Effects of carbamazepine and its epoxide metabolite on amygdala-kindled seizures in rats.

Fourteen animals with stable generalized kindled seizures received three doses of carbamazepine and its epoxide (12.5 to 50 mg/kg IP) in a crossover design. Both compounds suppressed the secondarily generalized convulsion but only affected the partial seizure from the amygdala to a limited extent. The parent drug and the metabolite were equipotent against both seizure types. The results confirm the belief that carbamazepine epoxide has anticonvulsant properties and suggest that it may exert a major therapeutic effect in humans.