Method of treating tremors

Abstract

The invention is directed to the use of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of zonisamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to treat tremors, such as rest tremors or action tremors. Tremors may include kinetic tremor, essential tremor, severe essential tremor, postural tremor, drug-induced tremor, toxic tremor, primary orthostatic tremor, dystonic tremor, neuropathic tremor, and cerebellar tremor. The use of zonisamide in the methods of the invention reduce adverse side effects of other drugs that are used to treat tremors. Zonisamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof can also be used in conjunction with other therapeutic agents commonly used to treat tremors, thus enhancing the therapeutic effect of treating tremors.

1 . A method of treating action tremor in a subject comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition comprising zonisamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in an amount effective to treat tremor.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said action tremor is a postural tremor.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said action tremor is essential tremor, drug-induced or toxic tremor, cerebellar tremor, primary orthostatic tremor, dystonic tremor or neuropathic tremor.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said action tremor is essential tremor.  
     
     
         5 . A method of treating severe essential tremor in the rest state in a subject comprising: administering to a subject in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition comprising zonisamide, in an amount effective to treat tremor.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount of zonisamide is in the range of 0.5-10 mg/kg/day.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered orally to said subject.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered parenterally to said subject.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is a sterile solution comprising zonisamide sodium.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered intravenously, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered in combination with another therapeutic agent or treatment commonly used to treat tremor.  
     
     
         12 . A method for treating a tremor in a patient in need thereof comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising zonisamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein zonisamide or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered to the patient in an amount of 0.5 mg/kg/day to 10 mg/kg/day.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is an alkaline metal salt.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally or parenterally to the patient.  
     
     
         16 . A method for treating rest tremor in a patient in need thereof comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising zonisamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein zonisamide or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered to the patient in an amount of 0.5 mg/kg/day to 10 mg/kg/day.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is an alkaline metal salt.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally or parenterally to the patient.