Stiripentol

Stiripentol is part of the drug class:

• Other antiepileptics

This is not a complete list of Stiripentoldrug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking stiripentol,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to stiripentol, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in stiripentol capsules or oral powder for suspension. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: caffeine or medications that contain caffeine (Cafcit, Excedrin, in Cafergot, others); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril); clopidogrel (Plavix); diazepam (Valium); glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase); methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Xatmep); midazolam (Seizalam); phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); prazosin (Minipress); quinidine (in Nuedexta); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater); sedatives, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers; sertraline (Zoloft); theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron); thiotepa (Tepadina); or triazolam (Halcion). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with stiripentol, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
• also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior or kidney or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking stiripentol, call your doctor.
• you should know that stiripentol may make you dizzy or drowsy and may affect your coordination. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
• ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking stiripentol. Alcohol can make the side effects from stiripentol worse.
• if you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition in which a special diet must be followed to prevent mental retardation), you should know that stiripentol oral powder is sweetened with aspartame that forms phenylalanine.
• you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways and you may become suicidal (thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so) while you are taking stiripentol. A small number of adults and children 5 years of age and older (about 1 in 500 people) who took anticonvulsants, such as stiripentol, to treat various conditions during clinical studies became suicidal during their treatment. Some of these people developed suicidal thoughts and behavior as early as one week after they started taking the medication. You and your doctor will decide whether the risks of taking an anticonvulsant medication are greater than the risks of not taking the medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: panic attacks; agitation or restlessness; new or worsening irritability, anxiety, or depression; acting on dangerous impulses; difficulty falling or staying asleep; aggressive, angry, or violent behavior; mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood); thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; or any other unusual changes in behavior or mood. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to Stiripentol.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.