ABSTRACT
The aforementioned models have been found to be of considerable value in preclinical drug development, particularly in the screening of new compounds for anticonvulsant efficacy. For the treatment of epileptic patients quantitative information on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of anticonvulsant drugs is essential. This chapter reviews the developments in studies on the PK-PD correlations of anticonvulsants. In significant progress has been made in treatment with anticonvulsant drugs, mainly as a result of the implementation of therapeutic drug concentration monitoring. In the classical pentylenetetrazol test, anticonvulsant effect is determined on the basis of protection against seizures following subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection. The methodology developed has been applied in a study on tolerance development to the anticonvulsant effect of phenobarbital. In a study on the anticonvulsant effect of oxazepam, the PD were determined in three groups of rats at different time intervals following the intravenous administration of a wide range of dosages.
