Antiepileptics

Question 1

Causes of epilepsy

Answer 1

Head injury
Local lesions
Neoplasms
Genetics

Question 2

Which ion channels have mutations in epilepsy?

Answer 2

Nav- familial epilepsy

Cav

Question 3

What are the 3 types of seizure?

Answer 3

1. Grand mal- tonic clonic type
2. Petit mal- absence seizure type
3. Partial seizure

Question 4

3 targets for antiepileptic drugs at inhibitory synapses- with examples of drugs

Answer 4

1. Increasing GABA transmission
   - b.pines, barbiturates, diazepam
2. GABA uptake inhibitors
   - tiagabine
3. GABA metabolic inhibitors
   - vigabatrin
   - valproate

Question 5

2 targets for antiepileptic drugs at excitatory synapses- with examples of drugs

Answer 5

1. Na+ channel blockers
   - phenytoin (side fx:( )
   - cabamazepine
   - lamotrigine( side fx:( )
2. Cav channel blockers
   - ethosuximide
   - GABApentrin

Question 6

Example of a new potential drug to treat epilepsy

Answer 6

Levetiracetam-

impacts loading of Glu into vesicles- that will be released presynaptically