Anti-Convulsants

Found here are resources and information regarding Anticonvulsants.

Anticonvulsants are commonly used in the management of neuropathic pain. They act by suppressing the spontaneous neuronal discharges and neuronal hyperexcitability that occur after nerve injury and may also have a central effect.

Anticonvulsants are a family of drugs that depress abnormal nerve activity in the brain, thereby blocking seizures. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are commonly used to prevent and treat seizure disorders, as well as other conditions. Though some people are maintained on a single drug, most take two or more anticonvulsant medications to prevent seizures. Consequently, many studies report interactions that occur in individuals taking several anticonvulsants.

Anticonvulsants are prescribed to those with bipolar disorder (manic depression) as mood stabilizers. These medications help to even the highs and lows of mood associated with this disorder.

Although these drugs have been used for decades, their widespread use for pain did not begin until several years after the FDA approval of gabapentin (Neurontin). Gabapentin (Neurontin) is currently the most commonly prescribed drug for this indication. It is FDA approved for the treatment of diabetic painful polyneuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia. Pregabalin, which is a distinct compound but has the same mechanism of action, was recently approved for the same indications. This drug has more stable pharmacokinetics than gabapentin and should be simpler to use. Other antiepileptics, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, clonazepam and valproic acid, and newer drugs, such as lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine, and oxcarbazepine, also are used as analgesics for neuropathic pain.

The most common adverse effects of the different anticonvulsants are gastric intolerance (nausea and vomiting), sedation, ataxia, dizziness and confusion being