Zarontin: Uses, Dosage, Side effects & More

Zarontin

Generic name: ethosuximide
Drug class: Succinimide anticonvulsants

Medically reviewed by A Ras MD.

What is Zarontin?

Zarontin is a prescription medicine used to treat absence (petit mal) seizures.

Description

Zarontin (ethosuximide) is an anticonvulsant succinimide, chemically designated as alpha-ethyl-alpha-methyl-succinimide, with the following structural formula:

Each Zarontin capsule contains 250 mg ethosuximide, USP. Also contains: polyethylene glycol 400, NF. The capsule contains D&C yellow No. 10; FD&C red No. 3; gelatin, NF; glycerin, USP; and sorbitol.

What is the most important information I should know about Zarontin?

Do not stop taking Zarontin without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Stopping Zarontin suddenly can cause serious problems.

Zarontin can cause serious side effects, including:

1. Rare but serious blood problems that may be life-threatening. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have:

fever, swollen glands, or sore throat that come and go or do not go away
frequent infections or an infection that does not go away
easy bruising
red or purple spots on your body
bleeding gums or nose bleeds
severe fatigue or weakness

2. Drug reactions that may affect different parts of the body such as your liver, kidneys, heart, or blood cells. You may or may not have a rash with these types of reactions. These reactions can be very serious and can cause death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:

joint pain and swelling
muscle pain
fatigue, weakness
low-grade fever
pain in the chest that is worse with breathing
skin rash
swollen lymph glands
swelling of your face
yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes

3. Like other antiepileptic drugs, Zarontin may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

thoughts about suicide or dying
attempts to commit suicide
new or worse depression
new or worse anxiety
feeling agitated or restless
panic attacks
trouble sleeping (insomnia)
new or worse irritability
acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
acting on dangerous impulses
an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
other unusual changes in behavior or moodHow can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?
Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.Do not stop Zarontin without first talking to a healthcare provider.
Stopping Zarontin suddenly can cause serious problems.
Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

Who should not take Zarontin?

Do not take Zarontin if you are allergic to succinimides (methsuximide or ethosuximide), or any of the ingredients in Zarontin. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Zarontin.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Zarontin?

Before you take Zarontin, tell your healthcare provider if you:

have or had liver problems
have or have had depression, mood problems or suicidal thoughts or behavior
have any other medical conditions
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Zarontin can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking Zarontin. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you should take Zarontin while you are pregnant.
- If you become pregnant while taking Zarontin, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334.
are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. It is not known if Zarontin can pass into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide how you will feed your baby while you take Zarontin.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking Zarontin with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take Zarontin?

Take Zarontin exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Zarontin to take.
Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose of Zarontin without talking to your healthcare provider.
If you take too much Zarontin, call your healthcare provider or your local Poison Control Center right away.

What should I avoid while taking Zarontin?

Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Zarontin without first talking to your healthcare provider. Zarontin taken with alcohol or medicines that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.
Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Zarontin affects you. Zarontin can slow your thinking and motor skills.

What are the possible side effects of Zarontin?

See “What is the most important information I should know about Zarontin?”

Zarontin may cause other serious side effects, including:

Serious allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- skin rash
- hives
- sores in your mouth
- blistering or peeling skin
Changes in thinking, mood, or behavior. Some patients may get abnormally suspicious thoughts, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), or delusions (false thoughts or beliefs).
Grand mal seizures can happen more often or become worse

Call your healthcare provider right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

The most common side effects of Zarontin include:

nausea or vomiting
indigestion, stomach pain
diarrhea
weight loss
loss of appetite
hiccups
fatigue
dizziness or lightheadedness
unsteadiness when walking
headache
loss of concentration

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects with Zarontin. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

General information about the safe and effective use of Zarontin

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use Zarontin for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Zarontin to other people, even if they have the same condition. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about Zarontin. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about Zarontin that is written for healthcare professionals.

For more information, go to www.pfizer.com or call 1-800-438-1985.

How should I store Zarontin?

Store Zarontin capsules at room temperature, between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
Store Zarontin syrup (oral solution) at 20°–25°C (68°–77°F). Preserve in tight containers. Protect from freezing and light.

Keep Zarontin and all medicines out of the reach of children.

What are the ingredients in Zarontin?

Active ingredient: ethosuximide

Inactive ingredients:

Capsules: Polyethylene glycol 400, NF; D&C yellow No. 10; FD&C red No. 3; gelatin, NF; glycerin, USP; and sorbitol.

Oral solution: Each 5 ml (teaspoonful) of oral solution contains 250 mg ethosuximide in a raspberry flavored base. Also contains citric acid, anhydrous, USP; FD&C red No. 40; FD&C yellow No. 6; flavor; glycerin, USP; purified water, USP; saccharin sodium, USP; sodium benzoate, NF; Sodium Citrate, USP; sucrose, NF.