A Clinical Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Zonisamide as a First Add-On Treatment in Epileptic Seizures

This study primarily focuses on zonisamide, a drug originally developed as an antiepileptic and now used as an adjunctive treatment for focal epilepsy. Focal epilepsy is caused by abnormal electrical discharges in a specific area of the brain, which can lead to sudden loss of consciousness or muscle spasms. The main content of the study can be summarized as follows:

• Research Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of zonisamide as an adjunctive treatment for focal epilepsy, especially for drug-resistant focal epilepsy.
• Study Design: This is an open-label, observational study without a control group, planning to recruit 30 patients aged 1-14 years who have been stably taking one antiepileptic drug in the past 4 weeks but with poor results, and are now being considered for zonisamide treatment.
• Treatment Plan: Patients will receive a gradually increasing dose of zonisamide, starting at 2 mg/kg/day and titrating up to 6 mg/kg/day, followed by a maintenance dose of 4-6 mg/kg/day depending on the patient's condition.
• Effectiveness Evaluation: The efficacy of zonisamide is mainly assessed by comparing the change in seizure frequency before and after treatment and the proportion of patients whose seizure frequency is reduced by more than 50%.
• Safety Assessment: The safety of zonisamide is assessed through physical examinations, weight monitoring, vital sign monitoring, and laboratory tests (including liver and kidney function and CBC).
• Statistical Methods: Data analysis will be performed using SAS 9.4 statistical software, incorporating both descriptive and inferential statistics to assess the statistical significance of treatment effects.
• Research Duration: August 1, 2024-July 31, 2027. This study is significant for exploring the potential of zonisamide as a new treatment plan, especially in combating epilepsy seizures that are difficult to control with traditional drugs.

Inclusion criteria

• Consent to participate in the clinical trial, and the trial subject and/or legal guardian has signed the informed consent form.
• Age 1-14 years, no gender restrictions.
• Compliant with the diagnostic criteria for focal seizures and focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures as outlined by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in 2017.
• Stable on one antiepileptic drug for ≥4 weeks, and deemed to be appropriate for the addition of zonisamide therapy by the investigator.
• ≥ 2 episodes of generalized tonic-clonic seizures （secondary to focal epileptic seizures) per 28-day interval during the 8-week retrospective baseline period.

Exclusion criteria

• History of zonisamide treatment.
• History of allergy to sulfonamide drugs, zonisamide or any excipients.
• History of drug/alcohol abuse.
• History of suicide attempt or suicidal ideation within the past 6 months.
• Current use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, or antipsychotics.
• Diagnosed with progressive diseases affecting the brain and its functions.
• Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.
• Diagnosed with severe pulmonary/hematologic diseases, malignant tumors, immunodeficiency, or psychiatric illnesses.
• Have undergone epilepsy brain surgery or plan to undergo epilepsy surgery within the next 4 months.
• Deemed to be unsuitable for participation in the trial by the investigator.