title: Zonisamide: newer antiepileptic agent with multiple mechanisms of action.
abstract: Zonisamide (Zonegran, Eisai, Inc.) is a broad spectrum antiepileptic drug indicated for use as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures. Zonisamide has multiple mechanisms of action, which may explain widespread reports of its utility in focal epilepsy and generalized epilepsy, and for nonseizure disorders such as headache and neuropathic pain. Zonisamide has been available in Japan since 1989 and became available in the USA in 2002. The rights to this drug in North America and Europe were recently acquired by Eisai Co. A review of the chemical properties, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, potential mechanisms of action, efficacy in seizure and nonseizure disorders, and tolerability was therefore thought to be timely.
authors.affiliation: Two Lile Court, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. aeprog@swbell.net
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Biton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000078305:Zonisamide
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D007555:Isoxazoles; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000078305:Zonisamide