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Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Dysfunction of the GABAergic system has been implicated in various neurological and psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety and epilepsy. GABAergic drugs, which modulate the GABA receptor activity, have become crucial therapeutic agents in managing these conditions. This review explores the mechanisms of action, clinical applications, and recent advancements in GABAergic drugs for the treatment of anxiety and epilepsy. Given the critical role of GABA in modulating neuronal excitability, the GABAergic system has been, and continues to be, an important target for efforts to identify new therapies for epilepsy, convulsive status epilepticus and other CNS disorders, including anxiety, sleep and depression.
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References
- 1. Olsen, R. W., & Sieghart, W. (2009). International Union of Pharmacology. LXX. Subtypes of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors: Classification on the basis of subunit composition, pharmacology, and function. Pharmacological Reviews, 61(4), 518-559.
- 2. Sankar, R., & Devinsky, O. (2018). GABAergic therapy in epilepsy: The past, present, and future. Epilepsy & Behavior, 87, 282-290.
- 3. Griebel, G., & Holmes, A. (2013). GABA-A receptor subtype-specific drugs as therapeutic agents for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 12(7), 489-506.
- 4. Singh G., Sander J.W. The global burden of epilepsy report: Implications for low- and middle income countries. Epilepsy Behav. 2020;105:106949–1066952. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106949.
- 5. 1.Akyuz E, Polat AK, Eroglu E, Kullu I, Angelopoulou E, Paudel YN. Revisiting the role of neurotransmitters in epilepsy: an updated review. Life Sci. 2021;265:118826. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118826.
- 6. 2.Perucca E, White HS, Bialer M. New GABA-targeting therapies for the treatment of seizures and epilepsy. II. Treatments in clinical development. CNS Drugs. 10.1007/s40263-023-01025-4.
References
1. Olsen, R. W., & Sieghart, W. (2009). International Union of Pharmacology. LXX. Subtypes of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors: Classification on the basis of subunit composition, pharmacology, and function. Pharmacological Reviews, 61(4), 518-559.
2. Sankar, R., & Devinsky, O. (2018). GABAergic therapy in epilepsy: The past, present, and future. Epilepsy & Behavior, 87, 282-290.
3. Griebel, G., & Holmes, A. (2013). GABA-A receptor subtype-specific drugs as therapeutic agents for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 12(7), 489-506.
4. Singh G., Sander J.W. The global burden of epilepsy report: Implications for low- and middle income countries. Epilepsy Behav. 2020;105:106949–1066952. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106949.
5. 1.Akyuz E, Polat AK, Eroglu E, Kullu I, Angelopoulou E, Paudel YN. Revisiting the role of neurotransmitters in epilepsy: an updated review. Life Sci. 2021;265:118826. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118826.
6. 2.Perucca E, White HS, Bialer M. New GABA-targeting therapies for the treatment of seizures and epilepsy. II. Treatments in clinical development. CNS Drugs. 10.1007/s40263-023-01025-4.