Drug interactions
Carbamazepine + Ethosuximide
Severity: Moderate
Carbamazepine 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
Carbamazepine can lower serum ethosuximide concentrations by inducing its metabolism. This may reduce control of absence seizures.
What this interaction means in plain words
Carbamazepine 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.
Carbamazepine belongs to Central Nervous System; Ethosuximide belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Carbamazepine induces CYP3A4 (and related enzymes), increasing hepatic clearance of ethosuximide.
What to do
Monitor ethosuximide levels and seizure control when carbamazepine is added or removed. Increase the ethosuximide dose if needed and reduce it again if carbamazepine is stopped.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Carbamazepine and Ethosuximide, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Carbamazepine
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Delamanid Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Dienogest / estradiol valerate Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Doravirine Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Elbasvir / grazoprevir Contraindicated
Other interactions of Ethosuximide
- Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen + Ethosuximide Major
- Buprenorphine long-acting + Ethosuximide Major
- Buprenorphine subdermal implant + Ethosuximide Major
- Buprenorphine transdermal + Ethosuximide Major
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Ethosuximide Major
- Ethosuximide + Fentanyl intranasal Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Carbamazepine with Ethosuximide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Carbamazepine 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. Carbamazepine can lower serum ethosuximide concentrations by inducing its metabolism. This may reduce control of absence seizures.
How serious is the interaction between Carbamazepine 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 ethosuximide levels and seizure control when carbamazepine is added or removed. Increase the ethosuximide dose if needed and reduce it again if carbamazepine is stopped.
What other medicines interact with Carbamazepine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Carbamazepine with, for example, Artemether / lumefantrine, Cabotegravir, Delamanid. The full list is on the Carbamazepine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
