Anticonvulsants and Drugs Used to Treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease

Valproic acid

Brand: Depakote | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Seizures; bipolar; migraine px

Phenytoin

Brand: Dilantin | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Seizures

Lacosamide

Brand: Vimpat | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Seizures

Carbamazepine

Brand: Tegretol | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Seizures

Oxcarbazepine

Brand: Trileptal | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Seizures

Lamotrigine

Brand: Lamictal | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Seizures; bipolar

Zonisamide

Brand: Zonegran | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Seizures

Levetiracetam

Brand: Keppra | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Seizures

Topiramate

Brand: Topamax | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Seizures; migraine px

Pregabalin

Brand: Lyrica | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Neuropathic pain; seizures

Gabapentin

Brand: Neurontin | Class: Anticonvulsant | Uses: Neuropathic pain; seizures

Carbidopa / Levodopa

Brand: Sinemet | Class: Anti-Parkinson | Uses: Parkinson's disease

Ropinirole

Brand: Requip | Class: Anti-Parkinson (DA agonist) | Uses: PD; RLS

Pramipexole

Brand: Mirapex | Class: Anti-Parkinson (DA agonist) | Uses: PD; RLS

Donepezil

Brand: Aricept | Class: Anti-Alzheimer (AChE-I) | Uses: Alzheimer's

Galantamine

Brand: Razadyne | Class: Anti-Alzheimer (AChE-I) | Uses: Alzheimer's

Rivastigmine

Brand: Exelon | Class: Anti-Alzheimer (AChE-I) | Uses: Alzheimer's

Memantine

Brand: Namenda | Class: Anti-Alzheimer (NMDA antag) | Uses: Alzheimer's

Donepezil / Memantine

Brand: Namzaric | Class: AChE-I + NMDA | Uses: Alzheimer's

Lecanemab

Brand: Leqembi | Class: Anti-Alzheimer (mAb) | Uses: Alzheimer's

Donanemab

Brand: Kisunla | Class: Anti-Alzheimer (mAb) | Uses: Alzheimer's

Depakote

Generic: Valproic acid

Dilantin

Generic: Phenytoin

Vimpat

Generic: Lacosamide

Tegretol

Generic: Carbamazepine

Trileptal

Generic: Oxcarbazepine

Lamictal

Generic: Lamotrigine

Zonegran

Generic: Zonisamide

Keppra

Generic: Levetiracetam

Topamax

Generic: Topiramate

Lyrica

Generic: Pregabalin

Neurontin

Generic: Gabapentin

Sinemet

Generic: Carbidopa / Levodopa

Requip

Generic: Ropinirole

Mirapex

Generic: Pramipexole

Aricept

Generic: Donepezil

Razadyne

Generic: Galantamine

Exelon

Generic: Rivastigmine

Namenda

Generic: Memantine

Namzaric

Generic: Donepezil / Memantine

Leqembi

Generic: Lecanemab

Kisunla

Generic: Donanemab

Anticonvulsants - Mechanism / Rationale

Essentially calm neuronal overactivity

Anticonvulsants - Common Side Effects

Dizziness; ataxia; sedation

Anticonvulsants - Serious / Black-Box Warnings

SJS/TEN (for some); respiratory depression with opioids (gabapentin/pregabalin)

Anticonvulsants - Key Interactions / Contraindications

CYP enzyme inducers and inhibitors; alcohol/CNS depressants increase sedation and respiratory depression with gabapentin/pregabalin

Anti-Parkinson Agents - Mechanism

Dopamine replacement (levodopa) or agonism (ropinirole; pramipexole)

Anti-Parkinson Agents - Serious Side Effects

Dyskinesias & hallucinations

Anti-Parkinson Agents - Key Interactions

Dopamine antagonists (antipsychotics; metoclopramide) blunt effect

Anti-Alzheimer Agents - Mechanism

Symptom treatment (donepezil; galantamine; rivastigmine; memantine) vs. disease modifying (mAb therapy)

Anti-Alzheimer Agents - Common Side Effects

Dizziness

Anti-Alzheimer Agents - Serious Side Effects

Bradycardia (AChE-Is); ARIA cerebral edema/bleed (mAbs)

Anti-Alzheimer Agents - Key Interactions / Contraindications

Anticholinergics oppose AChE-Is; beta-blockers increase risk of bradycardia