My 9 year old daughter has been taking this medication for over a year now. Her seizures have decreased dramatically. However, there are side effects. She gets frequent hiccups (drives her crazy) and insomnia. Sometimes she complains of nausea, but usually if she takes it without food. I have noticed sharp mood swings, but can anticipate them and therefore, try not to agitate her too much.
Shared reviews and ratings
Most Helpful
Most Recent
Highest Total Rating
High Satisfaction
Low Satisfaction
No data
Mandy | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Caregiver
6/6/2022
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 3.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
My daughter has had absence epilepsy since the age of 4 it’s not called petit mal anymore !
She was on lamotrigine but sadly she’s now 15 and has gone on to juvenile absence epilepsy lamotrigine wasn’t working so she was weaned into Ethosuximide
She does suffer from anxiety but things got really bad and awful side effects
Night terrors
I feel they should have reduced lamotrigine at the same time as starting Ethosuximide
Although it controlled seizures she now has really bad insomnia
It’s so hard when you really don’t get the right help
Read More Read Less
1
Report this post
Ethosutsimide | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Caregiver
5/27/2022
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Beware, be careful with this medication, only 2 months my daughter took this poison and gave her lupus, I had to decrease little by little with my tears on my face to stop this poisonous into my daughter’s body and blood, if you see your kid with any rash or purple color or any side effects you should start decreasing this poison and take this out. Also damaged her thyroid. The neurologist wanted to keep this medication even those this warning and bad side effects, they don’t care about your kid. They are very compromised with the big pharma Read More Read Less
Report this post
Tim | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Caregiver
3/30/2022
Condition: Other
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
My son has been on this med for about a year. His mood swings are getting worse. This is the only med change that has happened to him. He's almost 21 years old and I haven't seen him so explosive.
1
Report this post
Upset | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
1/2/2019
Condition: Other
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I take this medicine and honestly the reduction in amount of seizures is not worth how awful it makes you feel. ( I only have absence siezures so I'm basing my opinion on that.)
1
Report this post
Not helping! | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
6/20/2017
Condition: Epileptic Seizure
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I have taken this for 8 years now with no change and side affects have caused loss of weight and high change in my mood. I want off!
2
Report this post
Anonymous | 13-18 | Male | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Caregiver
9/6/2016
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 2.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
There are several generic forms of ethosuximide. They are all subpar at best. When the pharmacy orders different generics my son's seizures are uncontrollable. He's having over a hundred each hour. It's worth the money to medicate with the name brand of Zarontin.
3
1
Report this post
Liz C | 7-12 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Caregiver
7/29/2015
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
My 8 year old daughter has been taking this for about a year now. Seizures have gone from about a dozen a day to almost non-existent. She does have the frequent hiccups and nausea. So now I give it to her right at bedtime so she can sleep through the side effects. She has been having major mood swings but I am not sure if that is because of the medicine or just the fact that she is a hormonal girl....lol. But I am watching that closely.
3
1
Report this post
momoflh | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Caregiver
4/23/2015
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
My 9 year old daughter has been taking this medication for over a year now. Her seizures have decreased dramatically. However, there are side effects. She gets frequent hiccups (drives her crazy) and insomnia. Sometimes she complains of nausea, but usually if she takes it without food. I have noticed sharp mood swings, but can anticipate them and therefore, try not to agitate her too much.
6
Report this post
caylasue | 7-12 | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Caregiver
2/25/2015
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 3.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
my son who is 8 was diagnosed 2 years ago was going from having a few dozen per day to around a half a dozen after increasing his dosage. We are now at the top of the spetrum of his dosage and cannot increase it anymore. so we are not sure if we'll switch his medication because we are vcery nervous about putting him on Depakene because of its side effects
4
1
Report this post
a | 3-6 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
12/24/2013
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 2.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
My son has been on this medication for 4 1/2 months now. We have seen no difference in his petit mal seizures. He is still having the same amount every day after upping his dose 4 times.
5
Report this post
Chroma | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
6/30/2011
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
This drug has been effective for me (according to others, anyway), but I have suffered some side effects: the unusual side effect of frequent hiccups (check it, it's there), severe nausea within an hour after taking it, and stomach cramps and diarrhea if I forget a dose and then take the next one. I've yet to get my lab results back, so I don't know if it's caused any other problems.
3
1
Report this post
Anonymous | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Caregiver
5/12/2011
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Report this post
jmariel59 | 45-54 | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Caregiver
12/5/2010
Condition: Epileptic Seizure
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
This works well for my daughter. We even switch fron the liquid to then capsule to it easier to take her medicine at school
3
Report this post
mommy loves me | 3-6 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Caregiver
9/16/2010
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
My daughter has been using this medication for about 3 months its stopped her daydream seizures from at least 100 a day down to 2-3 a day but I really want them to stop completely.I do not want her to be on any harsher anti seizure medicine.
5
Report this post
Anonymous | 25-34 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Caregiver
8/24/2009
Condition: Petit Mal Seizures
Overall rating 3.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
tHIS MEDICATION CAUSED MOUTH ULCERS IN MY 5 YEAR OLD SON.
3
Report this post
Anonymous |
8/21/2008
Condition: Epileptic Seizure
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
uncontrolled absence for 19yrs until introduced to the smallest dose 1x a day Cannot get the least bit thirsty w/o feeling neausia and have to take with food
3
1
Report this post
PANAMAZBABY | 3-6 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Caregiver
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT USER-GENERATED CONTENT ON WEBMD
The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions.