Abstract | PURPOSE: METHODS: Thirty patients with refractory PME (aged > or = 5 years), who were taking up to three antiepileptic drugs, received adjunctive zonisamide (< or = 6 mg/kg/day) therapy for 16 weeks. Myoclonic seizures were recorded daily over a 24-hour period or in 10-minute epochs in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Safety was assessed via adverse events (AEs); efficacy was measured by the percentage of patients experiencing a > or = 50% decrease in myoclonic seizure frequency from baseline. RESULTS: Treatment-related AEs, experienced by 53% (n = 16/30) of patients, led to five patients discontinuing zonisamide. The most common AEs were decreased appetite, somnolence, and asthenia. Overall, 36% of patients (n = 10/28) had a > or = 50% reduction in myoclonic seizure frequency. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that zonisamide may be useful in the treatment of patients with PME. However, due to the size and open-label character of this study, further research is required.
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Authors | David G Vossler, Joan A Conry, Jerome V Murphy, ZNS-502/505 PME Study Group |
Journal | Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape
(Epileptic Disord)
Vol. 10
Issue 1
Pg. 31-4
(Mar 2008)
ISSN: 1294-9361 [Print] France |
PMID | 18367429
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Anticonvulsants
- Isoxazoles
- Zonisamide
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Anticonvulsants
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Female
- Humans
- Isoxazoles
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Male
- Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive
(drug therapy)
- Seizures
(drug therapy)
- Zonisamide
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