Type of Drug:

Anticonvulsants; drugs used to treat childhood absence (petit mal) epilepsy.

How the Drug Works:

Succinimides act on the central nervous system to decrease the frequency of seizures.

Uses:

To control absence (petit mal) seizures, particularly when refractory to other drugs.

Precautions:

Do not use in the following situations: Allergy to the drug or any of its ingredients.

Use with caution in the following situations:

Lupus: Cases of systemic lupus eurhythmics have occurred during treatment with succinimides. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, skin lesions, pleurisy, joint pain, headaches, and personality changes.

Pregnancy: Reports suggest an association between use of anticonvulsant drugs by women with epilepsy and an increased number of birth defects in children born to these women. Other factors (eg, genetics, epileptic condition) may also contribute to the higher incidence of birth defects. Most mothers receiving anticonvulsant medication deliver normal infants. Do not discontinue anticonvulsant drugs used to prevent major seizures. This could result in the occurrence of seizures and oxy­gen deficiency in body tissues and an increased risk to both the mother and the unborn child. In cases where seizures do not pose a serious threat, your doctor may recommend discontinuation of anticonvulsants prior to and during pregnancy. It is not known whether even minor seizures constitute some risk to the developing embryo or fetus. Reports suggest that a mother’s use of anticonvulsant drugs, particularly barbiturates, is associated with a blood clotting defect in the newborn that may cause a bleeding problem within 24 hours of birth. It has been suggested that vitamin K be given to the mother one month prior to and during delivery.and the infant immediately after birth.

Breastfeeding: Consult your doctor before you begin breastfeeding.

Children: Safety and effectiveness in children younger than 3 years of age have not been established.

Lab Tests: Lab tests may be required during treatment. Tests include blood counts, urinalysis, and liver function.

Drug Interactions:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or planning to take any over the counter or prescription medications or dietary supplements with these drugs. Drug doses may need to be modified or a different drug prescribed. The following drugs and drug classes interact with these drugs:

• Hydantoins (eg, phenytoin)
• Phenobarbital
• Primidone (eg, Mysoline)
• Valproic acid (eg, Depakene)

Side Effects:

Every drug is capable of producing side effects. Many patients experience no, or minor, side effects. The frequency and severity of side effects depend on many factors including dose, duration of therapy, and individual susceptibility. Possible side effects include:

Digestive Tract: Nausea; vomiting; stomach discomfort; appetite loss; diarrhea; constipation; weight loss; cramps.

Nervous System: Drowsiness; dizziness; headache; euphoria; dreamlike feeling; hyperactivity; confusion; sleep disturbances; night terror; hiccup; fatigue; incoordination; depression; irritability; lethargy; sleeplessness; mental slowness; hypochondriacal behavior; aggressiveness; inability to concentrate.

Skin: Rash; unusual bleeding or bruising; hives; increased growth and darkening of fine body hairs; hair loss; itching; skin eruptions.

Other: Joint pain; fever; sore throat; blurred vision; abnormal blood counts; eyes sensitive to light; urinary frequency; blood in urine; muscle weak­ness; swelling of tongue and gums; swelling around eyes; nearsighted­ness; vaginal bleeding.

Guidelines for Use:

• Dosage is individualized. Use exactly as prescribed.
• Do not change the dose or stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Abrupt withdrawal may cause seizures.
• If stomach upset occurs, take with food or milk.
• If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. If several hours have passed or it is nearing time for the next dose, do not double the dose to catch up, unless instructed by your doctor. If more than one dose is missed or it is necessary to establish a new dosage schedule, con­tact your doctor or pharmacist.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages while taking this medicine.
• May cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Use caution while driving or performing other tasks requiring alertness, coordination, or physical dexterity.
• Notify your doctor if you experience skin rash, joint pain, unexplained fever, sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, pregnancy, seizures, depression, aggressiveness, or behavioral changes.
• Succinimides, when used alone in mixed types of epilepsy, may increase the frequency of grand mal seizures.
• Keep scheduled appointments with your doctor and carry Medical Alert identification listing your medical condition and medicine.
• Lab tests may be required during treatment. Be sure to keep appointments.
• Store at room temperature (70° to 86°F). Protect from light, moisture, and excessive heat. Do not use Celontin Kapseals that are not full or in which contents have melted.

Tagged under:Anticonvulasants, anticonvulsant drugs, anticonvulsants drugs, central nervous system, during pregnancy, skin lesions vitamin k

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Some information on natural supplements.

