Abstract Details

Title The Prevalence of Tinnitus in Patients Taking Zonisamide

Topic Epilepsy

Presentation(s) P01 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 047

Objective

Background The most common side effects of zonisamide include somnolence, dizziness, headache, nausea, and agitation. The reported prevalence of tinnitus during clinical trials was only 1%. However, anecdotally, it was noted in our office that the number of patients developing tinnitus after starting zonisamide appeared to be higher. Therefore, we decided to investigate the prevalence of tinnitus in our users of zonisamide.

Design/Methods We reviewed our charts and identified patients who have taken zonisamide. They were telephoned and asked if they would like to participate in our study. If they agreed, they were asked if they were currently on or remember taking zonisamide in the past. They were then asked if at any point while on the medication they had ever experienced a new ringing in their ears. If they answered yes, they were asked when the tinnitus started. Additional information was obtained including whether or not they were still taking the medication, and if the ringing had stopped or still persists.

Results Thirty-one patients in total were called, and two did not remember taking zonisamide. This left 29 valid patients in our survey, of which 5 (17.2%) reported tinnitus after starting zonisamide. For 2 of the patients, the tinnitus persisted despite discontinuation of the medication.

Conclusions Our survey reveals that the prevalence of tinnitus while on zonisamide may be higher than what has previously been reported. There are, however, some limitations to this study. The sample population (29) is small and is representative of only one university's clinic. Confounding variables were not accounted for. It is unknown if there were any other factors that could have caused the tinnitus in these patients.

Authors/Disclosures
Todd J. Maltese, DO (Todd J. Maltese, DO, PC) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Mary R. Andriola, MD, FAAN	No disclosure on file
Douglas L. Arnold, MD, FAAN (Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill Univ)	Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Biogen. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for BMS. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Frequency Therapeutics. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Merck. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Novartis. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Roche. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sanofi. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Shionogi. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Xfacto communications. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Eli Lilly. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for EMD Serono. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Biohaven. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Find therapeutics. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for GSK. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Idorsia. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Kiniksa. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation in the range of $100,000-$499,999 for serving as a Consultant for Clario.
Igor Zilberman, MD	Dr. Zilberman has nothing to disclose.
Rebecca Spiegel, MD (Stony Brook University Medical Center)	No disclosure on file

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