Potiga

Generic name: Ezogabine
Drug class: Neuronal potassium channel openers

Usage of Potiga

Potiga is an anti-epileptic drug, also called an anticonvulsant.

Potiga is used to treat partial-onset seizures in adults.

Potiga may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Potiga side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Potiga: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or if you feel agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

blurred vision, double vision, or any other changes in your vision;

painful or difficult urination;

little or no urination;

trouble emptying your bladder; or

confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior.

Common Potiga side effects may include:

dizziness, spinning sensation;

weakness, loss of balance or coordination;

drowsiness, tired feeling;

memory problems, trouble concentrating;

tremors;

problems with speech or walking.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Potiga

You should not use Potiga if you are allergic to ezogabine.

To make sure you can safely use Potiga, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

kidney disease;

liver disease;

an enlarged prostate;

urination problems;

heart disease or a heart rhythm disorder;

a history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts or actions;

a personal or family history of long QT syndrome; or

an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood).

Long-term use of Potiga has caused a blue-colored appearance of the skin or eyes in some people. This effect was seen mainly in the lips, face, legs, fingernails, and toenails. You should have your eyes checked before you start taking Potiga.

Potiga may be habit forming. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

Follow your doctor's instructions about taking seizure medication if you are pregnant. Seizure control is very important during pregnancy, and having a seizure could harm both mother and baby. Do not start or stop taking Potiga without your doctor's advice, and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of Potiga on the baby.

It is not known whether ezogabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Potiga.

Do not give this medicine to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice.

Relate drugs

How to use Potiga

Take Potiga exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

You may take Potiga with or without food.

Do not crush, chew, break, or dissolve a tablet. Swallow it whole.

Your vision will need to be checked before you start taking Potiga, and every 6 months while you are taking it.

Do not stop using Potiga suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

This medication can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Potiga.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Potiga is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

Warnings

Potiga can cause abnormal changes in your retina (the membrane layer inside your eye that helps produce vision). These changes may cause vision changes that could be permanent. Your vision will need to be checked before you start taking Potiga, and every 6 months while you are taking it.

Call your doctor at once if you have any changes in your vision.

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Potiga can cause urination problems. Call your doctor at once if you have little or no urination, painful or difficult urination, or trouble emptying your bladder.

What other drugs will affect Potiga

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Potiga, especially:

Carbamazepine; or

phenytoin.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with ezogabine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.