Posted by Mitch on August 11, 2001, at 0:18:02
In reply to Zonisamide for Depression, posted by SalArmy4me on August 10, 2001, at 19:25:18
> I'm starting this drug today. Has anyone tried it?
>
> Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Japan. [Effects of carbamazepine and zonisamide on acetylcholine levels in rat striatum]. [Japanese]
> Nihon Shinkei Seishin Yakurigaku Zasshi. 17(1):17-23, 1997 Feb:
>
> "These results indicate that effective doses of CBZ and Zonisamide (ZNS) enhance ACh turnover and extracellular levels of ACh, while toxic doses of CBZ and ZNS (100 mg/kg) decrease them without affecting cholinesterase activity. The effects of CBZ and ZNS on ACh levels may, at least partly, explain the antiepileptic and mood stabilizing effects of these drugs...."
>
> Department of Neuro-psychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. The first open study of zonisamide, a novel anticonvulsant, shows efficacy in mania. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. 18(4):707-15, 1994 Jul:
>
> "Zonisamide, an anticonvulsant developed in Japan, is structurally similar to serotonin. Zonisamide has been proven to have a pharmacological profile that is very similar to that of carbamazepine. Thus, the effect of zonisamide was examined in 24 psychiatric patients: 15 with bipolar manic state, 6 with schizoaffective manic state, and 3 schizophrenic excitement. 2. Approximately 25% of all the patients and 33% of the bipolar manic patients showed remarkable global improvement with the addition of zonisamide. Approximately 71% of all the patients and 80% of the bipolar group had more than moderate global improvement. 3. No serious adverse reactions were found and no patients required zonisamide withdrawal..."
The adverse event section in the monograph for zonisamide (Zonegran, US) also shows a lot of cognitive adverse events, statistically significant rates of rash, and "schizophreniform" events. I was offered it a few months ago and declined after reading the insert. I want a little more data first. Nowadays, a new med starts off with a lot of wondrous promises and few side effects and usually with time you start seeing the realities. Are there any other studies that would help bolster the positive tone of this one?Mitch
poster:Mitch
thread:74542
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010809/msgs/74576.html