Epilepsy

DRUGS FOR ABSENCE AND OTHER GENERALIZED SEIZURES: ETHOSUXIMIDE (ZARONTIN) AND VALPROIC ACID (DEPAKENE, DEPAKOTE)

Ethosuximide (Zarontin) Ethosuximide is very effective in simple absence seizures, but has no effect on partial seizures or on generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Allergic side effects to ethosuximide include rashes, blood problems, and liver disease, but such complications are very infrequent. Dose-related toxicity is also uncommon, and the drug dose may be increased even when the [...]

NON-EPILEPTIC SEIZURES

It was the day of the end of term Christmas concert, and Carol, aged 15, was waiting in the wings, just about to go on and play her piano solo. Her family, sitting in the front row, were excited because her young brother was just out of hospital after lengthy treatment for a childhood illness. [...]