Differential effects of carbamazepine and lithium on sensitization and kindling.

Lithium carbonate appears to inhibit the development of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization while it does not inhibit the development of amygdala kindling. Lithium chloride did not inhibit kindled seizures. Carbamazepine does not inhibit cocaine-induced motor activity or the development of behavioral sensitization in the rat. Carbamazepine is highly effective in blocking completed amygdala-kindled seizures, but does not block their development in the rat. Lithium carbonate and carbamazepine, two drugs of use in the prophylactic treatment of affective illness, appear to have differential effects on sensitization and kindling.