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Zonegran (Zonisamide) May Be Effective Second-line Treatment for Neuropathic Pain: Presented at WCP

By Peggy Peck
Special to DG News

SAN DIEGO, CA -- August 21, 2002 -- Results of a small study of patients with neuropathic pain suggest that zonisamide (Zonegran®), a novel antiepileptic drug, may be effective when satisfactory pain control is not achieved with first line medications.

Janet Kunz, RN, MS, and Misha-Miroslav Backonja, MD, from the department of neurology, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, presented the results August 20^th at the 10^th World Congress on Pain.

The researchers enrolled 14 women and four men with neuropathic pain. Nine patients had complex regional pain syndrome, four had peripheral neuropathy, and five had various other types. Mean age was 46.9 years. Sixteen patients were taking at least one other medication for neuropathic pain. The mean pre-zonisamide pain rating was 6 (range 3.5 to 10).

Patients were treated with zonisamide 100 to 500 mg per day and rated their pain on a 0-10 scale (0=no pain, 10=worst pain imaginable) at baseline and after reaching maintenance dosage, Dr. Backonja said.

Eight patients (44.4 percent) experienced a mean 3.2-point decrease in pain symptoms on zonisamide and six patients experienced a 1 to 2 point decrease in pain symptoms. Two patients had no improvement in pain symptoms and two patients had an increase in pain symptoms while taking zonisamide.

Eleven patients experienced adverse events, including dizziness, nausea/vomiting, mental cloudiness, tiredness, constipation, heat intolerance/sweating, decreased sense of taste and sedation.

Based on these results, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of zonisamide for neuropathic pain are warranted, Dr. Backonja concluded.

Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. funded the study.

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