anticonvulsant

anticonvulsant /an·ti·con·vul·sant/ (-kon-vul´sant) inhibiting convulsions, or an agent that does this.

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an·ti·con·vul·sant (nt-kn-vlsnt, nt-)

n.

A drug that prevents or relieves convulsions.

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anti·con·vulsive (-sv) adj.

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Anticonvulsant

A type of drug given to prevent seizures. Some patients with migraines can be treated effectively with an anticonvulsant.

Mentioned in: Antimigraine Drugs

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anticonvulsant

[-kənvul′sənt/]

Etymology: Gk, anti + L, convellere, to shake

1 pertaining to a substance or procedure that prevents or reduces the severity of epileptic or other convulsive seizures.

2 an anticonvulsant drug. Hydantoin derivatives, especially phenytoin, apparently exert their anticonvulsant effect by stabilizing the plasma membrane and decreasing intracellular sodium levels; as a result, the excitability of the epileptogenic focus is reduced. Phenytoin prevents the spread of excessive discharges in motor areas and suppresses arrhythmias originating in the thalamus, frontal lobes, and other brain areas. Succinic acid derivatives, valproic acid, and various barbiturates are among the drugs prescribed to limit or prevent absence seizures. Some benzodiazepines are also useful as anticonvulsants. Many of these agents can produce fetal malformations when administered to pregnant women. Also called antiepileptic.

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anticonvulsant

1. inhibiting convulsions. Any drug that depresses the central nervous system may be used for its anticonvulsant effect. This includes narcotics and sedatives. They have the undesirable effect of depressing all CNS functions.

2. a specific motor depressant, such as anticonvulsant or antiepileptic, which depresses specifically the motor centers and suppresses spontaneous motor activity; examples are phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone and diazepam.

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anticonvulsant

adjective Related to preventing seizures noun Any agent used to prevent, reduce or stop seizures or convulsions. See Epilepsy.