Anticonvulsants (also known as antiepileptic drugs or recently as antiseizure drugs) are a diverse group of pharmacological agents used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also increasingly being used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, since many seem to act as mood stabilizers, and for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Anticonvulsants suppress the excessive rapid firing of neurons during seizures. Anticonvulsants also prevent the spread of the seizure within the brain.
These drugs work in many different ways, and they come with a variety of potential side effects and drawbacks. Some can cause chemical dependence, addiction, and substance use disorders.
Some anticonvulsants do come with some addiction risk, but since this is such a broad category, many of its members also have a very low risk of addiction. Still, many anticonvulsant medications can cause dependence, addiction, and substance use disorders when they are used for too long, misused, or abused as a recreational drug.