Overview
Zarontin is a brand name for ethosuximide, an anticonvulsant used to treat epilepsy. It is a succinimide anticonvulsant related to the drug methsuximide.

Why is this drug prescribed?
Zarontin is used to treat epileptic seizures, especially absence (petit mal) seizures.

Warnings and Precautions
Children taking Zarontin should be carefully monitored. Parents and teachers should keep track of the child’s moods, behavior, attention span, hand-eye coordination, and ability to solve problems and perform tasks requiring thought. This information can help the doctor determine the proper maintenance dosage.

Zarontin may cause drowsiness. Patients should not drive or perform tasks requiring mental alertness until Zarontin’s effects are known to be safe for these activities.

Abruptly discontinuing Zarontin may cause a return or increase in seizures, especially when Zarontin has been taken for a long time. Dosage should be gradually tapered when it is discontinued.

Zarontin causes the eyes to become more sensitive to light. Patients should wear sunglasses while in bright light.

Zarontin, when used alone to treat patients with mixed types of epilepsy, can increase the incidence of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in some patients.

Regular liver, kidney, and blood tests are recommended for all patients taking Zarontin.

For Pregnant or Nursing Mothers: While most pregnant women taking epilepsy medication deliver normal babies, epilepsy medications taken during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of birth defects. Zarontin passes into breast milk, and breast-feeding while taking Zarontin is not recommended.

Contraindications
Zarontin should Not be used for people with an allergy or sensitivity to Zarontin or other succinimides.

Precautions
Zarontin may be used with caution in people with the following conditions:

1. Liver or kidney disease – Zarontin may make these conditions worse
2. Blood disorder