Zonisamide Enhances Weight Loss, but at a Cost

The antiepileptic drug zonisamide moderately enhances the weight loss achieved with diet and lifestyle counseling, but is associated with a high incidence of adverse events. In a one-year study at Duke University Medical Center, 134 obese women and 91 obese men, all without diabetes mellitus, were randomized to receive daily doses of a placebo, 200 mg of zonisamide, or 400 mg of zonisamide. Change in body weight was −4.0 kg for placebo, −4.4 kg for 200 mg of zonisamide, and −7.3 kg for 400 mg of zonisamide. Gastrointestinal, nervous system, and psychiatric adverse events occurred at a higher incidence with both doses of zonisamide than with placebo.

Funding for the study was provided by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Gadde K, Kopping M, Wagner R, et al. “Zonisamide for Weight Reduction in Obese Adults: A 1-Year Randomized, Controlled Trial.” Arch Intern Med. 2012. [Epub ahead of print]. http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1379168