Phenytoin, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine are anticonvulsants frequently prescribed in seizure clinics. These drugs all show voltage-dependent inhibition of Na+ currents, which has been implicated as the major mechanism underlying the antiepileptic effect. In this study, I examine the inhibition of Na+ currents by mixtures of different anticonvulsants. Quantitative analysis of the shift of stea...

The Korean national health security system covers the entire population and all medical facilities. We aimed to estimate epilepsy prevalence, anticonvulsant utilization pattern and the cost. We identified prevalent epilepsy patients by the prescription of anticonvulsants under the diagnostic codes suggesting seizure or epilepsy from 2007 Korean National Health Insurance databases. The informati...

Sodium valproate has a simple chemical structure unlike other anticonvulsants. It has been given to 63 patients with various types of epilepsy whose attacks were frequent and of whom 40 had failed to respond to other anticonvulsants. Fits stopped completely in 27 patients (43%) and 14 (22%) showed a reduction ofattacks by more than 50%. The best results were in patients with absences (typical a...

conclusions according to the results of this study, as carbamazepine and valproate sodium consumption can result in elevated serum levels of homocysteine and decreased levels of folate and vitamin b12, and the atherogenic effect of increased serum homocysteine level is well established, the patients under these medications should be monitored for possible atherogenic effects. results finally, t...

Background Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are among the most severe dermatologic reactions to the drugs. Data about SJS and TEN among pediatric population especially in Iran is limited. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and para-clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with SJS/TEN. Materials and Methods From 2010 to 2016, all SJS and TEN c...

A high incidence of subnormal serum folic acid levels was observed in 48 patients receiving anticonvulsants (75 %). In peripheral blood, macrocytosis was detected in 46 % and an increase of hypersegmented neutrophils was also seen in 24 % of the patients. Correlation existed between these signs and low serum folate levels. The growth response of Lactobacillus casei and L. leichmannii was not su...

Antidepressant drugs modify in different ways the activity of neurons, by increasing monoamines levels and by modulating ion channels. Sodium channels are molecular targets for antiepileptic drugs, which can also be mood stabilizers (i.e. lamotrigine, topiramate, phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid). After a short overview on the sodium channels and the interaction with antidepressants and ...