Chapter 12: Pharmacotherapy of the Epilepsies

INTRODUCTION

This chapter will be most useful after having a basic understanding of the material in Chapter 21, Pharmacotherapy of the Epilepsies in Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 12th Edition. In addition to the material presented here, the 12th Edition includes:

• A detailed discussion of the nature and mechanisms of seizures, including models of epilepsy

• A discussion of the genetic approaches to the epilepsies

• The structures of the antiseizure drugs

• A detailed discussion of the general principles that determine the choice of drugs for therapy of the epilepsies

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Know the different seizure types and the mechanisms that are responsible for each type.

• Understand the mechanisms of action of the antiseizure drugs and how they are used to treat the different types of seizures.

• Describe the toxicities, adverse effects, and salient drug interactions of drugs used to treat the epilepsies.

• Know the general principles of drug therapy of the epilepsies.