●How to Cite this Article

¹Division of Psychiatry and Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

²Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

³Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

⁴Department of Psychiatry, Lahey Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA

Email: ^*snejad@mgh.harvard.edu

Copyright © 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Received 12 April 2014; revised 11 May 2014; accepted 10 June 2014

ABSTRACT

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), have demonstrated efficacy treating a number of acute conditions, encompassing a broad range of symptoms and syndromes, in addition to being first-line treatment for epilepsy. Clinically, since their inception, AEDs have been used off-label for acute and chronic medical conditions, both as primary and as adjuvant therapies. In this review, we describe the observed clinical effectiveness of AEDs across a set of commonly encountered acute conditions in the general hospital: traumatic brain injury, pain, alcohol withdrawal. In describing the individual benefits and usages of specific agents, the applicability of these agents to other common neuropsychiatric conditions may be further explored.

Keywords:Antiepileptic Drugs, Traumatic Brain Injury, Alcohol Withdrawal, Pain, Valproic Acid, Carbamazepine

1. Introduction

Treatment in the general hospital focuses on acute care of patients with a variety of conditions from the straightforward to the complex. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), have demonstrated efficacy treating a number of acute conditions, encompassing a broad range of symptoms and syndromes, and remain the mainstay of first-line treatment for epilepsy [1] . Since their development, there has been an expanding role for AEDs in treating a variety of conditions including pain syndromes, sequelae of traumatic brain injury, delirium, and alcohol withdrawal, among others.

Antiepileptic medications can be traced back to the bromides of the 19^th century, which then gave way to phenobarbital of the early-20^th century. Phenytoin emerged in the mid-20^th century and has remained the firstline treatment of epilepsy [2] . Subsequent years have seen the development of newer agents each with varying mechanisms of action, changing side-effect profiles and less toxicity. Despite their unique mechanisms of action, the ultimate role remains the same: to diminish or suppress neuronal activity or reactivity. This neuronal suppression is accomplished through sodium channel blockade, calcium channel inhibition, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) enhancement, glutamate blockade, carbonic anhydrase inhibition and other unknown mechanisms [3] .

One hundred years after their development, in the US, AEDs have indications in the treatment of epilepsy, migraine, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, trigeminal neuralgia and fibromyalgia [4] . Clinically, since their inception, AEDs have been used off-label for acute and chronic conditions both as primary and as adjuvant therapies. Patients’ presentations of illness in the general hospital are infused with a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric symptoms. As a class of medications, AEDs effect changes in behavior, affect, and cognition as positive effects or side effects. Affectively these medications are utilized to target irritability, distractibility, anxiety or mood stability. Behavioral syndrome targets include seizure, impulsivity, restlessness or agitation. Cognitively, these medications are noted to have side effects of cognitive dulling, sedation, or slowed thinking. Considering traumatic brain injury as an example of a syndrome complicated by seizure, pain, spasticity, agitation, or other neurobehavioral changes, the use of AEDs with multiple applications becomes apparent.

In this review, we describe the observed clinical effectiveness of AEDs across a set of commonly encountered acute conditions in the general hospital: traumatic brain injury (TBI), pain, alcohol withdrawal. In describing the individual benefits and usages of specific agents, we hope to expand the applicability of these agents to other common neuropsychiatric conditions.

2. Antiepileptic Drugs for the Treatment of Acute Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts a significant proportion of Americans, accounting for 1.1 million emergency department visits per year and leading to approximately 2% of the U.S. population requiring long-term help to perform activities of daily living [5] . Patients with traumatic brain injury are most often prescribed AEDs for post-traumatic seizures, neurobehavioral disorders, and pain. Up to 26% of TBI patients are prescribed these medications chronically after injury, and AEDs are the most frequently prescribed medications in TBI patients under the age of 65 [6] .

Clinical evidence demonstrates efficacy of AEDs in attenuation of agitation and frontal lobe dysfunction following TBI during the period of acute hospitalization [7] [8] . Clinical experience has also shown that these agents may be helpful alternatives to more classically sedating medications such as dopamine antagonists, benzodiazepines or opiate medications. The following is a brief review of the use of AEDs for seizure and agitation associated with TBI.

2.1. AEDs and Post-Traumatic Seizures

Traumatic brain injury causes approximately 30% of new-onset seizures in patients between 15 - 34 years of age and accounts for 6% of seizures in all age groups [9] . Post-traumatic seizures are defined by the time period after injury: 1) Immediate seizures occur <24 hrs after injury, 2) Early seizures occur >24 hrs and <1 week after injury, and 3) Late seizures (a.k.a. post-traumatic epilepsy) occur >1 week after injury. Risk factors for developing early seizures include: intracerebral hemorrhage, younger age, alcoholism, and increasing severity of injury [10] . Major risk factors for developing late seizures include: Increasing severity of TBI, skull fracture, intracranial hematoma (especially subdural hematoma), dural penetration with bone or metal fragments, depressed consciousness at time of initial presentation, brain contusions, and the development of early seizures [11] . Thus, the prevention of early seizures could serve to reduce risk of late seizures in TBI.

In adult patients with severe TBI, a recent Cochrane Review recommended initiating prophylactic treatment with phenytoin as soon as possible after injury to decrease the risk of post-traumatic seizures occurring within the first seven days from injury [9] . It is estimated that for every 100 patients treated, 10 patients would be kept seizure free within the first week. There was no associated decrease in mortality, neurological disability or late post-traumatic seizures [12] . Data are inconclusive with regard to ongoing prophylactic treatment with phenytoin, carbamazepine, or valproate (VPA) beyond the first seven days after injury to decrease the risk of posttraumatic seizures [9] . Levetiracetam has been used with increasing frequency due to ease of dosing and its role in post-traumatic seizures is still being defined. One trial comparing the effectiveness of levetiracetam versus phenytoin demonstrated no significant difference between the two medications, although there were increased abnormal findings on EEG compared to phenytoin [6] [13] .

2.2. AEDs for Agitation Following Acute Traumatic Brain Injury

As demonstrated by a survey of TBI experts in 1997, “agitation” is a commonly used, yet poorly defined, term [14] . Defined in the Oxford-English dictionary as “a state of anxiety; nervous excitement”, it has different connotations in the brain injury population [15] . Clinically, agitation has been classically perceived as increased psychomotor movements that may lead to injury to or abuse to equipment, caretakers, patients or others. Agitation rarely has a single etiology, but rather is a compilation of multitude of factors, including confusion, pain, medications or medical conditions.

Increased and uninhibited psychomotor activity in the presence of confusion is part of the continuum of cognitive emergence from acute TBI as described by the Rancho Los Amigos cognitive scale [16] . More recently, post-traumatic agitation has been defined as the state of aggression during the period of post-traumatic amnesia in the absence of other physical, medical or psychiatric causes, with a score of ≥21 on the Agitated Behavior Scale (Figure 1) [17] [18] . This definition distinguishes post-traumatic agitation from psychomotor agitation that occurs later in recovery, and also recognizes that the majority of agitated or aggressive behavior resolves with cognitive clearing.

In acute care hospitals, treatment of agitation usually involves dopamine antagonists and sedatives, including benzodiazepines, or the use of opiates. TBI clinicians often avoid these medications due to concerns of potential inhibition of neuronal recovery [12] . Animal studies have suggested that typical dopamine antagonists, such as haloperidol, are associated with slower motor recoveries [19] . Human studies have demonstrated a longer period of post-traumatic amnesia for patients on first generation dopamine antagonists, though it has been suggested that this may be largely due to increased severity of injury [20] . Although these theoretical concerns exist, there is the clear reality that medications like dopamine antagonists are essential for safety of agitated TBI patients, particularly as they emerge from coma to further stages of activation and engagement.

1 = absent

2 = present to a slight degree 3 = present to a moderate degree 4 = present to an extreme degree

__1. Short attention span, easy distractibility, inability to concentrate

__2. Impulsive, impatient, low tolerance for pain or frustration

__3. Uncooperative, resistant to care, demanding

__4. Violent and/or threatening violence toward people or property

__5. Explosive and/or unpredictable anger

__6. Rocking, rubbing, moaning or other self-stimulating behavior

__7. Pulling at tubes, restraints, etc.

__8. Wandering from treatment areas

__9. Restlessness, pacing, excessive movement

__10. Repetitive behaviors, motor and/or verbal

__11. Rapid, loud or excessive talking

__12. Sudden changes of mood

__13. Easily initiated or excessive crying and/or laughing

__14. Self-abusiveness, physical and/or verbal

Figure 1. Agitated behavior scale [17] .

