title: Effects of zonisamide monotherapy in children with epilepsy.
abstract: This study examined the efficacy and safety of zonisamide as monotherapy in pediatric patients with epilepsy. Seventy-seven children with epilepsy (ages 8 months-15 years) were treated with zonisamide. Nine patients were withdrawn early because of side effects; these patients were included in side effect but not efficacy analyses. Zonisamide dosages were initiated at approximately 2 mg/kg per day and adjusted for each patient individually to a maximum of 12 mg/kg per day. Among 44 patients with cryptogenic/symptomatic partial epilepsy, 36 (82%) became seizure free; 4 (9%) had a > or =50% reduction in seizure frequency; and 4 (9%) had no change in seizures with zonisamide treatment. Of 11 patients with cryptogenic/symptomatic generalized epilepsy, 10 (91%) became seizure free, and 1 experienced no change with zonisamide treatment. Similarly, 4 patients (100%) with idiopathic partial epilepsy, and 8 of 9 patients (89%) with idiopathic generalized epilepsy became seizure free with zonisamide treatment; in the last group, 1 experienced no change. Thirty patients (39%) reported side effects, including somnolence (11.7%), decreased spontaneity (7.8%), anorexia (6.5%), and rash (6.5%). Thus, zonisamide is effective for partial seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures in children and should be considered a broad-spectrum antiepilepsy agent.
authors.affiliation: Eijyu General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maezawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014402:Tuberous Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D000078305:Zonisamide
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000078305:Zonisamide