title: Cytisine inhibits the anticonvulsant activity of phenytoin and lamotrigine in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytisine (CYT), the most commonly used drug for smoking cessation in Poland, was experimentally found to induce convulsions. There is a lack of studies on the influence of CYT on the anticonvulsant activity of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of CYT on the anticonvulsant activity of six AEDs were examined in maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single intraperitoneal (ip) administration of CYT in a subthreshold dose of 2 mg/kg antagonized the protective activity of ip phenytoin and lamotrigine against MES-induced seizures in mice. A dose of 1 mg/kg did not reverse the protective activity of phenytoin and lamotrigine. CYT in a dose of 2 mg/kg had no effect on the anticonvulsive activity of carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, and valproate magnesium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CYT ability to antagonize the anticonvulsive activity of phenytoin and lamotrigine can be of serious concern for epileptic smokers, who might demonstrate therapeutic failure to these drugs resulting in possible breakthrough seizure attacks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Rzeszów, Warzywna 1, PL 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland. tutka@umlub.pl
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tutka
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mróz
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bednarski
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Styk
authors.forename: Jaromir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ognik
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mosiewicz
authors.forename: Jarogniew
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Łuszczki
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001392:Azocines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods; D014227:Triazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000093843:Quinolizidine Alkaloids
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001392:Azocines; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D010672:Phenytoin; D011807:Quinolizines; D014227:Triazines; C004712:cytisine; D000093843:Quinolizidine Alkaloids