Electroshock

It has become clear that drugs which are effective in protecting mice against PTZ are effective in absence seizures while those able to control the tonic response to maximal electroshock are effective in tonic-clonic seizure. Some drugs are effective in only one test and clinical condition whilst a few are active in both (Table 16.1). Experimental focal seizures are indicative of partial seizures. 

Electroshock Pentylene tetrazol Clonic-tonic seizures Absence seizures ... 

In mice, PCP is effective in antagonizing electroshock- or pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced tonic extensor convulsions and audiogenic seizures (Chen et al. 1959 Chen and Bohner 1961). In dogs,... 

The pro- and anticonvulsant effects of the phencyclinoids were studied by assessing their ability to increase or decrease the intensity of electrically-induced convulsions. A 32 mA, 0.2-second stimulus was delivered via corneal electrodes with a constant-current electroshock apparatus. The shock parameters were chosen to produce a convulsion intensity of "3" on a five-point rating scale as follows 0 = stunned only, 1 = facial and vibrissae tremor, 2 = clonic forepaw treading, 3 = tonic forelimb extension, 4 = tonic forelimb and hindlimb extension, and 5 = death. Thus, both increases and decreases in the convulsion intensity subsequent to drug administration could be observed. 

Although generally similar pharmacologic profiles were obtained for the phencyclinoids, subtle but perhaps important differences in these compounds were discernible depending upon the individual assay employed. For example, ketamine never produced behavioral convulsions and was least potent with respect to SLA and disruption of rotarod performance, but was more potent than PCPY, TCPY, TCP, and PCA in the assessment of analgesic activity. PCA, which was very effective in decreasing the severity of electroshock convulsions, was not particularly efficacious or potent in other assays. While PCE was equipotent with PCP in stimulating SLA, it was least efficacious of all compounds with respect to peak SLA achieved. 

Leon Eisenberg, MD, e-mail correspondence, May 9, 2000. Source for the effect of thyroid removal and electroshock therapy on mental health. 

Logic claimed he lost 23 days of his life during this experiment which subjected him to LSD injections, electroshock and being forced to listen for hours to taped messages including, "You killed your mother (4). 

A series of 1-substituted 3-phenylbenzazepines have been evaluated. It was found that the aminopropyl derivative (6, n = 3 R1 = R2 = Et) counteracted amphetamine toxicity, and that the piperazinyl derivative (6) (n = 2 NR R2 = N(CH2CH2)2 = NCH2CH2OH) gave protection against maximal electroshock seizures (MES) [12]. None of the other derivatives such as the 2-oxo derivatives showed any significant effects on the central nervous or cardiovascular system, nor did any of them exhibit any diuretic or hypo-glycaemic activity [12]. Several similar compounds possess antiarrhythmic and antihypertensive effects this will be mentioned in a later section. 

Uracil and thymine are both reported to have electroshock anticonvulsant activity [371]. A series of 5- and 6-alkyl derivatives was prepared [373] and tested for electroshock as well as for metrazole protection [374]. It was found that most compounds of this type were active in the electroshock test. There is a trend toward increased activity with increased size of the alkyl groups, and introduction of 1,3-dimethyl substituents is also of benefit. Against metrazole-induced shock, however, there are no obvious structure-activity relationships. 

Electroshock therapy Avoid concurrent administration of maprotiline with electroshock therapy because of the lack of experience in this area. 

The story of the discovery of pregabalin (2) began in 1991, when Silverman and Taylor published a paper on the anticonvulsant effect of 3-alkyl GABA analogs (Silverman et ah, 1991). Out of this collection of compounds, 3-isobutyl GABA stood out as the most active analog in the series, which protected mice from seizures induced by corneal electroshock. 

Anticonvulsant activity. Ethanol (50%) extract of the leaf, administered intraperitoneally to mice at a dose 0.375 mg/mL, was inactive vs electroshock-induced convulsions . 

Cerletti U, Bini L Un nuovo metodo di shock-terapie L electroshock. Boll Acad Med Roma 64 136-138, 1938... 

His final radio play was To Have Done with the Judgment of God. Artaud wrote this odd piece while in psychiatric institutions, where he was essentially tortured with excessive electroshock and other therapies. He wrote, I myself spent nine years in an insane asylum, and I never had the obsession of suicide, but I know that each conversation with a psychiatrist, every morning at the time of his visit, made me want to hang myself, realizing that I would not be able to cut his throat. ... 

Raines, A., HeIke, C.J., ladarola, M.J., Britton, L.W., and Anderson, R.J. Blockade of the tonic hindlimb extensor component of maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures by drugs acting on muscle and muscle spindle systems a perspective on method. Epilepsia 17 395-402, 1976. 

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