Anticonvulsants

**Anticonvulsants**
= = The **anti convulsants** are a diverse group of __ pharmaceuticals __ used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also increasingly being used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, since many seem to act as mood stabilizers. The goal of an anticonvulsant is to suppress the rapid and excessive firing of __neuron__s that start a seizure. Because of this, anticonvulsants also have proven effective in treating many kinds of dysfunctional anxiety. Failing this, an effective anticonvulsant would prevent the spread of the seizure within the brain and offer protection against possible excitotoxic effects that may result in brain damage. However, anticonvulsants themselves have been linked to lower IQ in children. Anticonvulsants are often called **anti epileptic drugs** (abbreviated "AEDs") or **anti seizure drugs** (abbreviated "ASDs"). Anticonvulsant drugs may be divided into several classes. The hydantoins include pheytoin (Dilantin) and mephenytoin (Mesantoin.) Ther succimides include ethosuximide (Zarontin) and methsuccimide (Celontin.) The benzodiazepines, which are better known for their use as tranquilizers and sedatives, include clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene) and diazepam (Valium.) There are also a large number of other drugs which are not related to larger groups. These include carbamazepine (Tegretol), valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene) gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), felbamate (Felbatol) and several others. Phenobarbital has been used as an anticonvulsant, and is still useful for some patients. The drugs are available only with a physician's prescription.


 * Indications:**
 * 1.** **Central nervous system depression** or **CNS depression** refers to physiological depression of the central nervous system  that can result in decreased rate of breathing, decreased heart rate, and loss of consciousness possibly leading to coma or death.
 * 2.** Anti-convulsion- **convulsion** is a medical condition where body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body. [1 ] Because a convulsion is often a symptom of an epileptical seizure, the term //convulsion// is sometimes used as a synonym for //seizure//.
 * 3.** Treatment for s**eizure**- Although epilepsy is a collective term for a variety of different types of seizures, all forms of epilepsy start with a random discharge of nerve impulses into the brain. Antiepileptic drugs act by either raising the seizure threshold  or by limiting the spread of impulses from one nerve to another inside the brain. As of 2004 the exact mechanism of action is not understood, but there are theories about how some of these drugs work.


 * 1.** **Generic name:**Carbamazepine
 * Brand names:** **Carbatrol,** Tegretol**,** **Tegrepin**
 * Side effects:** are dizziness, drowsiness, unsteadiness  , nausea  , and vomiting.
 * Contraindications**: Carbamazepine should not be used in patients with a history of previous bone marrow depression, hypersensitivity to the drug, or known sensitivity to any of the tricyclic compounds, such as <span class="wiki_link_ext">amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, protriptyline and nortriptyline. Likewise, on theoretical grounds its use with monoamine oxidase inhibitors is not recommended. Before administration of carbamazepine, MAO inhibitors should be discontinued for a minimum of 14 days, or longer if the clinical situation permits.
 * Dosage forms**: tablets,suspension,
 * Pregnancy category**: D


 * 2.** **Generic name**: **GABAPENTIN**
 * Brandnames:** **Neurontin pfizer, Calmpet, Gabalept**
 * Side effects:** it may impair your vision or reactions. painful sores in or around your eyes or mouth; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
 * Contraindications:** hypersensitivity, do not use in absence seizure
 * Dosage forms**: capsule
 * Pregnancy category**: **C**

3. **Generic name:** Clonazepam
 * Brandnames:** rivotril roche, klonopin,klonopin wafer
 * Side effects:** difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, confusion, memory problem
 * Contraindications:** neonates, hypersensitivity, respiratory insufficiency
 * Pregnancy category:** D
 * Dosage forms:** tablet


 * 4.** **Generic name:** Diazepam
 * Brand names:** <span class="wiki_link_ext">Valium, <span class="wiki_link_ext">Diastat  , <span class="wiki_link_ext">Diazepam Injection
 * Side effects:** Clumsiness or unsteadiness; dizziness or lightheadedness; drowsiness; slurred speech
 * Contraindications:** should not be administered in patients with liver or kidney disorders; myasthenia gravis; acute alcohol intoxication; depressive conditions; psychosis; brain diseases; shock; coma; drug abuse or drug dependence; glaucoma; hyperkinesis; hypoalbuminemia; porphyria; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; apnea; pregnancy in the first and the last trimester; lactation; dysphagia in childhood; hypersensitivity to the benzodiazepines.
 * Dosage forms:** <span class="wiki_link_ext">DIAZEPAM 2MG TABLETS DIAZEPAM 5MG TABLETS DIAZEPAM 5MG/5ML ORAL SOLN DIAZEPAM 5MG/ML 10ML DIAZEPAM 10MG TABLETS
 * Pregnancy category:** D

5. **Generic names:** lorazepam <span class="wiki_link_ext">Anxiety, excitation, or agitation, Hostility, aggression, or rage, <span class="wiki_link_ext">Insomnia
 * Brandnames: Ativan®,** Temesta
 * Side effects:** <span class="wiki_link_ext">Depression (or worsening of existing depression), Difficulty breathing**,** <span class="wiki_link_ext">Seizures  ,
 * Contraindications:** in patients with known sensitivity to the benzodiazepines or with acute narrow-angle glaucoma or myasthenia gravis.
 * Dosage forms:** tablets, ampules
 * Prenancy category: D**
 * Dosage form: tablet**

=6. Generic name: Mephobarbital= =Brandnames: Mebaral, Mephobarbital= =Side effects: Clumsiness; dizziness; drowsiness; excessive daytime drowsines, feeling of a whirling motion; headache; lightheadedness; nausea; tired feeling; vomiting; weak bones.= =Contraindications: Porphyria or known hypersensitivity to this drug or to barbiturates prohibits its use.=
 * Pregnancy category: D**
 * Dosage forms:** capsules, tablets

7. **Generic name:** phenytoin
 * Brand names:** dilantin, epilantin, Samarth phenytoin
 * Contraindications**: hypersensitivity to propylene glycol, alcohol intolerance, sinus brachycardia, leucopenia, cardiomegaly.
 * Side effect:** GI disturbances, slurred speech, lack of appetite,gingival, hyperplasia, dizziness, nervousness, insomnia.
 * Dosage form/s**: capsule, suspension, injection, ampule, and tablets
 * Pregnancy category**: D

8. **Generic name:** carbamazepine
 * Brand names**:carbilepp, intas carbamazeane, tegretol
 * Side effects:** dizziness, drowsiness, ataxia, fatigue, headache.
 * Contraindications:** AV conduction, abnormalities, history of bone marrow depression.
 * Dosage form/s**: tablet, syrup, suspension
 * Pregnancy category**: D

9. **Generic name:** Mg Sulfate
 * Brand names:** harson magnesium sulfate, atlantic magnesium sulfate
 * Side effects:** flushing, sweating, hypotension, circulatory collapse, cardiac depression.
 * Contraindications:** heartblock, myocardial damage.
 * Dosage forms:** ampule.
 * Pregnancy category:** B

Claudio, Denise Marc Mendoza, Shynne Ann Ochinang, Janine 89/100 **
 * members:**
 * Abalos, Menche