Ethosuximide

May be taken with or without food.

Porphyria.

Patient with history of psychiatric disorder. Avoid abrupt withdrawal. Avoid use in patients with history of ethosuximide-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Renal and hepatic impairment. Children. Pregnancy and lactation. Patient Counselling This drug may cause CNS depression, which may impair physical or mental abilities, if affected, do not drive or operate machinery. Monitoring Parameters Monitor CBC (monthly for a year and every 6 months thereafter); LFTs and urinalysis (periodically); serum concentrations. Monitor for signs of suicidality (e.g. suicidal thoughts, behavioural changes, depression) and skin reactions. In patients with suspected drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia, monitor serial platelet counts and, if possible, assess the presence of drug-dependent antiplatelet antibodies.

Significant: Suicidal ideation and behaviour; increased frequency of generalised tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures (when used alone in mixed types of epilepsy); changes in liver and renal functions; SLE, dyskinesia, drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Eye disorders: Myopia. Gastrointestinal disorders: Nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, abdominal pain, discomfort, and cramps, vague gastric upset, diarrhoea, swollen tongue, gingival hypertrophy. General disorders and administration site conditions: Fatigue, irritability. Investigations: Weight loss. Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Decreased appetite. Nervous system disorders: Headache, dizziness, somnolence, ataxia, lethargy, psychomotor hyperactivity, disturbance in attention. Psychiatric disorders: Aggression, sleep disturbance, night terrors, depression, psychotic disorder, euphoria. Renal and urinary disorders: Microscopic haematuria. Reproductive system and breast disorders: Vaginal haemorrhage. Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Hiccups. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Rash erythematous, urticaria, hirsutism.
Potentially Fatal: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), blood dyscrasias (e.g. leucopenia, pancytopenia with or without bone marrow depression, eosinophilia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia).

May decrease plasma concentration with carbamazepine, phenobarbital, primidone, and lamotrigine. May increase plasma concentration with isoniazid and valproic acid. May increase the plasma concentration of phenytoin.

Anticonvulsants

N03AD01 - ethosuximide ; Belongs to the class of succinimide derivatives antiepileptics.