Zarontin

Renal impairment

There are no studies on the effect of renal insufficiency on the pharmacokinetics of ethosuximide.45 Renal insufficiency is unlikely to greatly alter ethosuximide clearance because about 80% is cleared via the liver and only 20% via the kidney.45

Hemodialysis

Ethosuximide is water soluble, is not bound to plasma proteins, and has a small volume of distribution. As expected, large amounts of ethosuximide are removed during hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.45,46 One study reported that approximately 50% of the ethosuximide stored in the body can be removed during a 6-hour dialysis session.46

Adapted from: Browne TR. Renal disorders. In: Ettinger AB and Devinsky O, eds. Managing epilepsy and co-existing disorders. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2002;49-62.
With permission from Elsevier (www.elsevier.com).
Reviewed and revised February 2004 by Steven C. Schachter, MD, epilepsy.com Editorial Board.