Anticonvulsants (Antiepileptic Drugs)
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Overview
Anticonvulsants are a diverse class of medications primarily used to treat epilepsy and seizure disorders. Many are also widely used as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder, for neuropathic pain, and for migraine prevention. Their mechanisms vary but generally involve modulation of ion channels or neurotransmitter systems to reduce neuronal excitability.
How do anticonvulsants (antiepileptic drugs) work?
Anticonvulsants reduce neuronal excitability through various mechanisms: blocking voltage-gated sodium channels (lamotrigine, valproate), enhancing GABAergic inhibition (valproate), blocking calcium channels, modulating glutamate release (lamotrigine), or binding synaptic vesicle protein SV2A (levetiracetam). Many anticonvulsants have multiple mechanisms of action contributing to their broad therapeutic profiles.
Drugs in this class
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal, Lamictal XR, Lamictal ODT)
- Topiramate (Topamax, Trokendi XR, Qudexy XR)
- Valproic Acid (Depakote, Depakene, Depakote ER, Stavzor)
- Levetiracetam (Keppra, Keppra XR, Spritam)