Idiopathic hemifacial spasm responsive to zonisamide: a case report.
Author(s): Siniscalchi A, Gallelli L, Palleria C, De Sarro G
Affiliation(s): Department of Neuroscience, Neurology Division, Annunziata Hospital, Cosenza, Italy.
Publication date & source: 2009-07, Clin Neuropharmacol., 32(4):230-1.
Publication type: Case Reports
AIM: We describe a patient with idiopathic hemifacial spasm (HFS) that was responsive to zonisamide treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 65-year-old woman presented with a 4-year history of left-sided HFS developing gradually, starting from the upper facial muscles. After several analyses, the diagnosis of idiopathic HFS was made, and the clonazepam treatment (0.5 mg every 8 hours) was started, without a complete remission of symptoms. Therefore, zonisamide (150 mg twice a day for a 6-week period) was added, with a complete resolution. The rechallenge with zonisamide after its dechallenge confirmed its effectiveness. During follow-up, the patient remained symptom-free, with no adverse drug reactions. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that zonisamide could represent a useful therapeutic option in the treatment of idiopathic HFS.
|