Carbamazepine and carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide inhibit amygdala-kindled seizures in the rat but do not block their development.

The effect of carbamazepine and its -10,11-epoxide on the development of amygdala-kindled seizures and on completed kindled seizures in the rat was evaluated. Neither carbamazepine (15 mg/kg) nor the -10,11-epoxide (15 mg/kg) was capable of preventing the development of amygdala-kindled seizures, although both drugs, at these doses, exerted marked anticonvulsant effects on completed kindled seizures. These data suggest that different phases of kindling are differentially responsive to pharmacological intervention. They also support the conclusion that different mechanisms underlie the acquisition and maintenance of kindled seizures.