Knowra Anticonvulsant Anticonvulsant An anticonvulsant is a medication that prevents or reduces seizures by altering neuronal excitability or signaling. Many are also used for conditions such as neuropathic pain or bipolar disorder.
Voltage-gated sodium channel : A membrane protein that opens in response to voltage changes, allowing sodium ions to cross cell membranes. Several anticonvulsants reduce repetitive firing by limiting sodium-channel activity.
Epilepsy : A neurological disorder characterized by an enduring predisposition to recurrent unprovoked seizures. Anticonvulsants are a mainstay of long-term seizure prevention in epilepsy.
Benzodiazepine : A class of drugs that enhance GABA-A receptor activity and produce sedative, anxiolytic, muscle-relaxant, and anticonvulsant effects. Benzodiazepines are anticonvulsants, but their rapid action and sedation distinguish them from many maintenance drugs.
Teratogenicity : The capacity of an exposure to disrupt development and cause birth defects. Some anticonvulsants, notably valproate, carry substantial fetal risks during pregnancy.
GABA : Gamma-aminobutyric acid, the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult human central nervous system. Some anticonvulsants strengthen GABA-mediated inhibition to reduce seizure-prone activity.
Absence seizure : A brief generalized seizure involving impaired awareness, often with staring and little or no movement. Ethosuximide is commonly used when absence seizures occur without other seizure types.
Ketogenic diet : A high-fat, very-low-carbohydrate diet that induces production of ketone bodies. It can reduce seizures in some drug-resistant epilepsies without being a medication.
Stevens–Johnson syndrome : A rare, severe mucocutaneous reaction involving skin detachment and damage to mucous membranes. Certain anticonvulsants, including lamotrigine and carbamazepine, can trigger this dangerous reaction.
T-type calcium channel : A low-voltage-activated calcium channel involved in rhythmic firing in neurons and other cells. Ethosuximide suppresses absence seizures partly by blocking these channels in thalamic neurons.
Status epilepticus : A prolonged seizure or repeated seizures without recovery, requiring urgent treatment. Rapid-acting anticonvulsants are used to stop this medical emergency.
Show all 20