Anticonvulsants

<p>From: Reviving the Broken Marionette: Treatments for CFS/ME and Fibromyalgia</p>

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Anticonvulsants (also known as antiepileptic drugs) are used in the prevention of epileptic seizures, which can sometimes accompany CFS/ME. They have many possible modes of action, often several different ones in a single drug, and their ability to prevent different types of seizures (partial seizures, complex seizures and absence seizures) varies. Some anticonvulsants can even worsen some types of seizures.

Despite their different modes of action, almost all anticonvulsants can be used to treat chronic pain, bipolar disorder and for migraine prophylaxis. Many of them are effective for depression, anxiety and sleep problems. Anticonvulsants can also relieve fatigue, flu–like symptoms, cognitive problems, neurological symptoms, IBS, bladder problems and muscle tension. They are one of the most important classes of medications in the treatment of CFS/ME and fibromyalgia.

Different anticonvulsants have completely different side effect profiles. Almost all can cause sedation and dizziness and rarely “freaky”

side effects (strange cognitive and neurological reactions), but some of them can also cause life–threatening adverse reactions. Many older anticonvulsants adversely affect bone strength. Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine and valproate can also impair male fertility.1

See also: diazepam, clonazepam, melatonin (CHAPTER 1), pentazocine (CHAPTER 2), selegiline (CHAPTER 5), vinpocetine (CHAPTER 6), calcium channel blockers (CHAPTER 7), riluzole, cannabinoids (CHAPTER 10)</p>