Prophylactic effects of phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine examined in kindling cat preparations.

Prophylactic effects of phenobarbital, phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin), and carbamazepine were examined in amygdaloid kindling preparations in cats. Daily electrical stimulation was delivered at the time of peak plasma levels. Comparative examination of the chronological pattern of the clinical seizure development, after discharge growth, and formation of distant independent spike foci was made between periods of kindling with chronic drug administration and of rekindling without drugs. Both phenobarbital and carbamazepine were effective, but phenytoin was totally ineffective. Prophylactic action of phenobarbital and carbamazepine was mainly through the suppression of the development of motor seizures manifestations in the former and the same with the development of sustained after discharge in the latter. The kindling preparation appears to possess many desirable features as an ideal model of human epilepsy for the purpose of assessment and recruitment of potential antiepileptic drugs and development of a rational pharmacotherapeutic approach for the management and prevention of seizure disorder.