Zonisamide has beneficial effects on Parkinson's disease patients.
Zonisamide (ZNS) is a generally well tolerated anticonvulsant that has beneficial effects on Parkinson's disease (PD). ZNS (300 mg/day) given to a patient with PD who incidentally had convulsive attacks, ameliorated the attacks and, surprisingly, his parkinsonian symptoms. We, therefore, carried out an open trial of ZNS on nine patients with PD. Patients were given 50-200 mg/day ZNS in addition to their anti-PD drugs. Seven clearly showed lessening of symptoms, especially wearing-off. We speculate that long lasting activation of dopamine synthesis by ZNS ameliorates parkinsonian symptoms, in particular wearing-off.
Murata
M
M
Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. mmurata-tky@umin.ac.jp
Horiuchi
E
E
Kanazawa
I
I
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D012642:Selegiline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000078305:Zonisamide
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D007555:Isoxazoles; D012642:Selegiline; D000078305:Zonisamide; D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine