Description
Carbamazepine is an antiepileptic/anticonvulsant that also exhibits antipsychotic and anti-inflammatory activities. Carbamazepine inhibits voltage-gated Na+ channels, stabilizing the inactive conformation of the channel. Carbamazepine also potentiates GABA receptor signaling and inhibits ATP-sensitive K+ channels. Carbamazepine is clinically used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, neuralgia/neuropathic pain, ADHD, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In animal models, carbamazepine decreases LPS-induced expression of TNF-α and IL-1β.
References
Gómez CD, Buijs RM, Sitges M. The anti-seizure drugs vinpocetine and carbamazepine, but not valproic acid, reduce inflammatory IL-1β and TNF-α expression in rat hippocampus. J Neurochem. 2014 Jun 5. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 24903676.
Zhou Q, Chen PC, Devaraneni PK, et al. Carbamazepine inhibits ATP-sensitive potassium channel activity by disrupting channel response to MgADP. Channels (Austin). 2014 May 21;8(4). [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 24849284.
Rahman W, Dickenson AH. Voltage gated sodium and calcium channel blockers for the treatment of chronic inflammatory pain. Neurosci Lett. 2013 Dec 17;557 Pt A:19-26. PMID: 23941888.
Bialer M. Why are antiepileptic drugs used for nonepileptic conditions? Epilepsia. 2012 Dec;53 Suppl 7:26-33. PMID: 23153207.
