Epilepsy Treatment Zonegran® (Zonisamide) Receives Reimbursement in Spain as Monotherapy for Adults and Adjunctive Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Epilepsy Treatment Zonegran®Epilepsy Treatment Zonegran® (Zonisamide) Receives Reimbursement in Spain as Monotherapy for Adults and Adjunctive Therapy for Children and Adolescents PR Newswire HATFIELD, England, February 19, 2014 ®Zonegran (zonisamide) has received reimbursement approval from The Spanish Directorate General of Pharmacy and Health Products, part of the Spanish Ministry of Health, as monotherapy in the treatment of partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation, in adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy and as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial epilepsy in children and adolescents from six years old. The antiepileptic drug (AED) has been promoted in Spain by Eisai's partner, Esteve, since December 2013. Once-daily zonisamide is a second generation AED with multiple mechanisms of action and a chemical structure unrelated to any [1]other AEDs. For people with newly diagnosed epilepsy, monotherapy is the preferred option for managing their condition as this reduces the potential for adverse [2]drug interactions and encourages treatment compliance. Epilepsy in children often presents major challenges such as developmental and behavioural problems that result in educational underachievement and a lack of self-esteem. These issues, which are frequently manifested in an attention deficit disorder, withdrawal, anxiety or depression, have a negative [3]impact on both the child and their family.