Female gonadal sex steroids potentiate the anti-convulsant activity of phenytoin sodium.
Neither estrogen (E), progesterone (P), E + P nor phenytoin could protect the rats against maximal electroshock seizure. However phenytoin administration in the E, P, or E + P pre-treated animals provided significant protection in terms of absence of hind limb extension and a decrease in the extension/flexion ratio. The results suggest that there is an existing beneficial influence of the oral contraceptives both individually and in combination on the anti-convulsant activity of phenytoin, and this needs to be further probed.
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, J. N. Medical College, Belgaum, India.
S K
SK
Kankanwadi
P A
PA
Patil
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D004967:Estrogens; D013256:Steroids; D011374:Progesterone; D010672:Phenytoin