Proper Use of This Medicine

This medicine must be taken every day in regularly spaced doses as ordered by your doctor . Do not take more or less of it than your doctor ordered.

If this medicine upsets your stomach, take it with food or milk unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Dosing—The dose of succinimide anticonvulsants will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of ethosuximide and methsuximide. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules or teaspoonfuls of syrup that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking a succinimide anticonvulsant .

For ethosuximide
• For oral dosage form (capsules or syrup):
  • As an anticonvulsant:
    • Adults and children 6 years of age and over—To start, 250 milligrams (mg) twice a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1500 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age—To start, 250 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1000 mg a day.

For methsuximide
• For oral dosage form (capsules):
  • As an anticonvulsant:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children—To start, 300 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg a day.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is within 4 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine that is no longer needed. Be sure any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.