Ever taken Ethosuxomide ?

[CindyGillmore]

Neuro suggested again that my son take Ethosuxomide for Absence Seizures. Had bad side effects last time, anxious about starting him on it again. He's 13 yrs old.

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[Dutch mom]

My son has used it twice together with other aeds. We had the impression it caused some kind of hallucinations. He can't tell but we saw him stare to things which weren't there and smile/giggling in an odd way. I know from other parents ethosuximide can cause hallucinations, sometimes nasty ones. Some saw things like flames or blood, others felt bugs crawling over their skin and heard voices telling them things (gnooms saying "It's all your fault.") Pretty scary for kids.

 

[CindyGillmore]

Ugh, sorry he had to go through that.

 

[Frink]

zarontin/ ethosuximide is a standard first try drug for absence seizures.
I have 1 friend with absence who responds very well to zarontin.

 

[Nakamova]

Haven't tried it myself, but here are few CWE threads about it:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f20/mouth-sores-high-fever-ethosuximide-24527/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/zarontin-8919/

Cindy, have you and the doc considered having your son try the Modified Atkins Diet? It's shown success in treating absence seizures in particular.
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/dietary-therapies/modified-atkins-diet
http://www.atkinsforseizures.com/