Antiepileptic drugs (AED's, aka anticonvulsant) is used to Tx epileptic seizures. They can also be used to Tx bipolar disorder, mood stabilizer, and neuropathic pain.

• Block sodium channels, or enhance GABA. This thus suppresses rapid, excessive firing of neurons during seizures. They also prevent the spread of seizure within the brain

Examples include:

• Aldehydes:
  • Paraldehyde
• Aromatic allylic alcohols:
  • Stiripentol
• Barbiturates:
  • Phenobarbital
  • Methylphenobarbital
  • Barbexaclone
• Benzodiazepines:
  • Clobazam
  • Clonazepam
  • Clorazepate
  • Diazepam
  • Midazolam
  • Lorazepam
• Bromides:
  • Potassium bromide
• Carbamates:
  • Felbamate
• Carboxamides:
  • Carbamazepine (Tegretol), a popular anticonvulsant available in generic formulations
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Eslicarbazepine acetate
• Fatty acids:
  • Valproates, including valproic acid, sodium valproate (Epilim), divalproex sodium
  • Vigabatrin
  • Progabide
  • Tiagabine
• Fructose derivatives:
  • Topiramate (Topamax)
• GABA analogs:
  • Gabapentin (Neurontin), which is used as an anticonvulsant and analgesic. Originally it was developed to Tx epilepsy, but is also used to Tx neuropathic pain and restless legs syndrome. It is recommended 1st line for Tx neuropathic pain arising from diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, and central neuropathic pain
  • Pregabalin (Lyrica)
• Hydantoins:
  • Ethotoin
  • Phenytoin
  • Mephenytoin
  • Fosphenytoin
• Oxazolidinediones:
  • Paramethadione
  • Trimethadione
  • Ethadione
• Propionates:
  • Beclamide
• Pyrimidinediones:
  • Primidone
• Pyrrolidines:
  • Brivaracetam
  • Levetiracetam (Keppra)
  • Seletracetam
• Succinimides:
  • Ethosuximide
  • Phensuximide
  • Mesuximide
• Sulfonamides:
  • Acetazolamide
  • Sultiame
  • Methazolamide
  • Zonisamide
• Triazines:
  • Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• Ureas:
  • Pheneturide
  • Phenacemide
• Valproylamides (amide derivatives of valproate):
  • Valpromide
  • Valnoctamide
• Other:
  • Perampanel

• May reduce IQ in children

• Epilepsy