Objective: To investigate the effect of zonisamide (ZNS) on motor and non-motor symptoms, such as depressive symptoms and sleep problems, in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: ZNS has been approved for use to treat motor symptoms and motor complication of PD. A few studies have addressed effects of ZNS on non-motor symptoms.

Method: In a 3-month, open-label study, we evaluated the effects of ZNS on motor and non-motor symptoms in levodopa-treated 18 PD patients with motor fluctuation. Participants received 25-50 mg/day of ZNS and were assessed for the Japanese version of the Movement Disorder Society Revision of the Unified PD Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) parts I, III, and IV, PD sleep scale (PDSS)-2, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)- II and PD Questionnaire (PDQ-8) at baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months.

Results: Seventeen patients completed the study. At 3 months, scores of MDS-UPDRS parts I, III and IV significantly improved and off-time reduced compared to baseline. PDSS-2 total score also significantly decreased at 3 months. We found that the tremor group had significant improvement in PDSS-2 and BDI-II scores compared with the non-tremor group.

Conclusion: Our study results showed the beneficial effects of ZNS in levodopa-treated PD patients with motor fluctuation. ZNS may be more effective in PD patients with tremor compared with those without tremor.

« Back to 2019 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-effects-of-zonisamide-on-motor-and-non-motor-symptoms-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-a-3-month-open-label-study/