Zarontin (ethosuximide)

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How does it work?

Zarontin syrup contains the active ingredient ethosuximide, which is a medicine used to treat epilepsy. It works by stabilising electrical activity in the brain.

The brain and nerves are made up of many nerve cells that communicate with each other through electrical signals. These signals must be carefully regulated for the brain and nerves to function properly. When abnormally rapid and repetitive electrical signals are released in the brain, it becomes over-stimulated and normal function is disturbed. This results in fits or seizures.

Ethosuximide works by preventing repetitive firing of electrical signals. This raises the threshold of the brain to stimuli that cause seizures and helps prevent seizures.

Ethosuximide is mainly used to treat absence (petit mal) seizures. If you suffer from other forms of seizures as well (such as grand mal seizures), ethosuximide must be used in combination with other antiepileptic medicines.

What is it used for?

- Absence seizures (petit mal epilepsy).

Warning!

- This medicine may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.
- You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as this may result in your seizures returning or getting worse. If it is decided that you should stop taking this medicine, it should be withdrawn gradually, according to the instructions given by your doctor.
- This medicine may rarely cause a decrease in the normal amounts of blood cells in the blood. For this reason you should consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms, as these may indicate a problem with your blood cells: unexplained bruising or bleeding, purple spots, sore throat, mouth ulcers or high temperature (fever). Your doctor may want to take a blood test to check your blood cells.
- Your kidney and liver function should be monitored while you are taking this medicine.

Use with caution in

- Decreased kidney function.
- Decreased liver function.

Not to be used in

- Hereditary blood disorders known as porphyrias.
- Rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency (Zarontin syrup contains sucrose).

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.