Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Zonisamide - any experiences?

Posted by undopaminergic on June 3, 2008, at 23:10:13

I haven't read of anyone using zonisamide (Zonegran). I'd be interested in user experience with this drug. In any case, this message may generate some interest in a neglected treatment that may be of great utility in some conditions.

Zonisamide is medicine primarily employed in the treatment of epilepsy. It was introduced in the late 80s in some countries, and decades later in some other places. Zonisamide has no relationship to other contemporary anticonvulsants, although its clinical profile has some resemblance to that of carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine.

Those having limited success in their efforts to lose weight, and those experiencing drug-induced weight gain, may be particularly interested in a trial of zonisamide. Zonisamide has been found effective for weight reduction in obese patients, and prevents the elevation of weight and blood glucose by olanzapine-treatment in rats - which suggests that it may be of particular value to Zyprexa users.

Like other anticonvulsants, zonisamide can be useful in bipolar disorders for the treatment of both manic and depressive episodes. While it is a terrific solution for some bipolar patients, many of them discontinue it rapidly due to a worsening of the depressive or manic condition, or other adverse effects.

Zonisamide can be an excellent alternative in the treatment of essential tremor, as many patients tolerate it better than the conventional agents of choice for the condition - propranolol and primidone.

Like many other anticonvusants, zonisamide has been found to have significant analgesic efficacy in some conditions of neuropathic pain.

Some of the less extensively documented uses for zonisamide are in migraine prevention, and in anxiety refractory to conventional drugs.

However, by far the most interesting aspect of zonisamide is its poorly understood dopaminergic properties, including a pronounced effect on the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which has been confirmed by at least one double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Chronic - but not acute - treatment with zonisamide leads to an upregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase and enhanced synthesis of dopamine.

As a bonus, zonisamide seems to have not only serotonin-enhancing properties as well, but also increases acetylcholine levels. However, excessive doses may instead produce a reduction of the three neurotransmitters discussed (dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine - I haven't found any data on zonisamide's adrenergic effects, if any).


Share
Tweet  

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:undopaminergic thread:832801
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080528/msgs/832801.html