Abordagem terapêutica da carbamazepina.

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease, defined by neurological changes that occur in periodic and unpredictable seizures, being characterized by a transient change in behavior due to abnormal electrical discharges from cerebral neurons. The first report mentioning the disturbance date about 2000 b.C. and, during long centuries later, beliefs, myths and misconceptions involving epilepsy. With the development of psychotherapy from the 50s, many patients previously marginalized of society were reinstated due to effective drugs. So, in 1953, in Basel, Switzerland, chemist Walter Schindler found carbamazepine during his search for a tricyclic compound with properties similar to the antipsychotic chlorpromazine, introduced in the market recently. It is believed that the mechanism of anticonvulsant action occurs by blocking the sodium channels voltage-dependent, which are one of the mainly contributor to the rapid membrane depolarization in neuronal processes that occurs in epileptics. Carbamazepine is used to treat certain types of seizures, with favorable action in focal or generalized epilepsies, decreasing appreciably clinical manifestations, and increasing the frequency of generalized seizures of absence. In addition to the use in situations in which the patient complex symptoms psychic, psychomotor and psychosensorial. However, adverse reactions related to the central nervous system, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal function are observed. Therefore, it is advised the therapeutic drug monitoring, by measurement of blood, providing an effective treatment, individualized and with minimal side effects.