Sulthiame | Epilepsy clinician handbook
- Sulthiame is an old anti-seizure medication, less commonly used now.
- It should not be used first line, and may be a useful adjunct in refractory epilepsy.
- It has been used for Self-Limited Epilepsy with CentroTemporal Spikes (SeLECTS), particularly popular in some European countries.
- Low level evidence studies suggest it might be effective as additional therapy in a range of drug resistant epilepsies (generalised, focal and mixed epilepsies, Epileptic
- Encephalopathy with Spike Wave Activation in Sleep (EE-SWAS, previously ESES), other epileptic encephalopathies, myoclonic epilepsies).
- Consultation with neurology is recommended.
- Mechanism of action: carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.
Possible side effects
For a complete list of side effects, consult MIMS.
- Paraesthesia of the extremities and face
- Ataxia
- Dizziness, Headache, Diplopia
- Tachypnoea, hyperpnoea, dyspnoea
- Drowsiness
- Tachycardia
- Loss of appetite, anorexia and weight loss
- Gastric complaints
- Hypersalivation
- Cognitive slowing
Other notable side effects
- Rash including Steven-Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors can lead to metabolic acidosis and kidney stones.
Rare side-effects
- Anxiety, suicidal ideation, and hallucinations
- Joint pains
- Fatigue from a myaesthenia-like syndrome
- Insomnia
- Renal impairment
All anti-seizure medications are potentially teratogenic and this is often dose related. For a complete list of adverse effects, appropriate formularies should be consulted.
Interactions and precautions
Precautions
- Dosage change required in renal and hepatic impairment.
- Sulthiame may not be used in cases of known hypersensitivity to sulphur-containing medications, other sulphonamides.
- Sulthiame should not be used in patients with known acute porphyria, hyperthyroidism or severe hypertension.
Drug Interactions
- Sulthiame inhibits hepatic metabolism and so this medication does interact with other AEDs, especially phenytoin.
- Known interaction between sulthiame and primidone, leading to dizziness, unsteady gait, and drowsiness.
- Other interactions: carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, lamotrigine, primidone.
- Should generally not be used in patients already receiving acetazolamide, topiramate, zonisamide, or the ketogenic diet, because these also predispose to metabolic acidosis and to kidney stones.
- Known interaction with alcohol, which can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, hypotension, arrhythmia, decreased level of consciousness.
Weaning
- When ceasing Sulthiame, may need to adjust the doses of concurrent medications as Sulthiame can affect the plasma levels of other medications.
- A gradual reduction should be undertaken.
- Rapid discontinuation may induce withdrawal seizures and should only be undertaken if there are safety concerns (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, sulphur drug reaction).
Pregnancy
- Usage in pregnancy needs to be discussed with a neurologist.
- There are animal studies that show adverse effects on the foetus, but there are no controlled studies in humans. Sulthiame is classified as class D teratogen in pregnancy (MIMS).