Anticonvulsants, Dione (Systemic)

Proper Use of This Medicine

For patients taking paramethadione capsules :

• Swallow the capsules whole. Do not crush, chew, or break them before swallowing.

For patients taking trimethadione solution :

• Use a specially marked measuring spoon, a plastic syringe, or a small marked measuring cup to measure each dose accurately. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

For patients taking trimethadione chewable tablets :

• The tablets should be crushed and dissolved in a small amount of water or chewed before they are swallowed.

If this medicine upsets your stomach, take it with a small amount of food or milk unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor , to benefit your condition as much as possible. Do not take more or less of it and do not take it more or less often than your doctor ordered.

Dosing - The dose of dione anticonvulsants will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of paramethadione and trimethadione. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets or capsules or teaspoonfuls of solution that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.

For paramethadione
• For oral dosage forms (capsules):
  • Adults and teenagers: To start, 300 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose by 300 mg every week until seizures are controlled or side effects appear. However, the dose is usually not more than 2400 mg a day, taken in three or four smaller doses.
  • Children 6 years of age and over: 300 mg three times a day.
  • Children 2 to 6 years of age: 200 mg three times a day.
  • Children up to 2 years of age: 100 mg three times a day.

For trimethadione
• For oral dosage forms (capsules, solution, tablets):
  • Adults and teenagers: To start, 300 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose by 300 mg every week until seizures are controlled or side effects appear. However, the dose is usually not more than 2400 mg a day, taken in three or four smaller doses.
  • Children 6 years of age and over: 300 mg three or four times a day.
  • Children 2 to 6 years of age: 200 mg three times a day.
  • Children up to 2 years of age: 100 mg three times a day.

Missed dose - If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. If only one dose is missed, it may be taken at bedtime.

Storage - To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Store trimethadione chewable tablets in the refrigerator.
• Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.