title: Mechanisms of action of new antiepileptic drugs.
abstract: Many new antiepileptic drugs have been developed to treat seizure disorders. The established antiepileptic drugs reduce neuronal excitability by promoting sodium channel inactivation, inhibiting T-type calcium channels, or enhancing gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor-mediated inhibition. Several of the newer agents employ similar mechanisms, whereas others may enhance gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic inhibitory systems or inhibit glutamatergic excitatory neurotransmission, and may be neuroprotective or antiepileptogenic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Greenfield
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid