Epilepsy Drug Helpful for Parkinson’s Disease

Zonisamide (Zonegran) significantly improved symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) when added to the patient’s treatment regimen. Zonegran, an epilepsy drug, improved tremors, motor fluctuations and dyskinesias in PD patients whose symptoms were not well controlled with the standard PD medication, levodopa.

A randomized multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in Japan studied a large group of patients who were treated with 25, 50 or 100 mg per day of Zonegran.

Zonegran improved all main PD symptoms in the patients including tremor and disabling dyskinesias. The greatest improvement was noted in the 50 mg per day dose group.

Participants were required to be on levodopa medications and were allowed to continue other anti-PD medications. Many were also taking dopamine receptor agonists, monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors, anticholinergics, amantadine or droxidopa.

Side effects were generally mild and included drowsiness, apathy, weight loss and constipation.

Source: Neurology 2007;68:45-50