Ethosuximide for epilepsy

Examples

---

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Zarontin	ethosuximide

Ethosuximide requires 2 to 3 oral doses per day.

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. Valproic acid is the other drug of choice.

Unlike valproic acid, 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 when valproic acid does not work.

How Well It Works

---

Ethosuximide is effective in preventing absence seizures in children and in treating these seizures in adults.^{1, 2}

Side Effects

---

Ethosuximide may cause severe stomach problems, including:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Stomach cramps.
• Loss of appetite.

It may also cause headache, mild drowsiness, dizziness, and hiccups.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

---

Ethosuximide is an effective drug with a fairly limited use. For people with absence seizures only, it can be a very good choice. It controls these seizures as well as valproic acid and causes fewer side effects. Most people can tolerate ethosuximide quite well in the short run.

Long-term use of the drug is not common because it is not very effective for treating certain types of epilepsy common in adults.

It may take time and careful, controlled adjustments by you and your doctor to find the combination, schedule, and dosing of medication to best manage your epilepsy. The goal is to prevent seizures while causing as few unwanted side effects as possible. Once the most effective medication program is determined, it is important that you follow it exactly as prescribed.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

---

Citations

1. Camfield P, Camfield C (2003). Childhood epilepsy: What is the evidence for what we think and what we do? Journal of Child Neurology, 18(4): 272–287.

2. Blume WT (2003). Diagnosis and management of epilepsy. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 168(4): 441–448.

Credits

---

Author	Monica Rhodes
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology
Last Updated	November 11, 2005