Zonisamide for essential tremor: An evaluator‐blinded study |
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| Authors: | Adrian Handforth MD Fredricka C. Martin PhD Gail A. Kang MD Zeba Vanek MD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA;2. Research Service, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA;3. Parkinson's Disease Research Education Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA;4. Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA |
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| Abstract: | In this evaluator‐blinded open‐treatment trial, subjects with moderate/severe upper limb essential tremor were titrated to 300 mg/day zonisamide, or adjusted to a lesser dose if symptoms warranted, as monotherapy or as adjunct to stable antitremor medication, followed by a 12‐week extension phase. The primary efficacy outcome variables were blinded rater videotaped/drawing tremor score changes at the Treatment and Extension visits compared to Baseline, based on Fahn‐Tolosa‐Marin and Postural Tremor Scales. Subjects also rated Functional Disabilities. Primary outcomes showed reduced tremor scores at the Treatment (P < 0.00001, n = 25) and Extension (n = 16) visits, at mean doses of 252 and 225 mg/day, respectively. Subject ratings indicated 200 mg/day was superior to 100 mg/day, whereas 300 mg/day produced no additional benefit, but instead was associated with more adverse symptoms, most commonly somnolence, poor energy, imbalance, and altered taste. Future double‐blind placebo‐controlled trials are warranted. © 2008 Movement Disorders Society |
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| Keywords: | essential tremor zonisamide clinical trial |
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