Ethotoin (By mouth)

Introduction:

Ethotoin (ETH-oh-toin)

Controls seizures in patients who have epilepsy.

Brand Name(s):

Peganone

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.
• It is best to plan your doses so they are evenly spaced during the day. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about when to take this medicine.
• This medicine may be used with other seizure medicines. Keep using all of your seizure medicines unless your doctor tells you to stop.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using other medicines for seizures such as phenytoin (Dilantin®) or carbamazepine (Tegretol®). Tell your doctor if you are also using a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away. Your doctor may want you to join a pregnancy registry for patients taking a seizure medicine.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding, or if you have an anemia or infection.
• Call your doctor right away if you start to have a fever, small red or purple spots on the skin, a sore throat, unusual bruising or bleeding, unusual tiredness or weakness, or are feeling generally ill. These may be signs that you have an infection or a bleeding problem.
• For some children, teenagers, and young adults, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor or your child's doctor right away if you or your child start to feel more depressed and have thoughts about hurting yourselves. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you or your child, especially if they are new or get worse quickly. Make sure the doctor knows if you or your child have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you or your child have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let the doctor know if you, your child, or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood or urine at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.
• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Blurred vision, dizziness, or headache.
• Fever, chills, cough, chest pain, sore throat, or body aches.
• Lumps in your armpits, neck, hands, or thighs.
• Problems with balance or walking.
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain.
• Swelling of your gums.
• Trouble with sleeping.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor: