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Levetiracetam
Levetiracetam, sold under the brand name Keppra among others, is a novel antiepileptic drug. (medication) used to treat epilepsy. It is used for Focal seizure, partial-onset, Myoclonic epilepsy, myoclonic, or tonic–clonic seizures, and is taken either Oral administration, by mouth as an immediate release, immediate or extended release formulation or by intravenous, injection into a vein. Levetiracetam was discovered in 1992 through screening in audiogenic seizure susceptible mice and, 3 years later, was reported to exhibit saturable, stereospecific binding in brain to a approximately 90 kDa protein, later identified as the ubiquitous synaptic vesicle glycoprotein SV2A." The discovery process identifying levetiracetam's antiepileptic potential was unique because it challenged several dogmas of antiepileptic drug discovery, and thereby encountered skepticism from the epilepsy community. Common side effects of levetiracetam include sleepiness, dizziness, feeling tired, and ...
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Anticonvulsant
Anticonvulsants (also known as antiepileptic drugs, antiseizure drugs, or anti-seizure medications (ASM)) are a diverse group of pharmacological agents used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, since many seem to act as mood stabilizers, and for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Anticonvulsants suppress the uncontrolled and excessive firing of neurons during seizures and in doing so can also prevent the spread of the seizure within the brain. Conventional antiepileptic drugs have diverse mechanisms of action but many block sodium channels or enhance γ-aminobutyric acid ( GABA) function. Several antiepileptic drugs have multiple or uncertain mechanisms of action. Next to voltage-gated sodium channels and components of the GABA system, their targets include GABAA receptors, the GABA transporter type 1, and GABA transaminase. Additional targets include voltage-gate ...
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Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a group of Non-communicable disease, non-communicable Neurological disorder, neurological disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrent, unprovoked Seizure, seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from brief lapses of awareness or muscle jerks to prolonged convulsions. These episodes can result in physical injuries, either directly, such as broken bones, or through causing accidents. The diagnosis of epilepsy typically requires at least two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart. In some cases, however, it may be diagnosed after a single unprovoked seizure if clinical evidence suggests a high risk of recurrence. Isolated seizures that occur without recurrence risk or are provoked by identifiable causes are not considered indicative of epilepsy. The underlying cause is often unknown, but epilepsy can result from brain injury, stroke, infections, Brain tumor, ...
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Racetam
Racetams, also sometimes known simply as pyrrolidones, are a class of drugs that share a pyrrolidone nucleus. Many, but not all, specifically have a 2- oxo-1- pyrrolidine acetamide (piracetam) nucleus. Some racetams, such as piracetam, aniracetam, oxiracetam, pramiracetam, and phenylpiracetam, are considered nootropics. Phenylpiracetam is also a stimulant. Others, such as levetiracetam, brivaracetam, and seletracetam, are anticonvulsants. Mechanism There is no universally accepted mechanism of action for racetams. Racetams generally show negligible affinity for common central nervous system receptors, but modulation of central neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and glutamate, has been reported. Although aniracetam and nebracetam show some affinity for muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, only nefiracetam demonstrates nanomolar interactions with neurotransmitter receptors. Modification of membrane-located mechanisms of central signal transduction is another hypothesis. Li ...
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Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A
Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) is a transmembrane protein belonging to a family of keratan sulfate proteoglycans, located on the synaptic vesicles of mammalian neuronal and endocrine cells. It's encoded by the ''SV2A'' gene. SV2A is the most widely expressed isoform of the SV2 family (which also includes the SV2B and SV2C proteins) found in all brain regions. The role of the SV2 proteins is not well understood, however they are thought to be involved in regulating vesicular processes. The SV2A protein is a target of the anti-epileptic drugs (anticonvulsants) levetiracetam and brivaracetam but it is not clear how these drug affect SV2A activity. Localisation SV2A is differentially expressed in both inhibitory GABAergic and excitatory glutamatergic terminals however it is not expressed in all synapses as was previously thought. There is a slightly stronger colocalisation between SV2A and GABA than glutamate and the association differs across brain regions and changes w ...
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Status Epilepticus
Status epilepticus (SE), or status seizure, is a medical condition with abnormally prolonged seizures. It can have long-term consequences, manifesting as a single seizure lasting more than a defined time (time point 1), or 2 or more seizures over the same period without the person returning to normal between them. The seizures can be of the Generalized tonic–clonic seizure, tonic–clonic type, with a regular pattern of contraction and extension of the arms and legs, also known as convulsive status epilepticus, or of types that do not involve contractions, such as absence seizures or complex partial seizures. Convulsive status epilepticus is a life-threatening medical emergency, particularly if treatment is delayed. For convulsive status epilepticus, the most dangerous type, 5 minutes is the time point at which the seizure or seizures would be considered status epilepticus, so this is defined as a convulsion lasting more than 5 minutes, or two convulsions within 5 minutes without ...
