Introduction of epilepsy
These are a group of disorders of the CNS characterized by paroxysmal cerebral dysrhythmia, manifesting as brief episodes (seizures) of loss or disturbance of conscious ness, with or without characteristic body movements (convulsions), sensory or psychiatric phenomena.
Some of the main causes of epilepsy include:
- Low oxygen during birth.
- Head injuries that occur during birth or from accidents during youth or adulthood.
- Brain tumors.
- Genetic conditions that result in brain injury, such as tuberous sclerosis.
- Infections such as meningitis or encephalitis.
Drugs for Epilepsy
Anticonvulsants (also commonly known as antiepileptic drugs or as antiseizure drugs) are a diverse group of pharmacological increasingly being used in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Anticonvulsants suppress agents used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, since many seem to act as mood stabilizers, and for the treatment of the excessive rapid firing of neurons during seizures . Anticonvulsants also prevent the spread of the seizure within the brain.
CLASSIFICATION
- Barbiturate- phenobarbitone
- Deoxybarbiturates- primidone
- Hydantoin- Phenytoin and fosphenytoin
- Iminostilbene- Carbamazepine and oxcarbamazepine
- Succinimide -Ethosuximide
- Aliphatic carboxylic acid – Valproic acid (sodium valproate)Divalproex
- Benzodiazepines- Clonazepam Diazepam Lorazepam Clobazam
- Phenyltriazine –Lamotrigine
- Cyclic GABA analogues- Gabapentin Pregabalin
- Newer drugs- Topiramate Zonisamide Levetiracetam Vigabatrin Tiagabine Lacosamide
Drugs in detail
Phenobarbital (the longest-established anticonvulsant medication) controls epileptic seizures, depresses the generally used to control tonic-clonic, central nervous system and is used occasionally as a sedative. It is and simple partial seizures.
Primidone, brand name MYSOLINE, is an oral anticonvulsant (anti-seizure) medication used for treating several Primidone is converted into types of seizures. Its exact mechanism of action is not known. phenobarbital and phenylethylmalonamide (PEMA) in the body.
Phenytoin Phenytoin works by slowing down impulses in the brain that cause seizures. Phenytoin is used to control seizures. It does not treat all types of seizures, and your doctor will determine if it is the right medicine for you.
Fosphenytoin is a water-soluble phenytoin prodrug that is administered intravenously to deliver phenytoin, potentially more safely than intravenous phenytoin. It is most commonly used in the acute treatment of convulsive status epilepticus. Fosphenytoin was developed in 1996.
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant. It works by decreasing nerve impulses that cause seizures and nerve pain, such as trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. Carbamazepine is also used to treat bipolar disorder.
Oxcarbazepine is used to treat focal (partial) seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in children, ages 4 to 16 years old. It can be used alone or with other seizure medicine. It is also used with other seizure medicines for focal seizures in children ages 2 to 15 years.
Ethosuximide, sold under the brand name ZARONTIN among others, is a medication used to treat absence seizures. It may be used by itself or with other antiseizure medications such as valproic acid. Ethosuximide is taken by mouth. Side effects are generally minimal.
Sodium valproate Valproate and its valproic acid, sodium valproate, and valproate semisodium forms are medications primarily used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder and prevent migraine headaches. They are useful for the prevention of seizures in those with absence seizures, partial seizures, and generalized seizures.
Depakoten or devalproex has been used successfully for many years to treat epilepsy, but it also has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two other uses: preventing migraine headaches (not treating headaches while they’re occurring) treating one part of the mental illness called bipolar disorder.
Clonazepam is particularly effective against some types of myoclonic seizures such as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and progressive myoclonic epilepsy. Again, it is often used in combination with Depakote.
Clonazepam is useful for seizures brought on by flashing lights (photosensitivity).
Diazepam rectal gel is used in emergency situations to stop cluster seizures (episodes of increased seizure activity) in people who are benzodiazepines. It works by calming taking other medications to treat epilepsy (seizures).
Diazepam is in a class of medications called abnormal overactivity in the brain.
Lorazepam is a medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat all types of seizures, including absence, myoclonic, atonic (drop attacks), partial seizures and seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It is most often used together with other antiepileptic drug.
Clobazam is metabolized or broken down in the liver to the parent or main drug and breakdown products called metabolite. The parent or main drug (clobazam) provides most of the activity in the brain to decrease or stop seizures. Yet the main metabolite can also be active in the brain in smaller amounts.
Lamotrigine is a commonly used medicine. It works by stabilising the electrical activity of your brain, which helps to prevent the seizures from occurring.
Gabapentin is approved as adjunctive therapy for partial seizures with or without secondary generalization in patients 12 years of age and older. It does not prevent primary generalized seizures such as absence, myoclonic, or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Pregabalin is one of the latest antiepileptic drugs introduced for the treatment of partial epilepsy.
Topiramate (TPM) is a widely-used drug for the treatment of epilepsy. It is useful for several types of partial-onset and generalized-onset seizures, and is therefore considered a broad-spectrum agent. It is also effective as a prophylactic against migraine headaches.
Zonisamide was approved in the USA in 2000 as adjunctive therapy for partial seizures in adults. With over 2 million patient-years of exposure internationally, zonisamide has demonstrated safety and efficacy against a multitude of epilepsy and seizure types, including both partial and generalized seizures.
Levetiracetam is an anticonvulsant used in combination with other medications to treat seizure number of seizures in adults and children. It is not known how it works disorders (epilepsy). Levetiracetam has been shown to decrease the to prevent seizures.
Vigabatrin Effective for focal seizures with or without secondarily generalised seizures where other treatment has not worked. Used for West syndrome with Tuberous Sclerosis. May worsen absence and myoclonic seizures. Not widely prescribed due to possible side effects.
** epilepsy in Ayurveda is known as Apasmar. One should read it too for better treatment of patients. Even Ayurveda has Classified apasmar in 4 types.
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