title: Current evidence indicates that antiepileptic drugs are anti-ictal, not antiepileptic.
abstract: Despite the large number of available drugs for epilepsy, the primary function of pharmacological therapy is the suppression of seizures, rather than the elimination of their underlying etiology, i.e. an antiepileptic effect. This paper suggests methods by which drugs could be tested for antiepileptic properties and reviews whether current antiepilectic drugs (AEDs) are antiepileptic in addition to being effective for seizure suppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. sschacht@caregroup.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schachter
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants