Primidone, phenobarbital, and PEMA: I. Seizure protection, neurotoxicity, and therapeutic index of individual compounds in mice
Bourgeois, B.F.; Dodson, W.E.; Ferrendelli, J.A.
Neurology 33(3): 283-290
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-3878 PMID: 6681871 Document Number: 217718
Neurotoxicity and protection against maximal electroshock and Metrazol seizures from primidone (PRM), phenobarbital (PB), and phenylethylmalonamide (PEMA) were determined in mice for each drug separately and expressed in terms of brain concentrations. Compared with PB, PEMA was 16 times less potent against electroshock and Metrazol seizures but only 8 times less toxic. Primidone was markedly less neurotoxic than PB and equally potent against electroshock, but PRM had no effect against Metrazol or bicuculline. PRM is a relatively nontoxic anticonvulsant with a different action than PB, and PEMA is both a weak and a relatively toxic anticonvulsant.