AEDs have been considered reasonable options for the management of agitation after TBI [21] . There have been two small case studies and two case series evaluating the use of carbamazepine and valproic acid (VPA) in the acute period after injury. The effects of newer AEDs such as topiramate, lamotrigine, vigabatrin and tiagabine on agitation and aggression have not been studied in the TBI population and warrant further study.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) had been trialed for the treatment of TBI agitation in the acute setting given its quick onset of action and the fact that it has been shown to be effective for both alcohol withdrawal and mania [22] [23] . Chatham-Showalter looked at CBZ with a small (N = 7), non-controlled population of patients with TBI agitation in a trauma center. They found that within the window of two to four days of treatment onset there was a robust effect with respect to combativeness, impulsivity and distractibility, as compared to medications like haloperidol, morphine and benzodiazepines [8] .

In a small retrospective analysis (n = 29) on the effectiveness of VPA on agitation in TBI, 28% (n = 8) demonstrated dramatic improvement of symptoms, as assessed via the Agitated Behavior Scale, leading to discontinuation of other psychotropic medications completely. Eighteen patients (62%) showed noticeably decreased agitation symptoms, but required ongoing benzodiazepines (2/18) or ongoing antipsychotics (4/18) for paranoia and delirium (i.e. sundowning). Moreover, 26 of 28 patients had a positive symptom response to divalproex [7] .

Some practitioners are wary of the effect of AEDs on cognitive recovery after TBI; there are few studies to support or refute this claim [24] . Whereas the use of phenytoin in one study was associated with cognitive impairment, valproic acid and carbamazepine, when used as seizure prophylaxis, have not been shown to be associated with cognitive impairment [25] -[27] . Topiramate in patients with epilepsy and intellectual impairment was reported to cause language, attention, memory and executive function difficulties, and therefore practitioners may choose to avoid using this medication in the acute and post-acute TBI population [28] [29] . Gabapentin led to heightened anxiety and psychomotor agitation in 2 patients with traumatic brain injury [30] . Levetiracetam has also been shown to have neuropsychiatric effects such as aggression and loss of self-control, as well as increased activation and vigilance in the epilepsy population [31] .

2.3. Other Uses of AEDs in the Acute TBI Population

Baguley and colleagues have studied the use of gabapentin in dysautonomia following acute TBI, demonstrating decreased dysautonomic paroxysms with additional beneficial effects with respect to pain and spasticity [32] . Dystonic posturing, as seen commonly in severe acute TBI, was also improved with titration of gabapentin. The authors hypothesized that the effects that were observed (decreasing of posturing and dysautonomia) were the result of attenuation of the afferent aspect of the abnormal response, rather than other classic models of attenuation focusing on the efferent aspect of dysregulation [32] .

Finally, there remains ongoing research in the role of AEDs and neuroprotection. Animal models have suggested that antiepileptic medications may block downstream cascades of neuronal cell death after experimental brain injury, reducing functional impact and lesion size, though human clinical trials have not been successful to date [33] . Research in this area of neuroprotection and antiepileptic medications bears more attention, and the authors remain hopeful for the possibilities of future therapeutics during both acute and post-acute periods following TBI.

3. Antiepileptic Drugs and Pain

Effective use of medicine in patients with chronic pain is based on the evaluation of four main components of the pain complaint: nociceptive pain, CNS mechanisms of pain, suffering, and pain behavior [34] . The management of these four components utilizes opioids, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and behavioral treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a three-step guideline for pain treatment. Step 1 involves the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, or acetaminophen. Step 2 adds codeine to the NSAID, with other adjuvants (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants, other types of antidepressants, AEDs, and stimulants). Step 3 employs narcotics with adjunctive medication. Originally designed for the treatment of cancer pain, and efficacy reported in 90% of cancer patients, the three steps may be a useful template for many kinds of acute pain, adjusted for the particular pain mechanism being treated.

AEDs have a long history in the treatment of pain, especially neuropathic in origin, dating back to case reports for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with phenytoin in 1942 and carbamazepine in 1962 [35] . The proposed mechanisms for the efficacy of anticonvulsants with regard to treating pain are thought to include blocking abnormally high-frequency and spontaneous firing in afferent neurons in the dorsal horn and in the thalamus. The consequence of blocking the hyperexcitability of low-threshold mechanoreceptive neurons in the brain may lead to pain relief [36] .

