The Epilepsies

Seizures are sudden events of hyper-active and/or hyper-synchronous brain activity that result in a variety of experiences and behavioral manifestations that may include motor convulsions. Epilepsy is a chronic state of recurring multiple spontaneous seizures and is one of the most common neurological health problems world-wide. It is estimated that half of all Epilepsy cases are due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors whereas the remaining 50% of cases are of unknown (or unverified) origin. It is further estimated that almost ∼3/4 of individuals living with Epilepsy could experience effective seizure management if given access to appropriate clinical diagnostics and treatment. Further research efforts for Epilepsy are needed including to provide effective treatments for remaining ∼1/4 of individuals living with Epilepsy who experience difficulties in seizure prevention and seizure control. Pharmacological therapies that reduce severity and frequency of seizures, often referred to as Anti-Seizure Medications (ASMs), are the predominant treatment approach to Epilepsy. This chapter will provide an overview of Epilepsy before describing key pharmacological properties of ASMs based (primarily by emphasizing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics). This author acknowledges the amazing and essential efforts of the individuals affected by Epilepsy, their families, and the dedicated groups of clinical and preclinical professionals all working toward the safe elimination of Epilepsy and seizure syndromes world-wide.