1Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal-576104, Karnataka, India
2Department of Pharmacology, UCMS, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal
3Department of Medicine, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Mangaluru
4Department of Paediatrics, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal Campus, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India-576104
*Corresponding Author E-mail: amrita_parida@yahoo.com
Online published on 1 October, 2021.
Aim: To investigate the antiepileptic activity of vortioxetine. Materials and method: Vortioxetine was screened for its antiepileptic activity in Sprague-Dawley rats using maximal electroshock model. 4 groups of rats (each 6 rats) were used. First group was administered distilled water, second group diazepam and the third and fourth groups were given vortioxetine 10mg/kg and 20mg/kg respectively. These drug were given 30 minutes before the animal was subjected to electroshock (150mA, 50Hz for 0.2 seconds). Results: Vortioxetine effectively reduced tonic hind limb extension (THLE) in the rats and the effect was statistically significant compared to the control group. The seizure duration was also significantly lower compared to the control. There was no substantial difference in the duration of seizures and THLE between the diazepam and vortioxetine group. However, the total seizure score of the vortioxetine group was not statistically significant compared to the control group. Conclusion: Vortioxetine has the potential to be clinically useful in treating epilepsy. Further detailed studies using other animal models and in humans are required to prove its efficacy in epilepsy.
Anti-seizure, Antidepressant, Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Anti-epileptic, Maximal electroshock
