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

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers

1.5K
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...
1.5K
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

848
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...
848
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

581
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...
581
Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers01:17

Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers

1.1K
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...
1.1K
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

1.1K
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...
1.1K
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

779
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.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
779

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Global Child Neurology Capacity Building Through the Child Neurology Society International Affairs Committee: From Needs Assessment to SMART Action Goals.

Journal of child neurology·2026
Same author

On Time Saves Lives: Survey Insights and Position Statement from the American Epilepsy Society on Barriers to Antiseizure Medication Access.

Epilepsy currents·2026
Same author

Expanding the genotypic spectrum of combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency 54.

Neurogenetics·2026
Same author

Bitemporal Lobe Epilepsy: Evolving Diagnostic and Treatment Paradigms.

Epilepsy currents·2026
Same author

The challenges of establishing centers for the surgical management of epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries.

Seminars in pediatric neurology·2025
Same author

[Immunity and epilepsy. Autoimmune encephalitis and epilepsy linked to autoimmune disorders].

Medicina·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 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

9.4K

[New antiepileptic drugs].

Jorge Vidaurre1, James Herbst2

  • 1Pediatric Neurology Department, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, USA.

Medicina
|October 12, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Third-generation antiepileptic drugs offer improved efficacy and safety for epilepsy treatment. Newer medications provide better tolerability and are effective for difficult-to-control seizures and specific epilepsy syndromes.

Keywords:
antiepileptic drugsepilepsyfocal seizuresgeneralized seizures

More Related Videos

Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Kindling Mouse Model
07:06

Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Kindling Mouse Model

Published on: June 12, 2018

34.6K
Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

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

Published on: August 15, 2017

12.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 5, 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

9.4K
Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Kindling Mouse Model
07:06

Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Kindling Mouse Model

Published on: June 12, 2018

34.6K
Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

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

Published on: August 15, 2017

12.5K

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Epilepsy treatment relies on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
  • Third-generation AEDs, developed post-2000, feature novel mechanisms and improved pharmacokinetics.
  • These advancements aim to reduce side effects and drug-drug interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the advancements and applications of third-generation antiepileptic drugs.
  • To highlight the benefits of newer AEDs in managing various epilepsy types and patient populations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of third-generation antiepileptic drugs.
  • Analysis of pharmacokinetic profiles and clinical efficacy data.
  • Comparison of newer agents with older generations.

Main Results:

  • Broad-spectrum drugs like brivaracetam and clobazam are effective for generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
  • Newer sodium channel blockers (lacosamide, eslicarbazepine) have improved side effect profiles.
  • Cannabidiol, fenfluramine, allopregnenolone, and ganaxolone show promise for specific syndromes and status epilepticus.

Conclusions:

  • Third-generation AEDs represent significant progress in epilepsy management.
  • These drugs offer enhanced tolerability and efficacy, particularly for refractory epilepsy.
  • Emerging therapies hold potential for challenging clinical scenarios like status epilepticus.