Used primarily as an anticonvulsant medication to control seizures, particularly in the treatment of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and complex partial seizures. It is considered an alternative to other hydantoin derivatives like phenytoin, especially in patients who experience adverse effects from those drugs. Ethotoin is often prescribed when first-line treatments are not well tolerated, offering a milder side effect profile, though it may be less effective in some individuals. Its use is limited in modern practice due to the availability of newer antiepileptic drugs with better efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties.