Methosuximide Description

Generic Name : METHOSUXIMIDE

Pronunciation : (meth sux' i mide)

Trade Name(s) :

Why it is prescribed: Methosuximide acts on the brain and nervous system to control seizures and convulsions.

When it is to be taken: Methosuximide usually is taken once a day at first, but the dosage may be gradually increased to two to four times a day.

How it should be taken: Methosuximide comes in the form of capsules. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose.

Special Instruction :
1. Methosuximide causes dizziness, blurred vision, incoordination, and drowsiness. Do not drive a car or operate any dangerous machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
2. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory so that your doctor can monitor your response to this drug. Your dose may need to be adjusted frequently, especially when you first take methosuximide. You probably will have blood and urine tests periodically.
3. Do not stop taking this drug without consulting your doctor. Stopping the drug abruptly can cause seizures. Your doctor probably will want to decrease your dose gradually.
4. Take methosuximide exactly as your doctor has directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more or less often than as instructed.
5. If convulsions or seizures continue, contact your doctor. Be sure that you have enough medication on hand at all times.
6. If you give this drug to a child, observe and keep a record of the child's behavior, moods, and seizures. Ask the child's teacher to keep a similar record. This information can help the child's doctor determine whether to continue the drug or to change the dose or drug.
7. If you forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if you remember a missed dose at the time you are scheduled to take the next dose, omit the missed dose completely. Do not take a double dose.

Side Effects :
1. Blurred vision, sensitivity to light. If vision problems occur in bright light, wear dark glasses. If these problems persist, contact your doctor.
2. Nausea, vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea or constipation, loss of appetite, stomach or abdominal pain. Take the drug with food or lots of water. If these effects persist or are severe, contact your doctor.
3. Headache, drowsiness, dizziness, incoordination, irritability, nervousness, hiccups, insomnia, confusion, depression. Contact your doctor if these effects are severe or persist.
4. Red, itchy skin rash; fever; sore throat; bloody nose; unusual bleeding: easy bruising; tiny purple-colored skin spots; yellowing of skin and eyes and dark urine. Stop taking the drug and contact your doctor immediately.

Other Precautions :
1. Before you take methosuximide, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or think that you may be pregnant or breast-feeding, if you have kidney or liver disease, or if you ever had a bad reaction to ethosuximide.
2. Methosuximide can affect the action of other drugs, and many drugs can affect the action of methsuximide. Before you take this drug, tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking, especially other seizure medication, isoniazid, medication for depression, doxycycline, and birth-control pills.
3. Use caution when drinking alcoholic beverages or taking over-the-counter sleeping pills or antihistamines; these substances can add to the drowsiness caused by methosuximide.
4. Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children.
2. Store it at room temperature.