[Therapeutic drug monitoring of zonisamide].

Zonisamide is a second generation antiepileptic drug available in France since 2005. It provides a mechanism of action similar to those of phenytoin or carbamazepine. It is indicated in association in the treatment of partial epilepsy with or without secondary generalization. Zonisamide is well absorbed with maximum concentration achieved in 2 to 5 h. It is partly metabolized by the CYP3A4. Its elimination half-life is very long, around 60 h. Studies in adults and children show low concentration-efficacy and concentration-toxicity correlations, but a therapeutic range has been determined between 10 and 40 mg/L. Zonisamide is sensitive to the inductive molecules of CYP which will increase its clearance and decrease its half-life. A specific monitoring of patient is recommended in renal impairment. For this molecule, the interest of TDM has been evaluated: possibly useful.