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Zonisamide as a Treatment for Partial Epileptic Seizures: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

Although the majority of people with epilepsy have a good prognosis and their seizures can be well controlled with pharmacotherapy, up to one-third of patients can develop drug-resistant epilepsy, especially those patients with partial seizures. This unmet need has driven considerable efforts over the last few decades aimed at developing and testing newer antiepileptic agents to improve seizure control. One of the most promising antiepileptic drugs of the new generation is zonisamide, a benzisoxazole derivative chemically unrelated to other anticonvulsant agents. In this article, the authors present the results of a systematic literature review summarizing the current evidence on the efficacy and tolerability of zonisamide for the treatment of partial seizures. Of particular interest within this updated review are the recent data on the use of zonisamide as monotherapy, as they might open new therapeutic avenues.

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Acknowledgments

No funding or sponsorship was received for this study or publication of this article. All named authors meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship for this manuscript, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given final approval for the version to be published.

Conflict of interest

Andrea E. Cavanna has received Board Membership fees and research grants from Eisai Pharmaceuticals and lectureship grants from Eisai Pharmaceuticals and Janssen-Cilag. Stefano Seri has received unrestricted educational grants from Eisai Pharmaceuticals, UCB Pharma, and Beacon Pharmaceuticals Limited. Joanna H. Cox has no conflict of interest.

Compliance with ethics guidelines

The analysis in this article is based on previously conducted studies, and does not involve any new studies of human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Joanna H. Cox & Andrea E. Cavanna

  2. Birmingham and Solihul Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

    Joanna H. Cox & Andrea E. Cavanna

  3. School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK

    Stefano Seri & Andrea E. Cavanna

  4. Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology and UCL, London, UK

    Andrea E. Cavanna

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  1. Joanna H. Cox
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  2. Stefano Seri
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Correspondence to Andrea E. Cavanna.

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Cox, J.H., Seri, S. & Cavanna, A.E. Zonisamide as a Treatment for Partial Epileptic Seizures: A Systematic Review. Adv Ther 31, 276–288 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-014-0104-1

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