title: Metabolism of Drugs Used in the Therapy of Seizures: An Analytical Point of View. Part 1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seizures are aetiologically and clinically heterogeneous neurological disorders that are currently treated using a wide array of drugs, belonging to equally heterogeneous chemical classes. Some of them are known as "antiepileptic drugs" (AEDs), due to their main field of use, while others (such as benzodiazepines) are frequently used for other conditions as well as for seizures. Due to their different chemical properties and mechanisms of activity, the metabolic characteristics of anti-seizure drugs can vary widely, also producing big differences in terms of safety, efficacy and therapeutic suitability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scopus and PubMed databases were searched for the most significant papers centered on metabolism and analysis of the following antiepileptics: carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, ethosuximide, gabapentin, vigabatrin, topiramate, levetiracetam and valproic acid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most important studies on the metabolic characteristics of several AEDs are reported and briefly discussed in this review; moreover, the analytical methods used to determine biological levels of these drugs during therapy are also described and commented upon, and their main characteristics highlighted. Other AEDs, and notes on polypharmacy, will be included in the second part of this series.
authors.affiliation: Department for Life Quality Studies (QuVi), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Rimini Campus, Corso d'Augusto 237, I-47921 Rimini. Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mandrioli
authors.affiliation: Pharmaco-Toxicological Analysis Laboratory (PTA Lab), Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna. Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mercolini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Analytical methods; antiepileptic drugs; metabolism; pharmacokinetics; seizures; therapeutic drug monitoring