Ethotoin in seizures of childhood and adolescence.

Ethotoin is an anticonvulsant that was considered minimally effective when introduced, but due to its apparent lack of side effects, there has been renewed interest in the drug for use in generalized and psychomotor seizures. We have characterized the pharmacokinetics of ethotoin in children and have found nonlinearity. Seizures were controlled in 16 of 17 patients, and there were no side effects reported. Gingival hyperplasia due to previous phenytoin therapy improved in all cases.