| Item |
Information |
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Drug Groups
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approved |
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Description
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An anticonvulsant especially useful in the treatment of absence seizures unaccompanied by other types of seizures. [PubChem] |
| Indication |
For the treatment of petit mal epilepsy. |
| Pharmacology |
Used in the treatment of epilepsy. 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. |
| Toxicity |
Acute overdoses may produce nausea, vomiting, and CNS depression including coma with respiratory depression. |
| Affected Organisms |
| • |
Humans and other mammals |
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| Biotransformation |
Hepatic, via CYP3A4 and CYP2E1. |
| Absorption |
Bioavailability following oral administration is 93%. |
| Half Life |
53 hours |
| References |
| • |
Patsalos PN: Properties of antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsies. Epilepsia. 2005;46 Suppl 9:140-8.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Coulter DA, Huguenard JR, Prince DA: Specific petit mal anticonvulsants reduce calcium currents in thalamic neurons. Neurosci Lett. 1989 Mar 13;98(1):74-8.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Coulter DA, Huguenard JR, Prince DA: Characterization of ethosuximide reduction of low-threshold calcium current in thalamic neurons. Ann Neurol. 1989 Jun;25(6):582-93.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Coulter DA, Huguenard JR, Prince DA: Differential effects of petit mal anticonvulsants and convulsants on thalamic neurones: calcium current reduction. Br J Pharmacol. 1990 Aug;100(4):800-6.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Kostyuk PG, Molokanova EA, Pronchuk NF, Savchenko AN, Verkhratsky AN: Different action of ethosuximide on low- and high-threshold calcium currents in rat sensory neurons. Neuroscience. 1992 Dec;51(4):755-8.
[Pubmed]
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| External Links |
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