Intravenous injection of flunarizine elicits epileptiform convulsions. Preliminary evaluation of anti-epileptic drugs

The possibility to elicit convulsions in rabbits after flunarizine, iv was investigated. A flunarizine solution, 3.3 mg/ml, was given iv at a rate of 1.5 ml/min in three fractional doses every 30 min. Action of anti-epileptic drugs in seizures induced by flunarizine was additionally examined. Convulsive seizures occurred 2-10 min after the last successive dose of flunarizine as alternating clonic and tonic seizures. A treatment with anti-epileptic drugs showed that both phenobarbital at doses 6, 7 and 7.5 mg/kg iv and pentobarbital at doses of 15, 20 and 25 mg/kg, iv did not entirely suppress convulsive seizures, although convulsive episodes were rare. Diazepam at doses of 1-1.5 mg/kg, iv suppressed convulsive seizures.