|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Drug Information
Pharmacokinetics
| Indication
& Dosage | Action
| Interactions
Adverse
Effect & Precautions |
Brands available in Market
Ethosuximide is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and extensively hydroxylated in the liver to its principal metabolite which is reported to be inactive. It is excreted in the urine mainly in the form of its metabolites either free or in conjugated form but about 20% is also excreted as unchanged ethosuximide.
Ethosuximide is widely distributed throughout the body, but is not significantly bound to plasma proteins. A half-life of about 60 hours has been reported for adults with a shorter half-life of about 30 hours in children.
Monitoring of plasma concentrations has been suggested as an aid in assessing control and the therapeutic range of ethosuximide is usually quoted as being 40 to 100 micrograms per mL (about 300 to 700 micromol per litre); measurement of concentrations in saliva and tears has also been performed.x
Ethosuximide crosses the placental barrier, and is distributed into breast milk.
In Combination with other anticonvulsants when other forms of epilepsy coexist with petitmal, Petit mal Epilepsy.
Dosage: Adults: 500mg daily, increased gradually to 1-1.5g daily.
Children: Upto 6 years: Intially 250mg daily, increased gradually tousual dose of 20mg/kg daily.Above 6 year: Same as adult dose.
Hydantoins: Serum hydantoin levels may be increased.
Primidone: Serum levels of Cabamazepine: Increased.
Carbamazepine: Increases clearance of ethosuximide
Sodium valproate: Increases plams ethosuximede levels.
Alcohol: Enhances sedative effect.
Isoniazid: Increases plasma concentration of ethosuximide, risk of toxicity.
Antidepressants: Antagonism, convulsive threshold decreased.
Antipsychotics: Antagonism, conculsive threshold decreased.
Adverse
Effect & Precautions
Dizziness, headache, confusion, ataxia, anorexia, nausea, epigastric
distress and lack of concentration. Skin rash, neutropenia and aplastic
anaemia may occur.
Precaution: It should be avoided in hepatic or renal disease. Periodic
blood count should be done. Abrupt withdrawal.
Pregnancy: Use with caution.
Breast Feeding: Use with caution.
Man: May be given in reduced dose.
