ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS

Classification:

(BHAISAB i.e. elder brother)

B             Barbiturates e.g. Phenobarbitone

H             Hydantoins e.g. Phenytoin

A             Aliphatic carboxylic acid e.g. Valproic acid

I               Iminostilbenes e.g. Carbamazepine

S              Succinimides e.g. Ethosuccimide

A             Adjuvant newer drugs e.g. Lamotrigine, Gamapentin, Vigabatrin, Felbamate

B             Benzodiazepines e.g. Clonazepam, Diazepam

Adverse effects of PHENYTOIN:

P             Plasma level monitoring needed because of its zero order kinetics

H             Hypertrophy of gums, can be minimized by good oral hygiene

E              Enzyme induction so interacts with many drugs including other antiepileptics

N             Neutropenia and other hypersensitivity reactions

Y              Young girls beware! Causes hirsutism, coarsening of facial features and acne

T              Teratogenic, married girls beware! Causes foetal hydantoin syndrome

O             Osteomalacia due to interference with calcium absorption

I               Interference with folate absorption leads to megaloblastic anemia

N             Neurological manifestations at higher doses: Ataxia, vertigo and nystagmus

Adverse effects of VALPROATE:

V             Vomiting

A             Alopecia

L              Liver toxicity

P             Pancreatitis

R             Rashes & thrombocytopenia are rare hypersensitivity reactions

O             Oedema

A             Ataxia

T              Tremors & Teratogenicity, causes neural tube defects

E              Each others metabolism increases with Carbamazepine

                while it decrease the metabolism of Phenobarbitone & Phenytoin