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Long‐term safety and efficacy of zonisamide in patients with refractory partial‐onset epilepsy
Author(s) -
Wroe S. J.,
Yeates A. B.,
Marshall A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2008.01055.x
Subject(s) - zonisamide , refractory (planetary science) , medicine , dosing , epilepsy , partial epilepsy , anesthesia , adjunctive treatment , adverse effect , randomized controlled trial , partial seizures , antiepileptic drug , surgery , psychiatry , topiramate , physics , astrobiology
Objectives – To investigate whether zonisamide remains effective and well tolerated in the treatment of refractory partial epilepsy during long‐term treatment and with flexible dosing in clinical practice. Materials and methods – Patients with refractory partial epilepsy who completed a fixed‐dose, randomized, double‐blind clinical trial were recruited in an open‐label extension study with adjustment of zonisamide and other antiepileptic drug dosage according to the treating physician’s usual clinical practice. Results – An intention‐to‐treat analysis of 317 patients showed that zonisamide was well tolerated with a predictable safety profile. Patient retention rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 65.3%, 44.5% and 28.8%, respectively. Zonisamide treatment was associated with a maintained reduction in seizure frequency, with some patients achieving prolonged periods of seizure freedom. Conclusions – Flexible dosing with zonisamide demonstrated a good safety profile and sustained efficacy in the long‐term adjunctive treatment of refractory partial epilepsy.