Drug interactions
Clobazam + Ethosuximide
Severity: Moderate
Clobazam 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
Both drugs depress the central nervous system. Used together they can increase drowsiness, dizziness and impaired psychomotor performance, and respiratory depression is possible at higher doses. Combined use is common in refractory epilepsy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clobazam 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.
Clobazam belongs to Central Nervous System; Ethosuximide belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through pharmacodynamic effects.
What to do
Monitor for excess sedation when starting or titrating either drug, and warn patients about driving and machinery. Reduce the dose if sedation is problematic.
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 Clobazam 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 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
Other interactions of Clobazam
- Amobarbital + Clobazam Major
- Buprenorphine + Clobazam Major
- Butorphanol + Clobazam Major
- Carisoprodol + Clobazam Major
- Chloral hydrate + Clobazam Major
- Clobazam + Clozapine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Clobazam with Ethosuximide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clobazam 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. Both drugs depress the central nervous system. Used together they can increase drowsiness, dizziness and impaired psychomotor performance, and respiratory depression is possible at higher doses. Combined use is common in refractory epilepsy.
How serious is the interaction between Clobazam 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 for excess sedation when starting or titrating either drug, and warn patients about driving and machinery. Reduce the dose if sedation is problematic.
What other medicines interact with Ethosuximide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ethosuximide with, for example, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen, Buprenorphine long-acting, Buprenorphine subdermal implant. The full list is on the Ethosuximide 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.
