Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
capsule
- 150mg
- 300mg
Absence Seizures
300 mg PO qDay
Increase by 300 mg/week to no more than 1.2 g/day in divided doses
May take with food or milk
Monitor: CBC
Dosage Forms & Strengths
capsule
- 150mg
- 300mg
Absence Seizures
<12 years: Not established
>12 years
- 300 mg PO qDay
- Increase by 300 mg/week to no more than 1.2 g/day in divided doses
- May take with food or milk
- Monitor: CBC
Absence seizures
300 mg PO qDay
Increase by 300 mg/week to no more than 1.2 g/day in divided doses
May take with food or milk
Monitor: CBC
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results
Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor
Adverse Effects
Frequency Not Defined
Common
- Ataxia, dizziness, somnolence
- Erythema
- Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, epigastric pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss
- Hematuria, proteinuria
Serious
- Auditory hallucinations (rare), psychotic disorder (rare), suicidal behavior (rare)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Disorder of hematopoietic structure, leukopenia, monocytosis, pancytopenia
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity
Cautions
Do not discontinue rapidly
Succinimides have been associated with blood dyscrasias
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy Category: C
Lactation: avoid during breastfeeding
Pregnancy Categories
A:Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B:May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C:Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D:Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X:Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA:Information not available.
Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Succinimide; depresses motor cortex, increases convulsive stimuli threshold in CNS
Pharmacokinetics
Half-Life: 3 hr
Time: 1-3 hr
Concentration: 3-7 mcg/mL (dose-dependent)
Therapeutic plasma concentration: 10-40 mcg/mL
Metabolism: Liver
Excretion: Urine
Images
Patient Handout
Formulary
Adding plans allows you to compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
To view formulary information first create a list of plans. Your list will be saved and can be edited at any time.
Adding plans allows you to:
- View the formulary and any restrictions for each plan.
- Manage and view all your plans together – even plans in different states.
- Compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
- Access your plan list on any device – mobile or desktop.
