Effects of zonisamide on experimental tremors in rats

ObjectsTo study the effect of zonisamide on experimental tremors in rats.MethodsEffect of zonisamide on harmaline- or oxotreorine-induced tremors, and tacrine-induced tremulous jaw movements (TJMs) was studied.ResultsZonisamide significantly suppressed both harmaline- and oxotremorine-induced tremors dose-dependently. Zonisamide also significantly suppressed tacrine-induced TJMs, and this effect was not lost under conditions of monoamine-depletion or dopaminergic blockade.ConclusionThe anti-tremor effects of zonisamide may be achieved by a non-dopaminergic mechanism. Since it effectively suppressed tremors that are based on different kinds of tremors, we propose a novel perspective of clinical potential of zonisamide as a non-specific, anti-tremor drug.