Study comparing the effect of topiramate and pregabalin on learning and memory with phenytoin in albino rats using morris water maze and elevated plus maze

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by repeated seizures. Neurocognitive impairment is one of the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the case of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Phenytoin (PHT), an effective older generation AED, shows decline in cognitive functions such as memory, concentration and motor speed in both healthy volunteers and epileptic patients. Topiramate, has cognitive complaints among the adverse effects reported and include impaired concentration and memory, slowing of thought process, and difficulties in word finding. Another antiepileptic Pregabalin shows that it's negative effects on cognitive functions are mild. Hence, a comparative assessment of the above group of drugs along with a control group was done using morris water maze and elevated plus maze. Effects on learning and memory was assessed using parameters such as escape latency and transfer latency. Albino rats were taken (24 in number) and assigned into 4 groups with three drug groups and one control group. They were given the respective drugs for a period of 15 days and then checked for escape latency and transfer latency times to assess the effect on “learning”. Thereafter the rats received the drugs for another 5 days after which they were assessed for “memory”. It was seen that phenytoin and topiramate do affect learning in comparison to pregabalin but the result about affecting memory was not conclusive.