Snapshot A 17-year-old man presents with myoclonic seizures followed by generalized a tonic-clonic seizure after awakening. He denies any recent head trauma or substance abuse. He reports to being sleep deprived for the past week due to final examinations. Routine EEG testing is significant for 5-Hz bilateral polyspike and slow wave discharges. Valproic acid is prescribed. (Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy) Introduction Antiepileptic drugs (AED) can be separated by mechanism of action (MOA) affecting the following login to view 3 more bullets Choice of AED is dependent on seizure type, patient, cost, and side-effect profile Affecting Voltage-Gated Na+ Channels Phenytoin login to view 23 more bullets Carbamazepine login to view 22 more bullets Lamotrigine login to view 8 more bullets Affecting Calcium Channels Ethosuximide login to view 9 more bullets Affecting GABA Activity Phenobarbital login to view 10 more bullets Benzodiazepines login to view 7 more bullets Tiagabine login to view 4 more bullets Vigabatrin login to view 4 more bullets Multiple Mechanisms of Action Valproic acid login to view 22 more bullets Topiramate login to view 11 more bullets Other Levetiracetam login to view 5 more bullets Gabepentin login to view 10 more bullets