WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - An epilepsy drug used to treat partial seizures in adults can cause excessive acidity of the blood in some patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Monday.
Zonisamide is sold by a number of generic drugmakers as well as under the brand Zonegran by Eisai Co Ltd . Generic makers include Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd , Mylan Inc, Novartis AG's Sandoz unit and Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc, according to the FDA's website.
The condition, known as metabolic acidosis, can include a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, anorexia, irregular heartbeat or stupor, the FDA said in a statement.
Over time, the condition can cause kidney and bone problems, the FDA said. The condition seems to be worse and more frequent in younger patients, it added.
Doctors should test patients' blood before using zonisamide and then periodically during treatment even if they show no symptoms, the FDA said.
The FDA posted the statement on its website at http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/zonisamideHCP.htm
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) Keywords: EPILEPSY FDA/ (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Reuters Messaging: susan.heavey.reuters.com@reuters.net, Phone: 202-354-5848) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Zonisamide is sold by a number of generic drugmakers as well as under the brand Zonegran by Eisai Co Ltd . Generic makers include Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd , Mylan Inc, Novartis AG's Sandoz unit and Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc, according to the FDA's website.
The condition, known as metabolic acidosis, can include a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, anorexia, irregular heartbeat or stupor, the FDA said in a statement.
Over time, the condition can cause kidney and bone problems, the FDA said. The condition seems to be worse and more frequent in younger patients, it added.
Doctors should test patients' blood before using zonisamide and then periodically during treatment even if they show no symptoms, the FDA said.
The FDA posted the statement on its website at http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/zonisamideHCP.htm
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) Keywords: EPILEPSY FDA/ (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Reuters Messaging: susan.heavey.reuters.com@reuters.net, Phone: 202-354-5848) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
© 2009 AFX News
