Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Adjunctive Zonisamide vs Replacement With Zonisamide of the Last Added Antiepileptic Drug
Partial Seizures
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Partial Seizures
Eligibility Criteria
Patients with localization-related epilepsy, who have added a second drug to the monotherapy, haven't obtained an adequate reduction of seizure frequency with this combination and have responded to zonisamide added as third drug for at least three months.
Inclusion criteria:
- Age ≥ 18 years;
- Patients with non progressive localization-related epilepsy;
- Patients who are able and willing to give written Informed Consent;
- Current treatment with three antiepileptic drugs. The last antiepileptic drug introduced must be zonisamide;
50% or greater seizure reduction* as assessed after an at least three-month maintenance period with zonisamide.
- = seizure frequency before starting zonisamide must be documented checking case histories.
Exclusion criteria:
- Patients contraindicated for zonisamide use (see SmPC);
- Patients with renal or hepatic impairment;
- Pregnant or lactating women;
- Women of childbearing age who are not willing to use any contraceptive method with established efficacy.
- Patients suffering from clinically significant psychiatric illness, psychological or behavioral problems which could interfere with study participation;
- Patients with a history (within the last 12 months) of alcohol or drug abuse or dependency;
- Patients who have been on an investigational drug or device within 30 days prior to the initiation of the present study;
- Patients with a documented computed axial tomography (CAT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan confirming the presence of a progressive neurological lesion within 12 months of the screening visit.
Sites / Locations
- AOU Ospedali riuniti Umberto I -G.M Lancisi-G.Salesi
- AO Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari
- Irccs "E. Medea"
- Struttura di Neurofisiopatologia, Universit? degli studi di Cagliari
- IRCCS "Eugenio Medea" Polo Scientifico di Conegliano
- AOU di Ferrara Arcispedale S. Anna
- Presidio Ospedale "S.Antonio Abate di Gallarate"
- UOC Neurofisiopatologia PO S. Salvatore
- AO della Provincia di Lodi
- IRCCS Centro neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo" di Messina
- AO di Rilievo Nazionale Antonio Cardarelli
- AO Universitaria Federico II
- AO Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone dell'Universit? degli Studi di Palermo
- AO Universitaria -Pisana
- AO Regionale "San Carlo" di Potenza
- PO "Misericordia e dolce"-USL 4 di Prato
- Azienda Complesso Ospedaliero San Filippo Neri
- Umberto I Policlinico di Roma
- Ospedale SS Giovanni e Paolo Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Adjunctive Zonisamide
Replacement with Zonisamide
Patients will be gradually down-titrated from the first add-on following a drug-specific scheme decided by the investigator. Discontinued from the first add-on, patients will remain on duotherapy until the end of the study, or until the clinical situation mandates withdrawal from the study, e.g. in case of seizure worsening or adverse events.
Patients will continue to receive zonisamide as third drug