Ethosuximide for Epilepsy
How It Works
Ethosuximide reduces the type of brain
activity associated with
absence seizures.
Why It Is Used
Ethosuximide is one of the drugs of
choice for children who have absence seizures.
Ethosuximide does
not prevent any types of seizures other than absence seizures. Ethosuximide is
sometimes used with other drugs to treat adults who have several types of
generalized seizures.
How Well It Works
Ethosuximide is effective in
preventing absence seizures in children and adults.1
Side Effects
Ethosuximide may cause stomach problems,
including:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Stomach
cramps.
- Loss of appetite.
It may also cause headache, mild drowsiness, dizziness, and
hiccups.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a
warning on antiepileptic medicines and the risk of suicide and suicidal
thoughts. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines.
Instead, people who take antiepileptic medicine should be watched closely for
warning signs of suicide. People who take
antiepileptic medicine and who are worried about this side effect should talk
to a doctor.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects.
(Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
It may
take time and careful, controlled adjustments by you and your doctor to find
the combination, schedule, and dosing of medicine to best manage your epilepsy.
The goal is to prevent seizures while causing as few side effects as
possible. After
you and your doctor figure out the medicine program that works best for you, make sure to follow your program exactly as prescribed.
- Drug interactions. Many medicines for epilepsy can
interact with other medicines you may be taking. This means that your epilepsy
medicine may not work as well, or it may affect the way another medicine you
are taking works. Some of these interactions can be dangerous. It is important
to tell your doctor about all the medicines, herbal pills, and dietary
supplements you are taking.
- Risk of birth defects. All medicines for epilepsy
have some risk of birth defects. But the risk of birth defects needs to be
carefully compared to other risks to the baby if the mother stops taking her
epilepsy medicine. If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, be sure to plan ahead and talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of taking
epilepsy medicine during your pregnancy. It you are already pregnant, it is not
too late. The best thing to do is talk to your doctor about your pregnancy
before you make any changes to the medicines you are taking.
- Other concerns. For some people, ethosuximide may
produce side effects or carry risks that are not fully known yet. Report any
unexpected side effects or problems to your doctor.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
- Blume WT (2003). Diagnosis and management of epilepsy.
Canadian Medical Association Journal, 168(4):
441–448.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology |
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| Last Revised | August 26, 2011 |
|---|
Last Revised:
August 26, 2011
Blume WT (2003). Diagnosis and management of epilepsy.
Canadian Medical Association Journal, 168(4):
441–448.
