Question:easy
Ethosuximide is the drug of choice for:
Ethosuximide is the drug of choice for:
Show Hint
Think about which drug blocks thalamic T-type calcium channels and treats only one specific seizure type.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Generalized tonic clonic seizures
- Complex partial seizures
- Absence seizures
- Myoclonic seizures
Show Solution
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Ethosuximide belongs to the succinimide class and is famous for a single, very specific use. Its action is to shut down low-threshold T-type calcium channels inside thalamic relay neurons. These channels drive the pacemaker-like 3 Hz spike-wave discharges that define absence epilepsy. Remove the calcium current and the abnormal thalamocortical loop cannot fire, so the brief staring spells of absence seizures stop.
Walking through the choices: tonic clonic seizures are handled by sodium-channel and broad-spectrum agents such as phenytoin or valproate ($A$ is wrong). Complex partial seizures classically respond to carbamazepine ($B$ is wrong). Myoclonic jerks call for valproate or levetiracetam, and ethosuximide may actually aggravate them ($D$ is wrong). That leaves absence seizures, where ethosuximide is the narrow but textbook drug of choice. Valproate is an alternative when other seizure types coexist, but for pure absence, ethosuximide wins on tolerability.
\[\boxed{\text{Absence seizures}}\]
Walking through the choices: tonic clonic seizures are handled by sodium-channel and broad-spectrum agents such as phenytoin or valproate ($A$ is wrong). Complex partial seizures classically respond to carbamazepine ($B$ is wrong). Myoclonic jerks call for valproate or levetiracetam, and ethosuximide may actually aggravate them ($D$ is wrong). That leaves absence seizures, where ethosuximide is the narrow but textbook drug of choice. Valproate is an alternative when other seizure types coexist, but for pure absence, ethosuximide wins on tolerability.
\[\boxed{\text{Absence seizures}}\]
Was this answer helpful?
0