3.1. Phenytoin

Phenytoin has been shown effective in alleviating pain associated with various neuropathies, particularly trigeminal, diabetic, and post-stroke pain [37] . Symptoms of sharp, shooting, lancinating pain have been shown to respond especially well to this drug. It has a narrow therapeutic index with higher likelihood of drug toxicity and is less effective than carbamazepine in regards to analgesia.

3.2. Carbamazepine

Carbamazepine is generally more effective than phenytoin for pain. The effect of carbamazepine on pain suppression is likely mediated by central and peripheral mechanisms. The ability of carbamazepine to block ionic conductance appears to be frequency-dependent, which enables the drug to suppress the spontaneously active Aδ and C fibers responsible for pain without affecting normal nerve conduction. Since Blom reported the analgesic properties of carbamazepine for patients with trigeminal neuralgia in 1962, carbamazepine has been shown to be effective also for, post-herpetic pain, post-sympathetic pain, diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, and assorted neuralgias [38] . Higher levels (8 to 12 mg/L) are typically necessary for optimal efficacy.

3.3. Valproic Acid

The first reports of VPA used in neuropathic pain appeared in the early 1980s [34] . VPA prolongs the repolarization of voltage activated Na⁺ channels, and also increases the amount of GABA in the brain, enhancing the activity of glutamic acid decarboyxlase and inhibiting GABA degradation enzymes. VPA has been shown to decrease post-herpetic neuralgia, episodic and chronic cluster headaches, migraine, and post-operative pain, as well as various neuralgias. It has also been demonstrated that VPA is effective in treating migraine headaches in two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials [39] [40] . These demonstrations of efficacy in pain reduction are in addition to the traditional place for VPA in the treatment of psychiatric disorders (bipolar and schizoaffective disorders). VPA sprinkles, in particular, are well tolerated and can substitute for carbamazepine and lithium in pain states, although no head-to-head comparisons have been completed.

3.4. Gabapentin

Of the new generation of AEDs used for treatment of neuropathic pain, gabapentin is perhaps the best studied. Developed as a structural GABA analogue, it has no direct GABAergic action. It is believed that gabapentin acts on the α-2-δ type of Ca²⁺ channels. Gabapentin has relieved pain and associated symptoms in patients with both peripheral diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, HIV-related neuropathy, and cancer-related neuropathic pain [41] -[44] . The dosages used in these studies typically ranged from 900 - 3600 mg daily in 3 divided doses. Additional studies are required to evaluate if gabapentin is efficacious in other pain states.

3.5. Topiramate

Topiramate works via multiple mechanisms (including prolongation of voltage-sensitive sodium channel inactivation, GABA_A agonism, and non-N-methyl-D aspartate glutamate receptor antagonism). Topiramate is useful in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, along with diabetic neuropathy. Like any of the newer AEDs, continued studies will be required to determine overall efficacy.

3.6. Oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine is a keto-analogue of carbamazepine, with the analgesic mechanism likely due to inhibition of voltage-dependent Na⁺ channels and also, to a lesser extent, K⁺ channels. While studies seem to show mixed results for the use of oxcarbazepine for diabetic neuropathy, it seems to have similar efficacy to carbamazepine in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia; however, there is limited data regarding the efficacy and safety of this drug in the treatment of other neuropathic pain syndromes.

3.7. Pregabalin

Pregabalin is a GABA analogue believed to exert its analgesic effect by binding to the α2 delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels on primary afferent nerves, and reducing the release of neurotransmitters from their central terminals. Evidence seems to show that pregabalin is effective for reducing the intensity of pain associated with diabetic polyneuropathy and post-herpetic neuralgia [45] [46] .

3.8. Lamotrigine

Lamotrigine is a direct glutamate antagonist that also inhibits sodium channels. While initial case reports seemed to show some promise for use of lamotrigine in neuropathic pain states, most randomized, double-blind studies to date have not shown any significant efficacy [47] -[51] .

