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Drug interactions

Amobarbital + Ethosuximide

Severity: Moderate

Amobarbital and Ethosuximide: moderate interaction.

Last updated

For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.

Summary

Barbiturates may lower ethosuximide concentrations through enzyme induction, though reports for barbiturates are inconsistent. Additive sedation can also occur with these CNS-active drugs.

What this interaction means in plain words

Amobarbital and Ethosuximide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.

Amobarbital belongs to Central Nervous System; Ethosuximide belongs to Central Nervous System.

Evidence level: Low

Why it happens

Barbiturate induction of CYP3A4 may increase ethosuximide metabolism, along with additive CNS depression.

What to do

Monitor seizure control and ethosuximide concentrations when starting or stopping amobarbital, and adjust the dose accordingly.

What to ask your pharmacist

  • Should I take them at different times of day?
  • Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
  • Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Amobarbital with Ethosuximide?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Amobarbital and Ethosuximide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Barbiturates may lower ethosuximide concentrations through enzyme induction, though reports for barbiturates are inconsistent. Additive sedation can also occur with these CNS-active drugs.

How serious is the interaction between Amobarbital and Ethosuximide?

MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor seizure control and ethosuximide concentrations when starting or stopping amobarbital, and adjust the dose accordingly.

What other medicines interact with Amobarbital?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Amobarbital with, for example, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Doravirine, Elbasvir / grazoprevir. The full list is on the Amobarbital page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

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