Our daughter (21 months old)has cp seizures, multiple times a day. We have been through all the usual drugs (Phenobarb, Tegretol, Lamictol, Dilantin, Neurontin, Keppra, Trileptol, Klonopin, did I get them all?) and now we are discussing Zonogran (sp?) with the neuro. Anyone know anything about it? Who makes it? Approval date? Side effects?

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Failure is not an option; it is bundled with your software.

NDA 20-789; ZONEGRAN (zonisamide) Capsules 100mg Page 1
FDA Approved Labeling Text dated 3/27/00
ZONEGRAN™ (zonisamide) capsules Rx Only
DESCRIPTION
ZONEGRAN™ (zonisamide) is an antiseizure drug chemically classified as a
sulfonamide and unrelated to other antiseizure agents. The active ingredient is
zonisamide, 1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonamide. The empirical formula is
C8H8N2O3S with a molecular weight of 212.23. Zonisamide is a white powder, pKa =
10.2, and is moderately soluble in water (0.80 mg/mL) and 0.1 N HCl (0.50 mg/mL).
The chemical structure is:
N
O
CH 2 SO 2 NH 2
ZONEGRAN is supplied for oral administration as capsules containing 100 mg
zonisamide. Each capsule contains the labeled amount of zonisamide plus the
following inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, hydrogenated vegetable oil,
sodium laurel sulfate, gelatin, and colorants.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Mechanism of Action: The precise mechanism(s) by which zonisamide exerts its
antiseizure effect is unknown. Zonisamide demonstrated anticonvulsant activity in
several experimental models. In animals, zonisamide was effective against tonic
extension seizures induced by maximal electroshock but ineffective against clonic
seizures induced by subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol. Zonisamide raised the threshold
for generalized seizures in the kindled rat model and reduced the duration of cortical
focal seizures induced by electrical stimulation of the visual cortex in cats.
Furthermore, zonisamide suppressed both interictal spikes and the secondarily
generalized seizures produced by cortical application of tungstic acid gel in rats or by
cortical freezing in cats. The relevance of these models to human epilepsy is unknown.
Zonisamide may produce these effects through action at sodium and calcium channels.
In vitro pharmacological studies suggest that zonisamide blocks sodium channels and
reduces voltage-dependent, transient inward currents (T-type Ca
2+
currents),
consequently stabilizing neuronal membranes and suppressing neuronal
hypersynchronization. In vitro binding studies have demonstrated that zonisamide
binds to the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor ionophore complex in an allosteric fashion
which does not produce changes in chloride flux. Other in vitro studies have
demonstrated that zonisamide (10–30 mg/mL) suppresses synaptically-driven electrical

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Mark Yannone
mjyannone@aol.com

well that was the geek answer... ; )

WebMD is a little more user friendly. A search of the site for "zonisamide" and "ZONEGRAN" came up as very weak.

Off we go to RXlist.com search for either word and you can't miss the listing. Across the top banner you can click on things like "Side Effects and Drug Interactions". http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/zonisamide_ad.htm

The google search came up with some nice pay dirt: FDA http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/druginfo/zonegran.HTM
(ah! it's a newer drug) http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/drugs/dru613.html

oh just run the search at google.com and read everything for "ZONEGRAN"

good luck!

-Zoe, hrrrmmm... and Irish drug... interesting...