Clinical treatment of epilepsy with calcium entry blockers. 1986

J Overweg, and C D Binnie

In view of the known role of Ca2+ in the paroxysmal depolarisation shifts of epileptic neurons, the possibility arises that certain Ca2+ entry blockers possess antiepileptic activity. The only drug of the class which readily passes blood-brain barrier is flunarizine. This is effective in experimental models of epilepsy and produced significant seizure reduction in two trials in therapy-resistant patients. Efficacy was maintained without development of tolerance. The safety of the drug has already been established in a great number of subjects treated for a long time for other diseases. It has few and mild side effects at therapeutic blood levels.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004827 Epilepsy A disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns (e.g., nocturnal epilepsy). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p313) Aura,Awakening Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Auras,Cryptogenic Epilepsies,Cryptogenic Epilepsy,Epilepsies,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Epilepsy, Awakening,Seizure Disorders
D005444 Flunarizine Flunarizine is a selective calcium entry blocker with calmodulin binding properties and histamine H1 blocking activity. It is effective in the prophylaxis of migraine, occlusive peripheral vascular disease, vertigo of central and peripheral origin, and as an adjuvant in the therapy of epilepsy. Flunarizin,Flunarizine Dihydrochloride,Flunarizine Hydrochloride,R-14950,Sibelium,Dihydrochloride, Flunarizine,Hydrochloride, Flunarizine,R 14950,R14950
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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