Simple partial seizure drugs used

Benzodiazepines and barbiturates are used as anticonvulsant drugs in the treatment of epilepsy. Epilepsy, a medical disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, has many different forms. The four most common seizure types are generalized tonic-clonic seizures (old name grand mal seizures), generalized absence seizures (petit mal seizures), complex partial seizures (psychomotor or temporal lobe seizures), and simple partial seizures (focal seizures). 

Therapeutic uses Phenytoin is highly effective for all partial seizures (simple and complex), for tonic-clonic seizures, and in the treatment of status epilepticus caused by recurrent tonic-clonic seizures (Figure 15.3). Phenytoin is not effective for absence seizures, which often may worsen if such a patient is treated with this drug. 

Therapeutic uses Carbamazepine is highly effective for all partial seizures (simple and complex) and is often the drug of first choice. In addition the drug is highly effective for tonic-clonic seizures and is used to treat trigeminal neuralgia. It has occasionally been used in manic-depressive patients to ameliorate the symptoms. 

Mephenytoin is demethylated to 5-ethyl-5-phenylhydantoin (Nirvanol), which is an active anticonvulsant. Mephenytoin binds to plasma protein to the extent of 40%, with an elimination half-life of 7 hours. Mephenytoin causes sedation, whereas phenytoin does not. The incidence of dose- and time-dependent side effects of mephenytoin is lower than that seen with phenytoin. On the other hand, the incidence of severe and fatal hypersensitivity reactions is far higher than that reported for phenytoin. Therefore, mephenytoin is not the first drug of choice. It is used for the treatment of tonic-clonic, simple partial, and complex partial seizures... 

Tiagabine is used as adjunct therapy in the control refractive partial seizures. When added to other antiepileptic drug regimens, tiagabine significantly decreases seizure frequency (by 50 percent or more) in about 25 percent of patients with refractory complex partial seizures and in roughly 32 percent of patients with simple complex seizures. 

---