Used primarily to treat absence seizures, a type of epilepsy that causes brief lapses in consciousness, typically in children. It works by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain, specifically in the thalamus, which plays a key role in generating absence seizure patterns. Ethosuximide is often considered a first-line treatment due to its effectiveness and relatively favorable side effect profile compared to other anticonvulsants. It is particularly effective when seizures involve staring spells and sudden loss of awareness, with limited benefit for other seizure types. The drug is usually administered orally in capsule or liquid form and requires consistent dosing to maintain stable blood levels for optimal seizure control.