XYLAZINE IMPAIRS THE ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF CONVENTIONAL ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS IN MICE

In this study the influence of xylazine upon the threshold of electric ally-induced convulsions and the anticonvulsant action of diazepam, ph enobarbital and phenytoin was studied in mice. hll drugs were given as solutions intraperitoneally (i.p.). Xylazine did not alter seizure th reshold at any of the doses tested (range 0-6 mg/kg i.p.). However, wh en combined with seizure-increasing doses of phenobarbital and phenyto in, xylazine at a dose of 2 mg/kg significantly (P <0.05) reduced the ability of these anticonvulsants to increase seizure threshold. Xylazi ne also reduced the anticonvulsant effect of diazepam, though insignif icantly. Our data indicate that xylazine should be contraindicated in animals on the anticonvulsant medication.