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Biotech / Medical : Elan Corporation, plc (ELN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Icebrg who wrote (3230)	9/27/2002 4:34:47 PM
From: Icebrg	Respond to of 10345

Second Epilepsy Drug Shows Promise Against Migraine September 25, 2002 01:24 PM ET LONDON (Reuters Health) - A drug for treating epilepsy called Zonegran (zonisamide) may help people with difficult-to-treat mixed-headache disorders, according to early results reported at the 14th Migraine Trust International Symposium here Tuesday. Another epilepsy drug, Topamax, was reported Monday at the same meeting to help patients with migraine. Researchers believe that migraines, like epilepsy, are central nervous system disorders, which is why drugs for treating epileptic seizures are being tested against migraine. Patients with mixed-headache disorders suffer from both migraine and tension headaches. In the current study, Dr. John Claude Krusz from Anodyne Headache Pain Care in Dallas, Texas, added Zonegran, made by Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc., to existing preventive therapy for 50 patients attending a headache clinic. At the beginning of the study, the patients had an average of nine migraines each month with another 16 days of tension-type headache. Nearly all patients in the study had been given a powerful drug called a neuronal stabilizing agent, while many had been tried on two or more types of these drugs, with little effect, the researchers report. Many also had other pain disorders. Zonegran is approved in the US to treat partial seizures in epileptic adults. The drug was begun at 100 milligrams (mg) every 3 or 4 nights for four doses, then gradually increased if necessary every other day for four to six doses up to 100 mg daily or more. Therapy was continued for three or more months at that level. Eight patients reported better than 50% reduction in migraine frequency with about a 60% cut in tension-type headache. A further 12 reported between 25% and 50% reduction in migraine while eight had no response. Four patients were lost to follow-up and another four stopped the medication due to side effects. Fourteen were still in the dosage increase phase of the study when the presentation was made. "The results of this study indicate that zonisamide may have good efficacy in mixed-headache disorders that are refractory to other types of prophylactic therapy," Krusz and colleagues said. "These results are consistent with previous findings." reuters.com