Ethosuximide Pregnancy and Breast Feeding Warnings
Ethosuximide is also known as: Zarontin
Overview
If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Ethosuximide Solution while you are pregnant. Ethosuximide Solution is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Ethosuximide Solution, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Ethosuximide Pregnancy Warnings
Ethosuximide has not been formally assigned to a pregnancy category by the FDA. Ethosuximide has been assigned to pregnancy Risk Factor C by Briggs et al. Animal studies have not been reported. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. An increased risk of congenital malformations have been associated with the use of anticonvulsants (including ethosuximide) in epileptic women during pregnancy. Abnormalities reported with ethosuximide use have included spontaneous hemorrhage in the neonate, patent ductus arteriosus, cleft lip and/or palate, mongoloid facies, short neck, altered palmar crease, an accessory nipple, and hydrocephalus. Anomalies associated with anticonvulsant use in pregnancy included neural tube defects, cleft lips, cleft palates, cardiac defects, and microcephaly. The manufacturer states that ethosuximide should only be administered during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and benefit outweighs risk.
Physicians are encouraged to register patients before fetal outcome is known (e.g., ultrasound, results of amniocentesis, etc) into the Antiepileptic Drug (AED) Pregnancy Registry at 1-888-233-2334 or 1-888-AED-AED4. This is an ongoing study at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. This study is designed to monitor the outcomes of pregnant women exposed to antiepileptic drugs in order to determine which therapies are associated with increased risk.
Ethosuximide Lactation Warnings
Ethosuximide is excreted into human milk Concentrations found in breast milk are comparable to the maternal serum. The effects in the nursing infant are unknown. Ethosuximide is considered compatible with breast-feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Wolters Kluwer Health and Drugs.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Multum Information Services, Inc. does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. Copyright 2000-2008 Multum Information Services, Inc. The information in contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