4. Antiepileptic Drugs and Alcohol Withdrawal

Long-term exposure to ethanol results in several adaptive changes in neurotrotransmitter systems, including gamma-aninobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, glutamate receptors, and in noradrenergic activity [52] . Glutamate represents the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the human brain and acts on several types of receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) of which, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is the most effected [53] . In addition, recent evidence shows that other ionotropic glutamate receptors may be involved in the pathophysiology of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), including the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) and the kainate subtypes of glutamate receptors [54] [55] . GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter and binds to a fast-acting receptor complex GABA-A, which hyperpolarizes the cell membrane and inhibits neuroactivity [53] . Chronic exposure to ethanol results in neuroadaptive changes, including reduced GABA activity and increased glutamatergic action [56] . The “kindling phenomenon” has been suggested to describe worsening of withdrawal symptoms (particularly seizures) due to repeated cycles of chronic alcohol exposure and withdrawal [57] [58] . Kindling refers to long-term neuronal changes that occur resulting from repeated cycles of chronic alcohol exposure and withdrawal [58] [59] . Studies, in both animal and human experiments, show that the incidence and severity of alcohol withdrawal related seizures increases with the number of withdrawal events [60] .

Currently, benzodiazepines are the medications of choice in the treatment of AWS [61] [62] . They have demonstrated efficacy in ameliorating symptoms and decreasing the risk of seizures and alcohol withdrawal delirium (AWD) [63] . Their use however has certain limitations, including the possibility of abuse, sedation, respiratory compromise, cognitive impairment and delirium. Over the last few years, recent studies suggest that AEDs may provide safe and effective alternatives to benzodiazepines, especially among patients with mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These agents have both anxiolytic and mood stabilizing effects along with their anticonvulsant activity and although their mechanism of action is not completely understood, the efficacy of AEDs in alcohol withdrawal is thought to be related to their ability to inhibit kindling and to facilitate GABA inhibitory neurotransmission [64] .

4.1. Carbamazepine

Carbamazepine is the oldest AED medication investigated in the treatment of AWS, and is approved as a form of treatment for AWS in Germany [65] . A tricyclic anticonvulsant, carbamazepine inhibits voltage dependent sodium channels and activates the voltage-dependent potassium channels [66] . It has been found to suppress withdrawal-induced kindling in limbic structures [67] [68] , and animal studies have also shown that carbamazepine is able to prevent alcohol withdrawal seizures [69] in addition to decreasing withdrawal symptoms [70] .

Several double-blind studies have demonstrated that carbamazepine has equal or greater efficacy to lorazepam, oxazepam, clomethiazole, tiapride, or placebo in reducing withdrawal symptoms [67] [71] . In a study conducted by Malcolm and colleagues [71] , 136 patients participated in a double-blind trial comparing carbamazepine versus lorazepam for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal detoxification. Subjects were stratified into two groups based on the number of past medical detoxifications, with one group including patients with none or one previous AWS episodes, and the other group including patients with multiple (>1) previous AWS episodes. Subjects were randomized to five days of fixed dose taper of carbamazepine (starting at 600 - 800 mg/day) or lorazepam (starting at 6 - 8 mg/day). The CIWA-Ar [72] was administered to patients daily for five days during the treatment phase, as well as on days 7 and 12 of the post-treatment period. The results demonstrated that carbamazepine and lorazepam were equally effective in decreasing the acute symptoms of withdrawal. There were no significant differences by treatment group in CIWA-Ar scores when all 12 study days were evaluated, however a significant treatment group effect on post-treatment drinks per day was observed. Among patients with multiple detoxifications, those who received carbamazepine drank an average of <1 drink/day compared with about 5 drinks/day among the lorazepam group (P = 0.004) [71] .

4.2. Valproic Acid

Valproic acid is approved in the US for use in epilepsy and bipolar mood disorder [65] . VPA has both anticonvulsant and anti-kindling properties, and acts to enhance levels of GABA suppressing glutamate function via NMDA receptors [73] [74] .

Two double blind comparative studies have been performed investigating VPA in the treatment of AWS. Reoux and colleages [75] performed a 7 day double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of VPA (500 mg three times daily) in acute AWS inpatients. The trial also included a baseline dose of oxazepam 30 mg and additional oxazepam administration (in 30 mg doses) as a rescue medication depending on the severity of withdrawal symptoms. The results demonstrated that patients treated with VPA needed less oxazepam and showed less progression in the severity of withdrawal symptoms (increase in CIWA-Ar above baseline) with respect to the placebo group. In addition, Hillbom and colleagues [76] conducted a double blind study in 138 patients who were randomized to receive VPA (1200 mg daily), carbamazepine (1200 mg daily), or placebo for four days. Seizures occurred in three subjects receiving placebo, two on carbamazepine and one on VPA. AWD developed in two patients receiving VPA and one receiving placebo [76] .

