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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Eur J Neurosci. 2012 Jun;35(12):1857–1865. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.08140.x

Table 2.

Treatment of neonatal seizures

Treatment Therapeutic Targets/Mechanism of Action

Conventional

 • Phenobarbital Enhance GABA inhibition

 • Phenytoin Inhibit voltage-dependent sodium channels

 • Benzodiazepines Enhance GABA inhibition

 • Lidocaine Inhibit voltage-dependent sodium channels

 • Pyridoxine Cofactor for multiple enzymatic process for neurotransmitters

Off-label

 • Levetiracetam Interacts with synaptic vesicle protein (SV2A)

 • Topiramate Multiple – modulation of AMPA, sodium, GABA channels. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.

• Therapeutic hypothermia Numerous potential mechanisms

Future Therapies
 In clinical trials
  Bumetanide Inhibits NKCC1 transporter
 In preclinical development
  K+ channel openers Enhances activity of KCNQ2/3 type of K+ channels
  AMPA receptor blockers Inhibits AMPA receptor mediated excitation