Effects of Antiarrhythmic Drugs on Antiepileptic Drug Action-A Critical Review of Experimental Findings

Severe cardiac arrhythmias developing in the course of seizures increase the risk of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy). Hence, epilepsy patients with pre-existing arrhythmias should receive appropriate pharmacotherapy. Concomitant treatment with antiarrhythmic and antiseizure medications creates, however, the possibility of drug-drug interactions. This is due, among other reasons, to a similar mechanism of action. Both groups of drugs inhibit the conduction of electrical impulses in excitable tissues. The aim of this review was the analysis of such interactions in animal seizure models, including the maximal electroshock (MES) test in mice, a widely accepted screening test for antiepileptic drugs.

Automated summary

Seizures can lead to severe cardiac arrhythmias, which increase the risk of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy). It is important for epilepsy patients with pre-existing arrhythmias to receive appropriate pharmacotherapy. However, the use of antiarrhythmic and antiseizure medications together can result in drug-drug interactions.