Zonisamide, sold under the brand name Zonegran among others, is a medication used to treat the symptoms of epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.
In 2020, it was the 276th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1million prescriptions.
Medical uses
Epilepsy
Zonisamide is approved in the United States,
and United Kingdom
for adjunctive treatment of partial seizures in adults and Japan for both adjunctive and monotherapy for partial seizures (simple, complex, secondarily generalized), generalized (tonic, tonic-clonic (grand mal), and atypical absence) and combined seizures.
In Australia it is marketed as both an adjunctive therapy and monotherapy for partial seizures only.
Parkinson's disease
It has been approved for the treatment of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), as an adjunct to
levodopa, in a few countries such as Japan.
In Japan, zonisamide has been used as an adjunct to levodopa treatment since 2009.
In addition, there is clinical evidence that zonisamide in combination with levodopa control of motor symptoms of PD but evidence for the treatment of the non motor symptoms of PD lacking.
Adverse effects
Adverse effects by incidence:
Very common (>10% incidence) adverse effects include:
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Anorexia
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Somnolence
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Dizziness
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Agitation
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Irritability
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Confusional state
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Depression
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Diplopia
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Memory impairment
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Decreased bicarbonate
Common (1–10% incidence) adverse effects include:
Incidence unknown
-
Reproductive toxic effects
Interactions
Zonisamide and other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as
topiramate,
furosemide, and hydrochlorothiazide have been known to interfere with
amobarbital, which has led to inadequate anesthetization during the
Wada test.
Zonisamide may also interact with other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors to increase the potential for metabolic acidosis.
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Additionally, the metabolism of zonisamide is inhibited by ketoconazole, ciclosporin, miconazole, fluconazole and carbamazepine (in descending order of inhibition) due to their effects on the CYP3A4 enzyme.
Zonisamide is not known to inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes when present at therapeutic concentrations.
Mechanism of action
Zonisamide is an antiseizure drug chemically classified as a sulfonamide and unrelated to other antiseizure agents. The precise mechanism by which zonisamide exerts its antiseizure effect is unknown, although it is believed that the drug blocks sodium and T-type calcium channels, which leads to the suppression of neuronal hypersynchronization (that is, seizure-form activity).[ It is also known to be a weak carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (similarly to the anticonvulsant topiramate). It is also known to modulate GABAergic and neurotransmission.]
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Variable, yet relatively rapid rate of absorption with a time to peak concentration of 2.8–3.9 hours. Bioavailability is close to 100% and food has no effect on the bioavailability of zonisamide but may affect the rate of absorption.
Metabolism
Zonisamide is metabolized mostly by the CYP3A4 isoenzyme, but also CYP3A7 and CYP3A5,
History
Zonisamide was discovered by Uno and colleagues in 1972
Research
Tardive dyskinesia
In an open-label trial zonisamide attenuated the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia.
Obesity
It has also been studied for obesity
Migraine
Zonisamide has been studied for and used as a migraine preventative medication, when topiramate is either ineffective or cannot be continued due to side effects.
Bipolar depression
It has also been used off-label by psychiatrists as a mood stabilizer to treat bipolar depression.
