Anticonvulsants Drugs List
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), with a prevalence rate between 3 and 6 per thousand population. The term primary or idiopathic epilepsy includes those cases where no cause for the seizure can be identified. Secondary or symptomatic epilepsy designates the disorder when factors like trauma, neoplasm, infection, poisoning, fever, developmental abnormalities, cerebrovascular disease, withdrawal of certain drugs, or various metabolic disorders contribute as a cause of the disease. If untreated, epilepsy may be socially, psychologically and physically harmful to the patient.
Anticonvulsants Drugs Classification of Epileptic drugs
‘The term “epilepsy” is used to describe a number of conditions having in common the occurrence of sudden, recurring discharges from abnormally functioning brain cells, leading to the appearance of motor, sensory, autonomic, and psychic manifestations. Such abnormal brain discharges are called seizures.
Anticonvulsant Barbiturates
All barbiturates can abolish seizures at doses sufficient to produce anaesthesia, but only the three long acting barbiturates - Phenobarbital, mephobarbital, metharbital - are effective antiepileptics at subhypnotic doses.
Anticonvulsant Hydantoins
The hydantoins are the most effective drugs for the treatment of grand mal seizures, and can also be used to control psychomotor epilepsy.
Anticonvulsant Oxazolidinedions
The oxazolidinediones are effective drugs for the control of simple absence (petit mal) seizures, but the incidence of adverse reactions is high. Their use is reserved for patients who are intolerant or refractory to other less toxic agents.
Anticonvulsant Succinimides
The succinimides are the drugs of choice for the treatment of absence (petit mal) seizures. They are not more effective than the oxazolidinediones, but are less toxic compared to other altern drugs (oxazolidinediones, vaiproic acid, clonazepam.
Anticonvulsant Iminostilbines
Carbamazepine is structurally related to tricyclic antidepressants, and has actions similar to phenytoin, it is a fairly toxic agent, and used for the treatment of grand mal and psychomotor seizures in patients refractory to other less toxic drugs.
Anticonvulsant Benzodiazepines
Clonazepam, a long-acting benzodiazepine, is used primarily in absence (petti mal) seizures, specially for the akinetic and myoclonic variants.
Anticonvulsant Diazepam
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine widely used for simple anxiety states. It is also useful as an adjunct in the management of convulsive disorders, specially minor motor seizures. Its main indication is parenterally (IV) for the treatment of status epilepticus (see later). It is also use for convulsions accompanying acute alcohol withdrawal.
Anticonvulsant Valproic Acid Derivatives
Vaiproic acid, its sodium salt, and divaiproex sodium (composed of equal parts of vaiproic acid and valproate sodium) provide improved seizure control when added to drug regimens of patients with multiple seizure types, refractory to other treatments.
Anticonvulsant Acetazolamide
Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used as an adjunct to control fetit mal and other absence or non-localized seizures.
Anticonvulsant Primidone
Primidone is not a true barbiturate, but is structurally related to phenobarbital, and has a similar action profile.
Anticonvulsant Magnesium Sulphate
Magnesium, in the form of magnesium sulphate, is an effective anticonvulsant in seizures associated with toxuemia of pregnancy, and other conditions with abnormally low plasma magnesium.
Anticonvulsant Gabapentin
Gabapentin is used for use in partial seizures, with or without secondary generalization in adults when used in addition to other antiepileptics. Gabapentin is a centrally active GABA agonist, and its high lipid solubility facilitates its transfer across the blood brain barrier.
Anticonvulsant Felbamate
Felbamate is a dicarbamate used for the management of partial seizures. It has been found to be effective in both maximal electroshock and pentylertetetrazol models.