Type of Drug:

Anticonvulsant; diuretic or “water pill”; antiglaucoma drug; carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.

How the Acetazolamide Product Works:

Anticonvulsant: Prevents or reduces seizures by slowing abnormal nerve impulses in the brain and central nervous system.

Diuretic: Reduces amount of fluid in the body by increasing urine formation.

Antiglaucoma: Reduces pressure in the eyes by decreasing the formation of fluid inside the eye.

Uses of The Acetazolamide:

To treat petit mal and un localized seizures.

To treat edema (excess fluid in tissues) which may accompany congestive heart failure, other circulatory system disorders, or other drug therapy.

Sustained-release capsules: To treat certain types of glaucoma. Usually used in combination with drugs applied directly to the eye.

To prevent or treat the effects of acute mountain sickness.

Precautions:

Blood disorder cancer while taking this medication. Patients should be routinely monitored to avoid this problem.

Potassium loss: By increasing urine formation, acetazolamide may cause loss of potassium from the body. Low potassium levels may be treated by eating foods and drinking fluids high in potassium, such as citrus (orange) juice, bananas, dates, raisins, melons, and tomatoes. If increasing potassium in the diet does not raise potassium levels to normal, a potassium supplement may be necessary to replace lost potassium.

Pregnancy: Adequate studies have not been done in pregnant women. Use only if clearly needed and potential benefits outweigh the possible hazards to the fetus.

Breastfeeding: Acetazolamide may appear in breast milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. Consult your doctor before you begin breastfeeding.

Children: Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

Lab Tests: Lab tests are required during treatment with acetazolamide. Tests may include blood counts, electrolytes (eg, potassium, sodium, chloride), and liver and kidney function tests.

Drug Interactions:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or if you are planning to take any over-the-counter or prescription medications or dietary supplements with acetazolamide. Doses of one or both drugs may need to be modified or a different drug may need to be prescribed. The following drugs interact with acetazolamide.

• Cyclosporine (eg, sandimmune)
• Iithium (eg, eskalith)
• Primidone (eg, mysoline)
• Quinidine (eg, quinidex)
• Salicylates (eg, aspirin, Arthro pan, Doan’s Tusal)

Side Effects:

Every drug is capable of producing side effects. Many acetazolamide users experience no, or minor, side effects. The frequency and severity of side effects depend on many factors including dose, duration of therapy, and individual susceptibility. Possible side effects include:

Digestive Tract: Nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; diarrhea.

Skin: Unusual bleeding or bruising; rash; red or purple spots under the skin; sensitivity to light.

Other: Fever; tingling or numbness in hands or feet; drowsiness; confusion; allergic reaction; taste alterations; ringing in the ears; hearing dysfunction; excessive urination; electrolyte imbalance; metabolic acidosis; crystals in urine; kidney stones; abnormal blood cell counts; transient nearsightedness; sore throat.

Guidelines for Use:

• Epilepsy - Suggested total daily dose is 8 to 30 mg/kg in divided doses. Optimum range appears to be from 375 to 1000 mg daily. When given in combination with other anticonvulsant’s, the starting dose should be 250 mg once daily in addition to existing medications.
• Tablets can be crushed and mixed with sweet foods to mask bitter taste.
• Capsules can be opened and contents sprinkled on food, if necessary.
• Sustained-release capsules - Do not crush or chew.
• Doses more than 1 g per 24 hours do not produce an increased effect.
• For use of acetazolamide in acute mountain sickness, congestive heart failure, drug-induced edema, and glaucoma, see the Diuretics­Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors monograph.
• May cause stomach upset. Take with food.
• May cause drowsiness. Use caution when driving or performing other tasks requiring alertness, coordination, or physical dexterity.
• May cause loss of potassium from the body. Contact your doctor if signs of potassium loss (eg, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, dizziness) occur.
• Notify your doctor if sore throat, fever, unusual bleeding or bruising, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, flank or loin pain, or skin rash occurs.
• When using acetazolamide, urination may increase; if possible, take early in the day ..
• Temporary nearsightedness (change in vision) has occasionally occurred with this medicine. It subsides when the dose is reduced or the medicine is stopped.
• May cause sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or other forms of ultraviolet (UV) light (eg, tanning beds). Use sun­screens and wear protective clothing until tolerance is determined.
• Store at room temperature (59 to 86°F).

Tagged under:acute mountain sickness, Anticonvulasants, anticonvulsant, breastfeeding, central nervous system, diuretic, glaucoma, low potassium levels potassium supplement

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