Test ID: ZONI Zonisamide, Serum
Reporting Name
Zonisamide, SUseful For
Monitoring zonisamide therapy; recommended for all patients to ensure appropriate dosing
Assessing medication compliance
Clinical Information
Zonisamide (Zonegran) is approved as adjunctive therapy for partial seizures refractory to therapy with traditional anticonvulsants. Zonisamide is the pharmacologically active agent; metabolites are not active. Essentially 100% of the zonisamide dose is absorbed. Zonisamide binds to erythrocytes; approximately 88% of circulating zonisamide is bound in erythrocytes. Because the erythrocyte-bound zonisamide is inactive, and binding varies with blood concentration, the relationship between serum level and dose is not linear. Time to peak zonisamide concentration is 2 to 6 hours; time to peak is delayed by coadministration with food to 4 to 6 hours. Zonisamide is metabolized by N-acetyl transferase (NAT1), cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), and uridine diphosphate glucuronidation (UDPG). Zonisamide is eliminated in the urine predominantly as the parent drug (35%), N-acetyl zonisamide (15%), and as the glucuronide ester of reduced zonisamide (50%). Coadministration of drugs that affect NAT1, CYP3A4, and UDPG activity, such as phenytoin and carbamazepine, will decrease zonisamide concentration.
A typical zonisamide dose administered to an adult is 400 to 600 mg/day, administered in 2 divided doses. The apparent volume of distribution of zonisamide is 1.5 L/kg. Approximately 40% of the zonisamide circulating in the serum is bound to proteins. Zonisamide protein binding is unaffected by other common anticonvulsant drugs. The elimination half-life from plasma is 50 to 60 hours; the elimination half-life from erythrocytes is over 100 hours. Since zonisamide is cleared predominantly by the kidney, the daily dosage of zonisamide given to patients with a creatinine clearance below 20 mL/min should be reduced.(1,2)
Serum level monitoring is recommended for all patients to ensure appropriate dosing because:
-Patient response correlates with serum level.
-Serum level does not correlate with dose because of concentration-dependent erythrocyte binding.
-Elimination is affected by coadministration of drugs that affect NAT1, CYP3A4, and UDPG.
-Kidney function affects elimination.
The most common toxicity associated with excessive serum level is drowsiness. Adverse effects not related to serum level include rash, increased serum creatinine and alkaline phosphatase, kidney stone formation, and bruising.
Interpretation
Steady-state zonisamide concentration in a trough specimen collected just before next dose correlates with patient response but not with dose. Optimal response to zonisamide occurs when trough zonisamide concentration is in the range of 10 to 40 mcg/mL. Peak serum concentration for zonisamide occurs 2 to 6 hours after dose, and time to peak is affected by food intake.
Because carbamazepine activates glucuronidation, patients taking carbamazepine concomitantly with zonisamide have significantly lower zonisamide concentrations compared to patients on the same dose not receiving carbamazepine.
Report Available
Same day/1 to 5 daysDay(s) Performed
Tuesday through Saturday
Clinical Reference
1. Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2018
2. Hiemke C, Baumann P, Bergemann N, et al: AGNP consensus guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring in psychiatry: Update 2011. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2011 Sep;44(6):195-235
3. Perucca E: The clinical pharmacokinetics of the new antiepileptic drugs. Epilepsia. 1999;40(Suppl 9):S7-S13. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1999.tb02088.x
4. Marson AG, Hutton JL, Leach JP, et al: Levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, remacemide and zonisamide for drug resistant localization-related epilepsy: a systematic review. Epilepsy Res. 2001 Sept;46(3):259-270. doi: 10.1016/s0920-1211(01)00287-x
5. Benedetti MS: Enzyme introduction and inhibition by new antiepileptic drugs: a review of human studies. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. Jul-Aug 2000;14(4):301-319. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-8206.2000.tb00411.x
6. Kawada K, Itoh A, Kusaka T, et al: Pharmacokinetics of zonisamide in perinatal period. Brain Dev. 2002 Mar;24(2):95-97. doi: 10.1016/s0387-7604(01)00407-7
Method Name
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Specimen Type
Serum RedSpecimen Required
Collection Container/Tube: Red top (serum gel/SST is not acceptable)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum Red | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | |
Ambient | 28 days | ||
Frozen | 28 days |
Reference Values
10-40 mcg/mL
Test Classification
This test was developed, and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
80203
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
ZONI | Zonisamide, S | 29620-2 |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
83685 | Zonisamide, S | 29620-2 |
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:
-Neurology Specialty Testing Client Test Request (T732)
-Therapeutics Test Request (T831)
mml-Epilepsy, mml-Neuro-oncology