INTRODUCTION: New antiepileptic drugs are needed because many epileptic patients do not achieve complete control with current antiepileptic drugs. METHODS: We reviewed the historical origin of antiepileptic drugs, the different phases of the medical treatment related to monotherapy or polytheraphy, and the experimental models applied to develop new medications nowadays. RESULTS: Experimental models have been used for many years in order to detect some rational mechanisms of action. The results are interesting but limited. Some drugs fail the scrutiny and still they may be clinically effective. On the other hand, some drugs have good experimental profile but are extremely toxic in humans. CONCLUSION: Despite mild advance in the understanding of antiepileptic drug mechanism of action and experimental models of epilepsy, the development of antiepileptic drugs is mostly empirically oriented.
antiepileptic drugs; monotherapy; polytherapy; antiepileptic drug development
