Celontin

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Celontin Overview

Updated: July 25, 2013

Celontin (generic: methsuximide) is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of seizures. Celontin belongs to a group of drugs called anticonvulsants, which work by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

This medication comes in capsule form and is taken once a day, with or without food.

Common side effects of Celontin include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and headache. Celontin can also cause blurred vision, dizziness, and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Celontin affects you.

Uses of Celontin

Celontin is a prescription medication used to control absence (petit mal) seizures after other drugs prove to be insufficient for seizure control.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of Celontin

Serious side effects have been reported with Celontin. See the “Drug Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Celontin include the following:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • constipation
  • headache
  • drowsiness
  • dizziness
  • blurred vision
  • diarrhea
  • weight loss
  • problems with walking and coordination (unsteadiness)
  • stomach pain
  • loss of appetite

This is not a complete list of Celontin side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Celontin Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • alcohol
  • other anticonvulsants medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol, Equetro), valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor), lamotrigine (Lamictal), topiramate (Topamax), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), tiagabine (Gabatril), and zonisamide (Zonegran

This is not a complete list of Celontin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Celontin Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Celontin including the following:

  • rare but serious blood problems that may be life-threatening. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have:
    • fever, swollen glands, or sore throat that come and go or do not go away
    • frequent infections or an infection that does not go away
    • easy bruising
    • red or purple spots on your body
    • bleeding gums or nose bleeds
    • severe fatigue or weakness
  • systematic lupus erythematosus. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:
    • joint pain and swelling
    • muscle pain
    • fatigue
    • low-grade fever
    • pain in the chest that is worse with breathing
    • unexplained skin rash
  • Like other anticonvulsant drugs, Celontin may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.
    • Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
      • thoughts about suicide or dying
      • attempts to commit suicide
      • new or worse depression
      • new or worse anxiety
      • feeling agitated or restless
      • panic attacks
      • trouble sleeping (insomnia)
      • new or worse irritability
      • acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
      • acting on dangerous impulses
      • an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
      • other unusual changes in behavior or mood
    • How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?
      • Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
      • Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.

Do not stop Celontin without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping Celontin suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).

Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

Celontin can also cause blurred vision, dizziness, and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Celontin affects you.

Do not take Celontin if you

  • are allergic to Celontin or to any of its ingredients
  • are allergic to succinimides such as ethosuximide (Zarontin)

Celontin Food Interactions

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Celontin, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Inform MD

Before taking Celontin, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to Celontin or to any of its ingredients
  • are allergic to any other succinimides such as ethosuximide (Zarontin)
  • have or have had liver problems
  • have or have had depression, mood problems or suicidal thoughts or behavior
  • have any other medical conditions
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Celontin can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking Celontin. You and your healthcare provider will decide if you should take Celontin while you are pregnant.
    • If you become pregnant while taking Celontin, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Celontin can pass into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide how you will feed your baby while you take Celontin.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Celontin and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

It is not known if Celontin can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking Celontin. You and your healthcare provider will decide if you should take Celontin while you are pregnant.

If you become pregnant while taking Celontin, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334.

Celontin and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Celontin can pass into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide how you will feed your baby while you take Celontin.

Celontin Usage

  • Take Celontin exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Celontin to take.
  • Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose of Celontin without talking to your healthcare provider.
  • Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Celontin without first discussing this with your healthcare provider. Celontin taken with alcohol or medicines that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.
  • If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Celontin at the same time.

Celontin Dosage

Take Celontin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The Celontin dose your doctor recommends will be based on the following:

  • the condition being treated
  • other medical conditions you have
  • other medications you are taking
  • how you respond to this medication
  • your liver function
  • your kidney function
  • your age

The recommended dose range for Celontin is 150 to 1200 mg once daily.

Celontin Overdose

If you take too much Celontin, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Forms of Celontin

Celontin is available as 150 mg and 300 mg capsule.

Active ingredient: methsuximide

Inactive ingredients: starch, colloidal silicon dioxide NF, D&C yellow No. 10, FD&C yellow No.6, gelatin NF, and sodium lauryl sulfate NF

Other Requirements

  • Store Celontin at room temperature, between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
  • Keep Celontin capsules in a dry place.
  • Keep Celontin out of the light.
  • Protect Celontin from heat.
  • Do not use Celontin capsules that if they do not look full or if the contents have melted.
  • Keep Celontin and all medicines out of the reach of children.

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