Metabolism of the anticonvulsant agent zonisamide in the rat.

The metabolism of zonisamide [3-(sulfamoylmethyl)-1,2-benzisoxazole], a new anticonvulsant, has been studied. In rats dosed with [14C]zonisamide (100 mg/kg, ip) 86.5% of the radioactive dose was excreted in the urine over 72 hr. The remainder of the radioactive dose (13.5%) was excreted in the feces over the same time period. Unchanged drug and eight metabolites were isolated from the urine, and the structures of five metabolites were assigned by physicochemical methods. metabolism of zonisamide primarily involves reductive and conjugative mechanisms, with oxidation of this compound being of minor metabolic significance. The percentage of urinary radioactivity accounted for by unmetabolized zonisamide and metabolites is as follows: unmetabolized zonisamide (metabolite 9), 32.8%; metabolite 8 [N-acetyl-3-(sulfamoylmethyl)-1,2-benzisoxazole], 7.7%; unidentified metabolite 7, 2.4%; metabolite 6 (zonisamide glucuronide), 7.6%; metabolite 5 [3-(carboxy)-1,2-benzisoxazole], 5.4%; unidentified metabolite 4, 13.1%; metabolite 3 [2-(sulfamoylacetyl)-phenol glucuronide], 12.6%; unidentified metabolite 2, 3.8%; and metabolite 1 (2-[1-(amino)sulfamoylethyl]phenol sulfate), 2.3%. A total of 87.7% of the 0-24 hr urinary radioactivity was accounted for by unchanged zonisamide and metabolites.