Abstract
Summary
The antimalarials quinacrine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were investigated for their anticonvulsant activities against maximal electroshock seizures, maximal and minimal metrazol seizures and electrogenic psychomotor seizures. Phenobarbital, trimethadione diphenylhydantoin, and phenacemide were employed as reference standards. 1. All 3 antimalarials were ineffective in protecting mice from maximal electro-shock tonic extensor seizures, both after single oral doses and after 4 daily doses. 2. Hydroxychloroquine was effective against maximal metrazol seizures after a single oral dose. Quinacrine and chloroquine exhibited activity after 4 daily medications. 3. Quinacrine and chloroquine (low doses) enhanced psychomotor seizure duration while hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine (high doses) slightly reduced seizure duration. 4. Difficulties in predicting clinical efficacy from laboratory data are discussed.
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