Anticonvulsants, Succinimide (Systemic)
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For succinimide anticonvulsants,
the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to anticonvulsant medicines. Also tell your health care
professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,
or dyes.
Pregnancy - Although succinimide anticonvulsants have not been
shown to cause problems in humans, there have been unproven reports of increased
birth defects associated with the use of other anticonvulsant medicines.
Breast-feeding - Ethosuximide passes into breast milk. It is not
known whether methsuximide passes into breast milk. However, these medicines
have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children - Succinimide anticonvulsants are not expected to cause
different side effects or problems in children than they do in adults.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information
comparing use of succinimide anticonvulsants in the elderly to use in other
age groups, they are not expected to cause different side effects or problems
in older people than they do in younger adults.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
succinimide anticonvulsants, it is especially important that your health care
professional know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness) - Using
these medicines together may increase CNS depressant effects
-
Haloperidol (e.g., Haldol) - A change in the pattern and/or the
frequency of seizures may occur; the dose of either medicine may need to be
changed
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of succinimide anticonvulsants. Make sure you
tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Blood disease or
-
Intermittent porphyria or
-
Kidney disease (severe) or
-
Liver disease - Succinimide anticonvulsants may make the condition
worse
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