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Essential Tremor
Essential tremor (ET), also called benign tremor, familial tremor, and idiopathic tremor, is a medical condition characterized by involuntary rhythmic contractions and relaxations ( oscillations or twitching movements) of certain muscle groups in one or more body parts of unknown cause. It is typically symmetrical, and affects the arms, hands, or fingers; but sometimes involves the head, vocal cords, or other body parts. Essential tremor is either an ''action'' (intention) tremor—it intensifies when one tries to use the affected muscles during voluntary movements such as eating and writing—or it is a ''postural'' tremor, which occurs when holding arms outstretched and against gravity. This means that it is distinct from a resting tremor, such as that caused by Parkinson's disease, which is not correlated with movement. Unlike Parkinson's disease, essential tremor may worsen with action. Essential tremor is a progressive neurological disorder, and the most common movement di ...
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Etiracetam
Etiracetam is a chemical compound belonging to the racetam family, which was developed as a nootropic drug. It is racemic; its biologically active enantiomeric form is levetiracetam, now marketed as an antiepileptic drug. See also *Piracetam Piracetam is a drug that has efficacy in cognitive disorders, vertigo, cortical myoclonus, dyslexia, and sickle cell anemia; sources differ on its usefulness for dementia. Piracetam is sold as a medication in many European countries. Piracetam ... References Racetams Carboxamides {{nervous-system-drug-stub ...
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Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is bleeding into the subarachnoid space—the area between the arachnoid (brain), arachnoid membrane and the pia mater surrounding the human brain, brain. Symptoms may include a thunderclap headache, severe headache of rapid onset, vomiting, decreased level of consciousness, fever, weakness, numbness, and sometimes seizures. Neck stiffness or neck pain are also relatively common. In about a quarter of people a small bleed with resolving symptoms occurs within a month of a larger bleed. SAH may occur as a result of a head injury or spontaneously, usually from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Risk factors for spontaneous cases include high blood pressure, smoking, family history, alcoholism, and cocaine use. Generally, the diagnosis can be determined by a computed tomography, CT scan of the head if done within six hours of symptom onset. Occasionally, a lumbar puncture is also required. After confirmation further tests are usually performed to determi ...
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Enantiomer
In chemistry, an enantiomer (Help:IPA/English, /ɪˈnænti.əmər, ɛ-, -oʊ-/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''ih-NAN-tee-ə-mər''), also known as an optical isomer, antipode, or optical antipode, is one of a pair of molecular entities which are mirror images of each other and non-superposable. Enantiomer molecules are like right and left hands: one cannot be superposed onto the other without first being converted to its mirror image. It is solely a relationship of chirality (chemistry), chirality and the permanent three-dimensional relationships among molecules or other chemical structures: no amount of re-orientation of a molecule as a whole or conformational isomerism, conformational change converts one chemical into its enantiomer. Chemical structures with chirality rotate plane-polarized light. A mixture of equal amounts of each enantiomer, a ''racemic mixture'' or a ''racemate'', does not rotate light. Stereoisomers include both enantiomers and diastereomers. Diaste ...
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Seizure Types
In the field of neurology, seizure types refer to clinically and electrographically defined categories of seizures, based on observable features, underlying mechanisms, and diagnostic findings. A seizure is a paroxysmal episode of altered behavior, sensation, awareness, or autonomic function resulting from abnormal, excessive, or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Seizure classification plays a central role in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and related disorders. It guides therapeutic decisions, informs prognosis, and supports communication among clinicians, researchers, and patients. The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) is the primary body responsible for defining seizure classifications. Its frameworks have evolved to reflect advances in neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and clinical semiology. The most recent system, published in 2025, introduces refined seizure categories aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility. Classification s ...
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Focal Epilepsy
Focal seizures are seizures that originate within brain networks limited to one hemisphere of the brain. In most cases, each seizure type has a consistent site of onset and characteristic patterns of spread, although some individuals experience more than one type of focal seizure arising from distinct networks. Seizure activity may remain localized or propagate to the opposite hemisphere. Symptoms will vary according to where the seizure occurs. When seizures occur in the frontal lobe, the patient may experience a wave-like sensation in the head. When seizures occur in the temporal lobe, a feeling of déjà vu may be experienced. When seizures are localized to the parietal lobe, a numbness or tingling may occur. With seizures occurring in the occipital lobe, visual disturbances or hallucinations have been reported.
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