Nimodipine: a potential add-on antiepileptic.

Numerous experimental studies document anticonvulsant property of several calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Nimodipine (N) is highly lipid soluble CCB, has shown anticonvulsant action in various experimental studies. Many experimental and clinical trials have shown diverse results. We conducted apentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model experimental study to evaluate the potential of nimodipine for add-on therapy in management of refractory epilepsy. Experiments were conducted in PTZ model involving Wistar rats. Doses producing seizures in 50% and 99% rats, i.e. CD50 and CD99 values of PTZ were obtained from dose-response observation. Rats were given graded, single dose of sodium valproate (SV) (100-300 mg/kg), and N (1-8 mg/kg), and then each group of rats was injected with CD99 dose of PTZ 70 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.). Another group of rats received single ED50 dose of SV and N on either side of abdomen. Co-administration of ED50 SV(200 mg/kg) & ED50 N(2mg/kg) i.p. on PTZ 70 mg/kg pretreated rats displayed 100% protection against PTZ induced seizures with a mean seizure score of 1.17(1.15) as compared to the individual group with (p<0.05).