Abstract |
Epilepsy is a chronic disease which affects 1% of the population worldwide. As treatment is required for many years or decades, the long-term efficacy and tolerability of antiepileptic drugs are particularly important. Zonisamide (ZNS) is a second-generation antiepileptic drug with a unique structure and multiple mechanisms of action. Here, recently published long-term outcomes of patient cohorts with focal epilepsy undergoing ZNS treatment are discussed. Whereas ZNS monotherapy maintains similar seizure control efficacy to carbamazepine after 2 years of treatment, seizure-free rates are low in pharmacoresistant patients undergoing late adjunctive therapy. In preselected patient populations derived from double-blind studies, long-term seizure reduction and responder rates support sustained ZNS efficacy, good adherence and long-term retention. Adverse effects include somnolence and weight decrease, but data suggest that long-term treatment with ZNS is safe with only rare newly occurring adverse effects, and good long-term tolerability also regarding mood, behavior, cognition and bone maturation.
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Authors | Andreas Schulze-Bonhage |
Journal | Expert review of neurotherapeutics
(Expert Rev Neurother)
Vol. 15
Issue 8
Pg. 857-65
( 2015)
ISSN: 1744-8360 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 26144543
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
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Chemical References |
- Anticonvulsants
- Isoxazoles
- Carbamazepine
- Zonisamide
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Anticonvulsants
(therapeutic use)
- Carbamazepine
(therapeutic use)
- Cohort Studies
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Double-Blind Method
- Epilepsies, Partial
(drug therapy)
- Female
- Humans
- Isoxazoles
(therapeutic use)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Treatment Outcome
- Young Adult
- Zonisamide
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