Neuropharmacological actions of GABA agonists: predictability for their clinical usefulness

From the data presented and the clinical studies reviewed, it would appear that the tests presently used to forecast the clinical effects of GABA agonists are rather accurate in their predictability. Thus, these tests are positive for antiepileptic, antispastic and antidyskinetic potential; they are negative for schizophrenia and are at best equivocal for Huntington's disease. This is parallelled in a surprisingly close matter by the antidyskinetic, anticonvulsant and antispastic effects of at least one GABA agonist (progabide) in preliminary clinical testing. It is concluded the non-toxic GABA agonists will be useful in a variety of neurological disorders without precipatating incapacitating side effects.