anti convulsants Flashcards
what is epilepsy?
A neurological condition causing frequent seizures
Seizures are “sudden changes in behaviour caused by electrical hypersynchronization of neuronal networks in the cerebral cortex”
how can epilepsy be diagnosed?
Brain activity can be measured using:
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
what are the different types of epilepsy?
general seizures:
- tonic- clonic seizures
- absence
- tonic/atonic
- myoclonic s
- status epilepticus (any of the above that lasts longer than 5 minutes)
partial seizures:
- simple
- complex
what receptors does glutamate activate?
NMDA, AMPA, kainate receptors
what is the protein which allows docking of the vesicles on the membrane?
SV2A protein
which drugs target the votage gated Na channels on the glutamate synapse?
carbamazepine
lamotrigine
what is the MOA of carbamazepine?
stabilises inactive state of Na channel
reducing neuronal activity
enzyme inducer
what is the moa of lamotrigine?
innactivates Na channels
reducing neuronal activity
what drug targets the voltage gated calcium channels
ethosuximide
what type of channels does ethosuximide target?
T-type
what drug targets the protein which docks the vesicles ?
levetiracetam
what is the MOA of topiramate?
Inhibits NMDA & kainate receptors
Also affects VGSCs & GABA receptors
what drugs enhance GABA activity?
BZs- diazepam
sodium valproate
what is the MOA of sodium valporate?
inhibits GABA transaminase
what is the MOA of diazepam?
binds to the GABAaR and increases GABA mediated inhibition
