title: Influence of calcium channel inhibitors upon the anticonvulsant efficacy of common antiepileptics against pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions in mice.
abstract: Among three calcium channel inhibitors studied, nifedipine (20 mg/kg) moderately inhibited pentylenetetrazol (115 mg/kg, s.c.)-induced convulsions, whilst diltiazem (up to 20 mg/kg) and verapamil (up to 20 mg/kg) were without effect. The combinations of nifedipine (10 and 20 mg/kg) with valproate (100 mg/kg) or phenobarbital (6.25 mg/kg) resulted in significant protection against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures. Combined treatment of nifedipine (5-20 mg/kg) with ethosuximide (100 mg/kg) also provided a clearcut anticonvulsant action. The antiepileptic drugs alone, in the above doses, were ineffective. The combination of diltiazem (10-20 mg/kg) and ethosuximide (100 mg/kg) produced protection against pentylenetetrazol, comparable to that of ethosuximide (200 mg/kg) alone. No pharmacokinetic interactions were found in the case of ethosuximide, whilst nifedipine (10 mg/kg) increased the levels of phenobarbital and valproate in plasma. The combination of diltiazem with the remaining antiepileptics were ineffective. Verapamil (up to 20 mg/kg) was without effect upon the action of the antiepileptic drugs tested. Finally, none of the calcium channel inhibitors studied influenced the action of diazepam (0.2 mg/kg). It may be concluded that combinations of ethosuximide, with either nifedipine or diltiazem, may be promising for the treatment of absence epilepsy.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, Lublin, Poland.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Czuczwar
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Małek
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Kleinrok
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005013:Ethosuximide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D005013:Ethosuximide; D014635:Valproic Acid; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D010634:Phenobarbital