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Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy
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Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

Broad-spectrum efficacy of zonisamide at 12 months in children with intractable epilepsy

David E Mandelbaum1, Marjorie Bunch, Steven L Kugler

  • 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI, USA. David_Mandelbaum@brown.edu

Journal of Child Neurology
|September 15, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Zonisamide effectively controlled seizures in children with intractable epilepsy, showing comparable efficacy across seizure types and unaffected by cognitive status. Combination therapy with levetiracetam warrants further investigation due to potential negative outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Intractable epilepsy in children presents significant management challenges.
  • Identifying effective antiepileptic drugs is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of zonisamide in children with intractable epilepsy.
  • To assess the influence of seizure type and cognitive status on zonisamide's effectiveness.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 35 children with intractable epilepsy treated with zonisamide for 12 months.
  • Analysis of seizure frequency reduction, seizure types, cognitive function, and concomitant medications.

Main Results:

  • Zonisamide achieved 50-100% seizure reduction in 54% of patients with generalized seizures, 40% with focal seizures, and 35% with mixed seizures.
  • Efficacy was comparable across focal, generalized, and mixed seizure types and independent of cognitive status.
  • Adverse effects were not dose-dependent; combination therapy with levetiracetam showed a worse outcome.

Conclusions:

  • Zonisamide is an effective treatment option for pediatric intractable epilepsy, with consistent efficacy across various seizure types.
  • Further research is needed to understand the interaction between zonisamide and levetiracetam.
  • Cognitive status does not appear to influence zonisamide's efficacy in this pediatric population.

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