Epikon 60mg Tablet
Prescription Required
Product introduction
Epikon 60mg Tablet belongs to a class of medicines called barbiturates. It is used to treat and prevent epilepsy (seizures). They also have hypnotic properties. This means, they slow down the activity of the brain and can make you feel sleepy or dizzy.
Epikon 60mg Tablet may be taken with or without food. However, it is advised to take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor as it may be habit-forming with long-term use. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
Some common side effects of this medicine include nausea, diarrhea, hyperactivity, depression, confusion, decreased blood pressure, and fatigue. It may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
Remember to consult your doctor if you notice severe rashes, especially accompanied by fever after taking this medicine. It should be noted that long-term use of this medicine can cause pain in joints also.
Epikon 60mg Tablet may be taken with or without food. However, it is advised to take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor as it may be habit-forming with long-term use. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
Some common side effects of this medicine include nausea, diarrhea, hyperactivity, depression, confusion, decreased blood pressure, and fatigue. It may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
Remember to consult your doctor if you notice severe rashes, especially accompanied by fever after taking this medicine. It should be noted that long-term use of this medicine can cause pain in joints also.
Uses of Epikon Tablet
Benefits of Epikon Tablet
In Epilepsy/Seizures
Epikon 60mg Tablet slows down electrical signals in the brain which cause seizures (fits). It can also help reduce symptoms such as confusion, uncontrollable jerking movements, loss of awareness, and fear or anxiety. The medicine can allow you to do some activities that you would otherwise be forbidden or scared to do (such as swimming and driving). It can take a few weeks for this medicine to work (because the dose has to be increased slowly) and during this time you may still have seizures. Do not stop using this medicine even if you feel well, until your doctor advises you to. Missing doses may trigger a seizure.
Side effects of Epikon Tablet
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Epikon
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Hyperactivity
- Depression
- Confusion
- Decreased blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Excitement
- Hangover
How to use Epikon Tablet
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Epikon 60mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Epikon Tablet works
Epikon 60mg Tablet controls seizures or fits by increasing the action of GABA, a chemical messenger which suppresses the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.
Safety advice
Alcohol
UNSAFE
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Epikon 60mg Tablet.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Epikon 60mg Tablet is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Epikon 60mg Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Monitor the baby for sleepiness, skin rash, and feeding issues.
Monitor the baby for sleepiness, skin rash, and feeding issues.
Driving
UNSAFE
Epikon 60mg Tablet may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.
Kidney
CAUTION
Epikon 60mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Epikon 60mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Epikon 60mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
Use of Epikon 60mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
Liver
CAUTION
Epikon 60mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Epikon 60mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Epikon 60mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.
Use of Epikon 60mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.
All substitutes
For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
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Quick tips
- Epikon 60mg Tablet helps in treatment and prevention of seizures.
- It may be habit-forming with long-term use.
- Talk with your doctor if it stops working well. Do not take more than prescribed.
- It may make you very sleepy. Don't drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
- Inform your doctor if you notice pain in your joints or if you have a history of bone disease.
- Get regular blood tests done to monitor the amount of medication in your body.
- Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice skin rash accompanied with fever.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor.
Fact Box
Chemical Class
Barbituric Acid Derivative
Habit Forming
Yes
Therapeutic Class
NEURO CNS
Action Class
Barbiturates
Interaction with drugs
Taking Epikon with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects
Concurrent use may cause bone problems.
If concurrent use is essential, watch out for symptoms such as fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, or numbness, and consult your doctor if yo
Phenobarbitone may fasten the elimination of Irinotecan and its active form.
Do not consume Irinotecan with Phenobarbitone. If concurrent use is essential, please consult your doc
Phenobarbitone may reduce blood levels of Ticagrelor.
Do not consume Ticagrelor with Phenobarbitone.
Phenobarbitone may reduce blood levels and efficacy of Ranolazine.
Do not consume Ranolazine with Phenobarbitone.
Phenobarbitone may reduce blood levels of Sirolimus.
Do not consume Sirolimus with Phenobarbitone. If concurrent use is essential, your doctor may monitor your treatment and adjus
Patient concerns
FAQs
What is Epikon 60mg Tablet used for?
Epikon 60mg Tablet is prescribed to control seizures or fits. Epikon 60mg Tablet belongs to barbiturate group of medicines. In exceptional circumstances, it is also used to treat seizures that sometimes accompany a high fever in children.
What if I forget to take Epikon 60mg Tablet?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the forgotten dose and take the next dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten dose.
Can Epikon 60mg Tablet cause addiction?
Yes, Epikon 60mg Tablet may cause addiction in patients with a history of alcoholism and drug abuse if they take it for a prolonged time. Therefore, Epikon 60mg Tablet should be avoided in such patients.
What are the long-term side effects of Epikon 60mg Tablet?
Long-term use of phenobarbital can lead to changes in the soft tissues of the body. Symptoms include pain in the joints or thickening in areas such as the palm or the bottom of the foot. If you notice any changes of this kind, tell the doctor.
Can I stop taking Epikon 60mg Tablet once my seizures get controlled?
No, you should not stop taking Epikon 60mg Tablet without consulting your doctor. Sudden withdrawal can cause sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, feeling sick, fits and delirium. The dose of Epikon 60mg Tablet should be reduced gradually.
What will happen if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose of Epikon 60mg Tablet?
Swallowing more than the recommended doses may cause drowsiness, speech problems, jerky movements, jerky eye movements, loss of inhibition, reduced reflex response, low body temperature, low blood pressure and breathing problems. Contact your nearest hospital emergency services or your doctor immediately.
What are the effects of Epikon 60mg Tablet in children?
Epikon 60mg Tablet is useful in treating many kinds of seizures in children. It is often considered as the first choice to treat certain kinds of seizures in newborns. The child taking Epikon 60mg Tablet treatment may develop problems with behavior and learning. Side effects are much more likely to be troublesome if high doses are given or if too high a dose is given at the beginning of the treatment. It may be necessary to increase the dose very slowly over several months.
Can I take folic acid with Epikon 60mg Tablet?
Epikon 60mg Tablet causes folic acid deficiency which is responsible for certain types of anemia (megaloblastic anemia) in some patients. But if you take folic acid, then it may decrease the levels of Epikon 60mg Tablet in your body. This may lead to seizures. Therefore, folic acid should be avoided.
For how long do I need to take Epikon 60mg Tablet?
You should take Epikon 60mg Tablet for the duration advised by your doctor. This drug has a habit-forming effect, therefore, its long-term use is not recommended.
Are there any tests available which check the levels of Epikon 60mg Tablet in the blood?
Yes, laboratory tests are available. If you feel excessively sleepy and experience tremor or balance issues or double vision, inform your doctor and get the levels checked.
Can Epikon 60mg Tablet cause withdrawal symptoms?
Yes, suddenly stopping Epikon 60mg Tablet can cause withdrawal symptoms which include sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, nausea, fits, and delirium.
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Disclaimer:
Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.References
- McNamara JO. Pharmacotherapy of the Epilepsies. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 593-94.
- Porters RJ, Meldrum BS. Antiseizure Drugs. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 407.
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 1101-104.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006. Phenobarbital. [Updated 2018 Oct 31]. [Accessed 20 Feb. 2020] (online) Available from:
- Phenobarbitone. Huddersfield, West Yorks: Thornton & Ross Ltd.; 1982 [revised 27 Jan. 2016]. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:
Marketer details
Name: Konark Biochem
Address: G/3,"Akanksha" Near Railway Crossing, Sola Road, Ahmedabad-380061.
Country of origin: India
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