Ethosuximide
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📖 Official Clinical Monograph
DGDA Approved Prescribing GuidelinesSerontin is indicated for the control of absence seizures.
Pediatric Patients-
Children 3 to 6 years of age: Initially 5 ml (250 mg) daily in a single dose
Children ≥6 years of age: Initially 10 ml (500 mg) daily in a single dose or divided doses
Dosage should be increased by small increments, by 5 ml (250 mg) every 4–7 days until seizure control is achieved with minimal adverse effects. Dosage usually should not be >30 ml (1.5 g) daily, given in divided doses. If dosage is >1.5 g daily, clinical must closely supervise patients.
Usual maintenance dosage: 20 mg/kg or 1.2 g/m2 daily
Adults-
Initially 10 ml (500 mg) daily in a single dose or divided doses
Dosage should be increased by small increments, by 5 ml (250 mg) every 4–7 days until seizure control is achieved with minimal adverse effects. Dosage usually should not be >30 ml (1.5 g), given in divided doses.
Usual maintenance dosage: 20 mg/kg or 1.2 g/m2 daily
Ethosuximide should not be used in patients with hypersensitivity to succinimides (e.g. methosuximide, phenosuximide) & known hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
The common side effects of Serontin are gastro-intestinal disturbances including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, anorexia, weight loss. The less frequent side effects are headache, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, hiccup, ataxia, mild euphoria, irritability, aggression, impaired concentration; rarely tongue swelling, sleep disturbances, night terrors, depression, psychosis, photophobia, dyskinesia, increased libido, vaginal bleeding, myopia, gingival hypertrophy, and rash; hyperactivity, increase in seizure frequency, blood disorders such as leucopenia, agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, and aplastic anaemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Serontin should be used with caution in hepatic or renal impairment. Serontin may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving or other such activities requiring alertness. Therefore, the patient should be cautioned accordingly. Abrupt withdrawal should be avoided. Patients should be monitored for signs of suicidal ideation & behaviors and appropriate treatment should be considered.
Ethosuximide suppresses the paroxysmal three cycle per second spike and wave activity associated with lapses of consciousness which is common in absence (petit mal) seizures. The frequency of epileptiform attacks is reduced, apparently by depression of the motor cortex and elevation of the threshold of the central nervous system to convulsive stimuli.