4.3. Phenobarbital

Phenobarbital is the most commonly used AED used worldwide (Kwan et al.) to treat seizures, and also has sedative and hypnotic properties. The principal mechanism of action of phenobarbital is its affinity for the GABA_A receptor. Barbiturates, such as phenobarbital, bind to the GABA_A receptor at the alpha subunit, which are binding sites distinct from GABA itself and also at a different site from the benzodiazepine binding site. In addition to this GABAergic effect however, barbiturates also block the AMPA receptor, a subtype of glutamate receptor [77] . This anti-glutamatergic property may perhaps explain its efficacy in complicated alcohol withdrawal states.

Ives and colleagues have described an alcohol withdrawal protocol for outpatient detox in over 70 patients, based on the pharmacokinetic properties of phenobarbital [78] . The authors utilized intramuscular administration of phenobarbital initially to achieve a therapeutic serum level quickly, then switched to an orally administered taper over the following 6 days. Haloperidol and lorazepam were available for breakthrough agitation and withdrawal symptoms if needed, however were reportedly seldom used or needed [78] . In a prospective randomized double blind placebo controlled study, a single dose of intravenous phenobarbital (10 mg/kg in 100 mL of normal saline) or placebo was administered. All patients were treated using an institutional symptom guided lorazepam-based alcohol withdrawal protocol. Patients administered phenobarbital were found to have decreased ICU admission, decreased amount of lorazepam administration, and did not have increased adverse outcomes [79] . Additional studies looking into the use of phenobarbital for both prophylaxis and treatment of active symptoms of alcohol withdrawal in the general hospital setting are actively ongoing.

4.4. Gabapentin

Gabapentin has FDA indication as an adjunctive form of treatment for partial seizures. Structurally related to GABA, it crosses the blood-brain barrier and readily distributes throughout the CNS.

Evidence supporting the potential role of gabapentin to reduce symptoms of AWS comes from case reports and several case series [80] -[85] . Rustembegovic and colleagues [86] have also described a case series in which there was a reduction in tonic-clonic seizures in a subset of patients with severe AWS. In a double blind trial of gabapentin versus lorazepam for the treatment of AWS, Myrick and Colleagues [87] found that the administration of gabapentin (1200 mg/day) was as effective as lorazepam for AWS as measured by CIWA-Ar, and that patients receiving gabapentin had reduced alcohol consumption in the immediate post-withdrawal week compared to lorazepam. An open trial of gabapentin in acute alcohol withdrawal used an oral loading protocol in 37 patients with a history of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms [88] . In patients with severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, as measured by the CIWA-Ar, were given gabapentin as an 800 mg test dose, and depending on the clinical response titrated up to 3200 mg in the first 24 hours. The authors concluded that the use of gabapentin with an 800 mg initial load with subsequent titration was helpful in reducing less severe and less complicated acute AWS [88] .

5. Discussion

Antiepileptic drugs are a broad class of medications with a spectrum of applications useful to the treatment of acute neuropsychiatric syndromes in the general hospital. Alteration of the hyper-excitability of low-threshold mechanoreceptive neurons in the brain modulates pain relief. The distinct quality and character of the pain experience is useful in guiding specific choices of AED as adjuvant therapies for neuropathies and headache with gabapentin, carbamazepine, and valproic acid, being the most studied. Traumatic brain injury constitutes a syndrome with presentations of seizures and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Having historically been utilized for the treatment of epilepsy, prophylaxis of early seizures in TBI with phenytoin is recommended; levetiracetam is increasing in use due to ease of dosing, though with unclear clinical benefit. Agitation is a common symptom of many disease states, including TBI and alcohol withdrawal. Carbamazepine and valproic acid have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing agitation and combativeness in TBI with the added benefit of conveying seizure prophylaxis. Similarly, in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, AED offer an alternative or adjuvant to benzodiazepines, by facilitating inhibitory GABAergic neuronal activity (Table 1).

6. Conclusion

Utilization of AEDs in the acute care setting to target behavioral, affective and cognitive symptoms is steadily increasing. The choice of specific agents is generally limited by the side-effect profile, relative toxicity related to the primary medical condition, and ease of dosing and monitoring. As we learn more about the specific mechanTable1 Antiepileptic medications frequently used in the general hospital.