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Anticonvulsants

What are anticonvulsants? 

Anticonvulsant medications influence the actions of neurotransmitters including glutamate and GABA, leading to a decrease in brain cell (neuron) excitability. Anticonvulsants may be implemented as an immediate therapy for acute symptoms of psychosis, but they may also be used as part of an ongoing treatment regime. Anticonvulsant medication assessed in this topic primarily includes carbamazepine.

What is the evidence for anticonvulsants?

Moderate to low quality evidence finds better response to treatment with antipsychotics than with phenobarbital, a barbituate used as an anticonvulsant, although there were more side effects with antipsychotics. There were also reduced rates of parkinsonism and use of anticholinergic drugs in people receiving carbamazepine compared to antipsychotics alone.

October 2020

Last updated at: 2:32 am, 1st October 2020
To view documentation related to this topic download the files below
Fact Sheet Technical Commentary

NeuRA Libraries

Title Colour Legend:
Green - Topic summary is available.
Orange - Topic summary is being compiled.
Red - Topic summary has no current systematic review available.