Ethosuximide

DEA Class;  Rx

Common Brand Names; Zarontin

Hypersensitivity

Common

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Somnolence

• Anorexia

• Diarrhea

• GI upset

• Nausea

• Vomiting

Less Common

• Ataxia, confusion, drowsiness, sleep disturbance

• Gum hypertrophy, hiccoughs, swelling of tongue

• Blood dyscrasias including aplastic anemia

• Allergic reaction

• Urticaria

• Pruritic erythematous rashes

• Blurred vision, myopia

Rare

• Psychosis

• Seizure

• Suicidal thoughts and behavior

• Stevens-Johnson syndrome

• Systemic lupus erythematosus

• Hirsutism

Do not discontinue rapidly; proceed slowly when increasing or decreasing dosage, as well as when adding or eliminating other medications; abrupt withdrawal of anticonvulsant medication may precipitate absence (petit mal) status

When used alone in mixed types of epilepsy, therapy may increase frequency of grand mal seizures in some patients

Blood dyscrasias may occur; perform periodic blood counts; should signs and/or symptoms of infection (e.g., sore throat, fever) develop, consider blood counts

Cases of systemic lupus erythematosus reported with use of drug; the physician should be alert to this possibility

Serious dermatologic reactions reported including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS); onset usually within 28 days, but can occur later; discontinue therapy at first sign of rash, unless rash is clearly not drug-related; if signs or symptoms suggest SJS, use of this drug should not be resumed; consider alternative therapy

Drug reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), also known as multi organ hypersensitivity, reported; some fatal or life-threatening; early manifestations of hypersensitivity (e.g. fever, lymphadenopathy) may be present even though rash is not evident; if such signs or symptoms appear, the patient should be evaluated immediately and therapy discontinued if an alternative etiology for the signs or symptoms cannot be established

Drug crosses placenta; reports suggest an association between use of anticonvulsant drugs by women with epilepsy and elevated incidence of birth defects in children born to these women

The drug is excreted in human breast milk; because effects of ethosuximide on nursing infant are unknown, use caution when administering to a nursing mother; the drug should be used in nursing mothers only if the benefits clearly outweigh the risks