Title:Statins and epilepsy: preclinical studies, clinical trials and statin-anticonvulsant drug interactions
VOLUME: 16 ISSUE: 7
Author(s):Francesca Scicchitano, Andrew Constanti, Rita Citraro, Giovambattista De Sarro and Emilio Russo
Affiliation:Chair of Pharmacology, Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Italy Via T. Campanella, 115 88100 Catanzaro, ITALY.
Keywords:Adverse effects, atorvastatin, epileptogenesis, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, seizures, simvastatin, statinantiepileptic
drug (AED) interactions, statins.
Abstract:3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) are potent cholesterol-
lowering drugs which also possess beneficial antioxidant, antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory,
and antiexcitotoxic effects. In addition, statins have proven neuroprotective effects in several neurological
diseases: stroke, cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis
and traumatic brain injury. Relatively few studies have investigated the potential anti-seizure properties
of statins in epilepsy and the possible underlying protective mechanisms that may be involved. This review
summarizes the currently available data concerning statin effects in modulating seizure activity (sometimes adversely)
and epileptogenesis in different experimental models as well as in clinical studies. Furthermore, we analyze the
consequences of some of the more commonly reported statin–anticonvulsant drug interactions in the literature, discuss
some of the adverse effects of statins encountered in clinical practice and comment on the potential future usefulness of
statins in epilepsy therapy.
