Effect of zonisamide on essential tremor: a pilot crossover study in comparison with arotinolol.

Abstract

We performed a pilot, crossover trial of zonisamide (ZNS) on essential tremor patients. Patients were randomly selected to start either ZNS or arotinolol treatment for 2 weeks. After a washout period, the patients were switched to an alternative drug. The assessment of tremor was carried out using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin's clinical rating scale for tremor at baseline and 2 weeks after administration of each drug. There was a significant improvement after ZNS and arotinolol administration compared with the baseline. There was no significant difference in the antitremor effect between ZNS and arotinolol; however, ZNS was more effective for tremors of cranial nerve areas. Although the number of enrolled patients was limited in the present study, this open-label pilot study suggests that ZNS may have a therapeutic potential for essential tremor. A controlled trial of this drug in the future would be valuable.

• Authors: Shuhei Morita, Hideto Miwa, Tomoyoshi Kondo
• Journal: Parkinsonism & related disorders (Parkinsonism Relat Disord) Vol. 11 Issue 2 Pg. 101-3 (Mar 2005) ISSN: 1353-8020 [Print] England
• PMID: 15734668 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists
• Anticonvulsants
• Isoxazoles
• Propanolamines
• arotinolol
• Zonisamide

Topics

• Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Anticonvulsants (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Essential Tremor (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Isoxazoles (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pilot Projects
• Propanolamines (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Treatment Outcome
• Zonisamide