Anti-seizure medications and estradiol for neuroprotection in epilepsy: the 2013 update.

Anti-seizure medications and estradiol for neuroprotection in epilepsy: the 2013 update. Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov. 2013 Apr;8(1):24-41 Authors: Velisek L, Nebieridze N, Chachua T, Veliskova J Abstract Current epilepsy therapy is still symptomatic using anti-seizure, rather than anti-epileptic, medications. This therapy may control the seizure activity but does not prevent or even cure epilepsy. Treatment strategies that could interfere with the process leading to epilepsy (epileptogenesis) would have significant benefits over the current approaches. Neuronal damage contributing to remodeling of the neuronal networks (such as in the hippocampus during temporal lobe epilepsy) is one of the significant components of ongoing epileptogenesis. Thus, treatment strategies alleviating seizure-induced neuronal damage and network reorganization may become powerful tools fighting the deteriorating process of epileptogenesis. Current anti-seizure medications, especially valproic acid, have some neuroprotective potential. Similarly, there is some hope of neuroprotection with newer anti-seizure drugs such as retigabine and levetiracetam. However, the neuroprotective potential of anti-seizure medications is frequently weak or masked by negative side effects associated with long-term treatment, therefore exceeding the benefits.. Thus, the attention is shifted to different compounds with already established neuroprotective potential. Among steroid h...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research