The New Antiepileptic Drugs or the Traditional Antiepileptic Drugs? Update in Terms of Drug Side Effects

Abstract

Epilepsy is defined as episodic cerebral dysfunction due to increased excitability of brain cells that caused by various reasons. Anti-epileptic drugs (AED) cannot stop the mechanisms that cause epilepsy, but they can decrease the frequency of seizures or completely stop the seizures without causing a general depression in central nervous system while they are using. In this case report, we aimed to discuss the therapeutic way that physician chose, depending on personal experiences in patient that developed adverse effects to both old generation (phenytoin, valproic acid) and new generation (Vaigabatrine, Lamotirgine, Levetiracetam, Pregabaline) AEDs. Even though it needs to be careful when treating a patient with epilepsy to maximize the therapeutic efficacy and to prevent complications, we intended to emphasise that there are unknown parts of AED mechanisms.




J Neurol Res. 2012;2(6):255-260
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jnr167e