Ethosuximide

Ethosuximide is a succinimide anticonvulsant, used mainly in absence seizures.

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system.

Medical uses

It is approved for absence seizures. Ethosuximide is considered the first choice drug for treating absence seizures in part because it lacks the idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity of the alternative anti-absence drug, valproic acid.

Dosage

Therapeutic drug concentrations are individualized according to response and tolerance. Common serum therapeutic range: 40-100 µg/mL. Potentially toxic serum concentration: >100 µg/mL.