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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Mr.Scott on March 3, 2005, at 23:21:58
Any noteworthy personal experiences with this one?
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 03 - The anticonvulsant zonisamide (Zonegran, Elan Corp) may aid in the treatment of bipolar depression, according to results of a small, open-label study reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry for February.
Zonisamide at low doses facilitates dopaminergic and serotonergic transmission, while at higher doses it has mood-stabilizing properties, explain Dr. Amit Anand and colleagues at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, making it a potential candidate for treating bipolar disorder.
They treated 10 patients with bipolar disorder in the depressed phase who had not tolerated or not responded to previous treatments. The dosage was initiated at 100 mg per day titrated up to a maximum of 300 mg per day.
After 8 weeks, scores on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression had declined significantly from a mean of 21 to 10 (p < 0.001). Dr. Anand's group also observed significant improvements in the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness and -Improvement scales (p < 0.001 for both).
"Patients had tried other medications in previous depressive episodes and reported that they felt better on zonisamide treatment," the authors note.
"Zonisamide may be a useful alternative for bipolar patients who can tolerate it and are not responding to other medications," they conclude.
J Clin Psychiatry 2005;66:195-198.
Related Links
Resource CentersBipolar Disorder
Management of Serious Mental Illness
Posted by SLS on March 4, 2005, at 4:21:22
In reply to Zonegran for bipolar depression open study, posted by Mr.Scott on March 3, 2005, at 23:21:58
Hi Scott
> Any noteworthy personal experiences with this one?
I tried it to treat my bipolar depression twice with the same result: itching, fatigue, and weakness. It did not help my depression at all. I will say this, though, I could swear it was more activating over the first few days of treatment. Maybe that was due to the dopaminergic enhancement they talk about? Maybe I should try it at a reduced dosage.
Thanks for posting this.
- Scott
-----------------------------------
> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 03 - The anticonvulsant zonisamide (Zonegran, Elan Corp) may aid in the treatment of bipolar depression, according to results of a small, open-label study reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry for February.
>
> Zonisamide at low doses facilitates dopaminergic and serotonergic transmission, while at higher doses it has mood-stabilizing properties, explain Dr. Amit Anand and colleagues at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, making it a potential candidate for treating bipolar disorder.
>
> They treated 10 patients with bipolar disorder in the depressed phase who had not tolerated or not responded to previous treatments. The dosage was initiated at 100 mg per day titrated up to a maximum of 300 mg per day.
>
> After 8 weeks, scores on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression had declined significantly from a mean of 21 to 10 (p < 0.001). Dr. Anand's group also observed significant improvements in the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness and -Improvement scales (p < 0.001 for both).
>
> "Patients had tried other medications in previous depressive episodes and reported that they felt better on zonisamide treatment," the authors note.
>
> "Zonisamide may be a useful alternative for bipolar patients who can tolerate it and are not responding to other medications," they conclude.
>
> J Clin Psychiatry 2005;66:195-198.
>
>
> Related Links
> Resource Centers
>
> Bipolar Disorder
> Management of Serious Mental Illness
Posted by Ritch on March 4, 2005, at 10:03:52
In reply to Zonegran for bipolar depression open study, posted by Mr.Scott on March 3, 2005, at 23:21:58
"Zonisamide may be a useful alternative for bipolar patients who can tolerate it and are not responding to other medications," they conclude.
I tried 1/2 a 100mg capsule (50mg) and got weird dreams and then had a hostility reaction for a couple of days. Re-challenged with the same low-dose two weeks later and it happened again. It probably would work OK for some people. I get temper flares from all sorts of meds.
Posted by Maxime on March 5, 2005, at 2:10:13
In reply to Re: Zonegran for bipolar depression open study » Mr.Scott, posted by Ritch on March 4, 2005, at 10:03:52
Sigh. Yet another med that is not available in Canada.
Maxime
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