Question
Lamotrigine
Q4 3 marks Short Notes ★ ✓
Answer
Lamotrigine is a newer, broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug.
Mechanism of action
Blocks voltage-gated sodium channels, stabilizing neuronal membranes and inhibiting the release of excitatory neurotransmitters (glutamate)
Uses
Partial seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, absence seizures
Bipolar disorder (mood stabilizer, particularly for the depressive phase)
Effective and preferred in pregnancy compared to older antiepileptics (relatively lower teratogenic risk, though still requires caution)
Adverse effects
Skin rash — can progress to Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, especially with rapid dose titration or co-administration with valproate (requires slow, gradual dose escalation)
Dizziness, diplopia, headache
Insomnia
1 Antiepileptics
Other Years Asked
1 ( 2023 January (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Essay · 15 marks 2 Classify Antiepileptic drugs. Explain the mechanism of action, therapeutic uses and
adverse effects of Sodium Valproate. (3+3) 2025 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 3 Classify antiepileptic drugs. Describe the mechanism of action and adverse effects of
phenytoin (2+2+2) 2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 4 A 30-year-old male was brought to the emergency department reporting a sudden
onset of generalised tonic clonic convulsions and fall, in the nearby supermarket. His
blood pressure and electrolytes were found to be normal. A diagnosis of generalised
tonic clonic seizure was made. 2024 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 5 A 28 years old man, while working on his computer in an IT company, suddenly went
blank, fell down and appeared to be unconscious. He regains consciousness in the
next 5 minutes but was confused and could not remember what happened. When he
consulted a neurologist, he was diagnosed to have absence seizures. Answer the
following: 2014 March (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 6 Classify antiepileptic drugs. Explain the mechanism of action, uses and adverse effects
of phenytoin and sodium valproate. List four drugs used in status epilepticus.
(2+3+1) 2021 December (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 7 Enumerate the newer drugs used in the treatment of epilepsy. Write the mechanism of
action of any two agents. Discuss the line of management of Status Epilepticus.
(2+2+2) 2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 8 A one-year-old boy with febrile seizures was brought to the emergency department.
( 2022 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 9 Enumerate four groups of antiepileptic drugs with examples of each. Mention four newer anti
epileptics. Describe the pharmacological actions, adverse effects and therapeutic uses of any
one of them. (2 + 2+ 2 = 6) 2016 February (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 10 Briefly describe the mechanism of action, uses and adverse effects of sodium valproate. 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 11 Sodium valproate 2022 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 12 Sodium valproate 2024 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 13 Phenytoin 2023 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 14 Carbamazepine 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 15 Carbamazepine 2023 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 16 Valproic acid 2019 February (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 17 Carbamazepine 2021 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 18 Phenytoin sodium. 2025 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 19 Status epilepticus. 2016 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 20 In treatment of absence seizures 2018 February (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 21 Drugs for absence seizures 2021 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 22 Carbamazepine in treatment of Trigeminal neuralgia
Name the following (Two examples for each): (5x1=5) 2024 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 23 Antiepileptic drugs 2022 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.2 marks 24 Drugs used in Absence seizures. 2023 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.2 marks 
