Effect of escitalopram and venlafaxine on seizure score and lipid peroxidation in mice receiving carbamazepine antiepileptic therapy

ABSTRACT

The frequent co-existence of depression in epileptic patients raises the issue of simultaneous use of antidepressants along with anti-epileptic drugs in management of such cases. However, it is necessary to evaluate the safety of these antiepileptic/antidepressant drug combinations. The present study investigates the effect of either antidepressant; escitalopram [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI] or venlafaxine [serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, SNRI], administered alone or in combination, with the conventional antiepileptic drug carbamazepine on chemo-convulsions induced by picrotoxin. In addition, the effect of both antidepressants on lipid peroxidation, as an assumable cause of neuro-degenration in epilepsy, was studied in a model of chronic restraint in mice. The results show enhancement of seizure severity with significant increase in lipid peroxidation upon escitalopram treatment whether alone or in combination with carbamzepine. On the other hand, venlafaxine, administered alone or in combination with carbamazepine, provided significant protection against picrotoxin-induced convulsions as well as lipid peroxidation favoring its application in management of epilepsy-depression co-morbidities