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Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers01:17

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Calcium channel blockers, a class of antiepileptic drugs, regulate the flow of calcium ions within neurons.
Calcium channel blockers exert their antiepileptic effects by targeting T-type calcium channels, which are integral to transmitting nerve signals in the central nervous system. These channels allow the passage of calcium ions, which are vital for neuronal communication. By inhibiting T-type calcium channels, calcium channel blockers effectively reduce the release of neurotransmitters and...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

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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.
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Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

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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...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

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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.
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Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

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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.
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

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Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
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Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
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Do oral contraceptives increase epileptic seizures?

Doodipala Samba Reddy1

  • 1a Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine , Texas A&M University Health Science Center , Bryan , TX , USA.

Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
|October 4, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Oral contraceptives (OCs) may increase seizure frequency in women with epilepsy. Women with epilepsy should consider non-hormonal birth control options to mitigate potential risks associated with OCs.

Keywords:
Oral contraceptivesepilepsyestradiolseizurewomen with epilepsy

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Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Over 100 million individuals worldwide use hormonal contraceptives.
  • Emerging research investigates the neurological effects of oral contraceptives (OCs).
  • A suspected link exists between hormonal birth control and increased seizure activity in women with epilepsy, though data is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the relationship between hormonal contraception and epilepsy or seizures.
  • To evaluate the impact of OCs on seizure frequency and refractoriness in women with epilepsy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of PubMed and online sources.
  • Analysis of data concerning hormonal contraception and epilepsy.
  • Examination of findings from the epilepsy birth control registry and preclinical studies.

Main Results:

  • New evidence indicates OCs can increase seizure activity in women with epilepsy.
  • Women with epilepsy using hormonal contraceptives reported 4.5 times more seizures than non-users.
  • Preclinical studies showed ethinyl estradiol (a primary OC component) increased seizure frequency and resistance in epileptic animals.

Conclusions:

  • Oral contraceptive pills may elevate seizure frequency in women with epilepsy.
  • Refractory seizures linked to OCs may lead to neuronal brain damage.
  • Women of childbearing age with epilepsy are advised to consider non-hormonal birth control methods.