Knowra Antiseizure medication Antiseizure medication An antiseizure medication is a drug used to prevent or control epileptic seizures. Different medicines act on distinct neural targets and suit different seizure types.
Voltage-gated sodium channel : A membrane protein that opens in response to voltage changes, allowing sodium ions to enter a cell. Several antiseizure medicines limit repetitive neuronal firing by altering these channels.
Focal seizure : A seizure that begins in networks on one side of the brain. Many commonly prescribed antiseizure medicines are used to treat focal seizures.
Drug-resistant epilepsy : Epilepsy in which adequate trials of two tolerated, appropriately chosen antiseizure medication schedules have failed to achieve sustained seizure freedom. Failure of two suitable medicines prompts evaluation for additional treatments.
Pharmacogenomics : The study of how genetic variation influences responses to medicines. Genetic testing can identify specific risks, but rarely selects the best antiseizure medicine outright.
GABA : Gamma-aminobutyric acid, the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mature mammalian central nervous system. Some medicines strengthen GABA-mediated inhibition to reduce seizure activity.
Absence seizure : A generalized seizure marked by brief lapses in awareness, often with little or no movement. Ethosuximide is a standard treatment for absence seizures.
Adverse drug reaction : A harmful or unintended response to a medicine used at an appropriate dose. Side effects and serious reactions can determine whether a treatment remains suitable.
Personalized medicine : Medical care tailored to individual characteristics, including biology, risks, and preferences. Antiseizure treatment is moving toward better prediction of each person's response and adverse effects.
T-type calcium channel : A low-voltage-activated calcium channel involved in rhythmic electrical activity in neurons. Ethosuximide reduces absence seizures partly by blocking these channels in thalamic circuits.
Status epilepticus : A seizure lasting at least five minutes, or repeated seizures without recovery between them. Emergency treatment uses rapidly acting medicines, followed by longer-term seizure control.
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