Trimethadione

An anticonvulsant medication

Trimethadione
INN
Drug class
Routes of administration	Oral
Pregnancy category
Bioavailability	100%
Metabolism	Hepatic
Elimination half-life	16-24 hours
Excretion	Renal
Legal status	Rx-only
CAS Number	127-48-0
PubChem	5563
DrugBank	DB00347
ChemSpider	5363
KEGG	D00382

Trimethadione is a medication used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy, specifically for absence seizures. It was one of the first anticonvulsant drugs developed and was introduced in the 1940s. Trimethadione is known by the brand name Tridione.

Medical uses

Trimethadione is used to control absence seizures, which are a type of generalized seizure characterized by brief lapses in consciousness. It is not effective for other types of seizures such as tonic-clonic seizures or partial seizures.

Mechanism of action

The exact mechanism by which trimethadione exerts its anticonvulsant effects is not fully understood. It is believed to work by modulating the activity of voltage-gated calcium channels in the thalamus, which play a key role in the generation of absence seizures.

Side effects

Common side effects of trimethadione include drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea. More serious side effects can include blood dyscrasias, liver toxicity, and dermatological reactions. Long-term use can lead to gingival hyperplasia and hirsutism.

Contraindications

Trimethadione is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to the drug. It is also not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk of teratogenicity.

History

Trimethadione was first synthesized in the 1940s and was one of the earliest anticonvulsant drugs used to treat absence seizures. It has largely been replaced by newer medications such as ethosuximide and valproic acid, which have more favorable side effect profiles.

Related pages

• Ethosuximide
• Valproic acid
• Epilepsy
• Seizure types