The last ten years of the 20th century is called in neuroscience “decade of the brain”. This period has brought many new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) to the practising physician. New AEDs include: vigabatrin, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine, gabapentin, oxcarbazepine, levetiracetam and zonisamide (not registered in Poland). The development of these drugs was under the current epilepsy theory (...

Many patients with epilepsy suffer also from coexisting psychological problems. These mental co-morbidities have a significant impact on quality of life of patients with epilepsy. Recent studies have shown that although antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) treat epilepsy, they may increase risk of mental disorders in these patients . Due to the lack of adequate research in this area, we assess...

Despite the recent entry into the market-place of a range of new pharmacological treatments for epilepsy, most patients still receive the standard antiepileptic drugs. This review considers the clinical place and practical use of these agents. Detailed consideration is given to carbamazepine, phenytoin, sodium valproate, phenobarbital and ethosuximide, with lesser emphasis on primidone, clobaza...

One must carefully differentiate between seizures seen in the neonate, child, or adolescent, as the same seizure type may represent completely different epilepsy syndromes and may require different types of therapy depending on the patient’s age. In addition, for those with lesional epilepsy who are possible candidates for surgery, brain plasticity offers a special opportunity for early surgica...

The current study is a systematic review of the literature concerning the possible relationship of antiepileptics and suicide-related clinical features and behaviours. A MEDLINE search returned 863 papers but only five were chosen as relevant. A critical analysis of the Food and Drug Administration report is also included. Overall, the current review suggests there are no convincing data concer...

In a recent CMAJ commentary on drug interactions with warfarin, David Juurlink overlooked a very important category of drugs that interact with warfarin: antiepileptic drugs. Phenytoin, carbamazepine and phenobarbital are potent inducers of the cytochrome P450 system, and their interactions with warfarin have been known for decades. These drugs can substantially increase the rate at which warfa...

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are designed to prevent and suppress seizure activity. Their effects on calcium influx and molecular cascades contributing to necrotic and apoptotic neuronal death, however, suggests that they have functions other than just suppression of excitability. The neuroprotective effects of 20 AEDs currently in use or being investigated in Phase II - III clinical trials for t...

Cutaneous adverse reactions to antiepileptic drugs: 17 cases at the Dermatology Department of Arrazi Hospital in Marrakech