Drug & supplement interaction

Hesperidin + Ethosuximide

Ethosuximide brand name: Zarontin.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Hesperidin has a moderate interaction with Ethosuximide. Theoretically, concomitant use with CNS depressants may cause additive sedative effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Hesperidin and Ethosuximide

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Ethosuximide

Ethosuximide falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Hesperidin interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use with CNS depressants may cause additive sedative effects.
Animal studies show that hesperidin has sedative effects, due to opioid receptor activity and can increase sedation when used with diazepam. This effect has not been reported in humans.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist of it: hesperidin, the citrus flavonoid, has shown mild sedative or calming effects in animal studies, possibly by acting on opioid receptors in the brain. Ethosuximide (Zarontin), your absence seizure medicine, can already cause drowsiness, tiredness, dizziness, and trouble concentrating. The theory is that combining the two could add up to a bit more sleepiness than either one alone.

I want to be honest about the strength here. This concern comes only from lab and animal research, and it has not been seen in people. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Just be aware of how you feel, especially when driving, and bring it up with your pharmacist or doctor before adding a hesperidin supplement.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Fernandez, S. P., Wasowski, C., Paladini, A. C., and Marder, M. Synergistic interaction between hesperidin, a natural flavonoid, and diazepam. Eur.J.Pharmacol. 4-11-2005;512(2-3):189-198. PubMed
  2. Loscalzo, L. M., Wasowski, C., Paladini, A. C., and Marder, M. Opioid receptors are involved in the sedative and antinociceptive effects of hesperidin as well as in its potentiation with benzodiazepines. Eur.J.Pharmacol. 2-12-2008;580(3):306-313. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Hesperidin Also Interacts With Other Medications

Hesperidin has 701 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Ethosuximide one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 701 No known interaction 2,129 (incl. Ethosuximide)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Hesperidin

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Hesperidin. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ethosuximide

This page covers Hesperidin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethosuximide page lists 226 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 9 major · 179 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethosuximide page

“Ethosuximide (Zarontin) prevents absence seizures, and a steady blood level is what keeps them away, so I treat this list of 226 interacting supplements and herbs with real care, especially the nine rated major. More than half of the entries can change how the liver clears the drug; grapefruit can raise its level while St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ethosuximide interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Hesperidin as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,895 real supplement products containing Hesperidin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Hesperidin. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ethosuximide too, on top of Hesperidin — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Hesperidin and Ethosuximide Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Hesperidin
Top 25%

#188 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Ethosuximide
Steady interest

#2,284 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Hesperidin

What is Hesperidin?

Hesperidin
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Varicose veins and poor circulation
  • Leg swelling (venous insufficiency)
  • High blood pressure
  • Antioxidant support

Hesperidin is a flavonoid found in citrus fruits that is often combined with diosmin and used for vein and circulation problems like hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Some evidence supports these uses, but data for many other claims is limited. It is generally well tolerated, but pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid it because safety has not been established.

Read the full Hesperidin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ethosuximide

What Is Ethosuximide Used For?

Brand name: Zarontin

Ethosuximide — sold as Zarontin and also available as generic Ethosuximide — is used to control absence (petit mal) epilepsy. Absence seizures are brief episodes where a person loses awareness for a few seconds, often mistaken for daydreaming.

Both Zarontin and Ethosuximide products (capsule and oral solution forms) are approved for this use. Either may also be used alongside other seizure medicines when a patient has absence seizures together with other types of epilepsy.

See full Ethosuximide drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Hesperidin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Hesperidin — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
701Moderate
0Minor
2,128No known interaction
701 Moderate 2,128 No interaction
Moderate

701 interactions

Showing 60 of 701 moderate interactions — see all 701 on the Hesperidin page.

No interaction 2,128 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Hesperidin against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,128 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Hesperidin list.

See the full Hesperidin interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ethosuximide, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Hesperidin monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ethosuximide supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ethosuximide, ranked by severity Ethosuximide drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Hesperidin and Ethosuximide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Hesperidin with Ethosuximide?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Hesperidin and Ethosuximide interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Ethosuximide and Hesperidin?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.