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A Long‐term Follow‐up of Zonisamide Monotherapy
Author(s) -
Fukushima Katsuyuki,
Seino Masakazu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2006.00831.x
Subject(s) - zonisamide , medicine , epilepsy , adverse effect , pediatrics , incidence (geometry) , anesthesia , topiramate , psychiatry , physics , optics
Summary: Objectives: Several studies have reported the safety and efficacy of zonisamide monotherapy, but studies on its long‐term outcomes are limited. This chart review was conducted to evaluate the long‐term outcomes of zonisamide monotherapy. Methods: The charts were reviewed for 77 patients treated with zonisamide as monotherapy for 6–180 months between May 1985 and December 2003. Outcomes were analyzed by the following subcategories: patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy or with antiepileptic drug–resistant epilepsy, the type of epilepsy, patient age, and treatment period. Results: Of a total of 77 patients, 49 patients (64%) attained 50% or more reduction of seizure frequency and of those patients 38 (49%) attained 75% or more reduction, with 18 patients (24%) becoming seizure‐free from 6 to 180 (median 80.6 ± 43.6) months of follow‐up. Thirty‐eight patients (49%) continued zonisamide monotherapy as of December 2003. Proportions of patients having 75% or more reduction in seizure frequency in subcategories were as follows; 56% in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy and 48% in patients whose treatment was switched to zonisamide monotherapy owing to lack of efficacy of or adverse reaction to previous antiepileptic drugs; 60% in patients with localization‐related epilepsies and 38% in patients with generalized epilepsies; and 49% in pediatric patients and 50% in adult patients. Conclusion: Long‐term zonisamide monotherapy was efficacious in a wide range of patients with epilepsy. Zonisamide did not seem to exhibit a reduction in efficacy during long‐term use of up to 180 months.