN, BSN, Child Neurology Clinic, Portland, OR
RATIONALE: Zonisamide is a unique sulfonamide antiepilepsy drug (AED) that is believed to exert its antiseizure effects via sodium and calcium channel blocking activities. The purpose of this analysis was to examine a large, diverse database of zonisamide-treated patients from a private practice.
METHODS: This was a retrospective database analysis of 45 zonisamide-treated patients, of multiple seizure types, from one clinic. Zonisamide was used as adjunctive therapy in all patients.
RESULTS: Records for 27 males and 18 females receiving zonisamide as adjunctive therapy were analyzed. Mean age was 17 years (range=2 to 46); 25 patients (56%) were under age 16. Mean patient weight was 28 kg (range=14 to 107). Seizure onset types varied, including focal (16 patients, 36%), generalized (20 patients, 44%), and mixed (9 patients, 20%). Mean zonisamide dosage was 441 mg/d (range=100 to 800); 17 patients (38%) received zonisamide dosages [gt]400 mg/d. Mean duration of zonisamide therapy was 26 weeks (range=6 to 52). Prior to initiation of zonisamide therapy, the mean number of AEDs per patient was 3.27, which was reduced to 2.78 after the addition of zonisamide (a 15% reduction). Overall efficacy and tolerability of zonisamide in these patients was favorable.
CONCLUSIONS: Information from this patient database suggests that zonisamide is a valuable AED in treating a variety of seizure types in a wide age range of patients. The database collection tool used for this analysis is a useful tool for assessing response to an AED.
Support: Elan Pharmaceuticals
Disclosure: Grant - Elan Pharmaceuticals