Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

1.6K
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
1.6K
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

2.0K
Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
2.0K
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

900
Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
900
Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers

2.1K
Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
2.1K
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

1.6K
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
1.6K
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

1.1K
Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
1.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Diffusion tensor imaging in chronic tension-type headache.

Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

The connectivity-based architecture of the human piriform cortex.

NeuroImage·2024
Same author

Stiripentol in the treatment of adults with focal epilepsy- a retrospective analysis.

Seizure·2021
Same author

Diffuse vegetating bromoderma.

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV·2019
Same author

Ondine's curse and temporal lobe seizures: anti-Hu- and Zic4-associated paraneoplastic brainstem and limbic encephalitis.

European journal of neurology·2018
Same author

[Brivaracetam for add-on treatment in focal epilepsy].

Der Nervenarzt·2016

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

9.7K

[Epilepsy and Pregnancy].

K Menzler1, S Fuest2, I Immisch2

  • 1Epilepsiezentrum Hessen am Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Klinik für Neurologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Baldingerstraße, 35043, Marburg, Deutschland. hattemer@med.uni-marburg.de.

Der Nervenarzt
|July 29, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Women with epilepsy require specialized counseling during pregnancy. Avoiding valproic acid and using folic acid can improve outcomes for pregnant epilepsy patients.

Keywords:
AnticonvulsantsBreastfeedingFolic acidSeizuresValproic acid

More Related Videos

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
09:06

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

10.2K
Non-restraining EEG Radiotelemetry: Epidural and Deep Intracerebral Stereotaxic EEG Electrode Placement
06:58

Non-restraining EEG Radiotelemetry: Epidural and Deep Intracerebral Stereotaxic EEG Electrode Placement

Published on: June 25, 2016

20.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

9.7K
Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
09:06

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

10.2K
Non-restraining EEG Radiotelemetry: Epidural and Deep Intracerebral Stereotaxic EEG Electrode Placement
06:58

Non-restraining EEG Radiotelemetry: Epidural and Deep Intracerebral Stereotaxic EEG Electrode Placement

Published on: June 25, 2016

20.1K

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Obstetrics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Female epilepsy patients have lower birth rates than healthy women, potentially due to inadequate counseling.
  • Epilepsy management during pregnancy necessitates careful consideration of maternal and fetal well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To consolidate current knowledge and recommendations for counseling pregnant women with epilepsy.
  • To provide guidance on managing epilepsy during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.

Main Methods:

  • Review of research and guidelines on seizure control in pregnancy.
  • Analysis of data on pregnancy and birth complications in women with epilepsy.
  • Evaluation of risks associated with antiepileptic drugs and benefits of supplementation.

Main Results:

  • Seizure frequency varies during pregnancy, influenced by antiepileptic drug serum levels.
  • Epilepsy is associated with a slightly increased risk of spontaneous abortion, bleeding, and interventions like induction of labor or cesarean section.
  • Valproic acid use increases the risk of congenital malformations and lower child IQ; folic acid may offer protection. Breastfeeding data is limited.

Conclusions:

  • Low-dose monotherapy is preferred during pregnancy, with avoidance of valproic acid.
  • Lamotrigine treatment requires regular serum concentration monitoring.
  • Folic acid supplementation (5 mg daily) is recommended; epilepsy does not necessitate cesarean delivery.