The effect of combined treatment of alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine with NMDA blocker memantine on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats

Aim: To evaluate the effects of coadministration of vitamins alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine with memantine on a penicillin-induced experimental epilepsy model in rats so as to clarify the eventual interaction between these vitamins and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) system. Materials and methods: The epileptic focus was produced by intracortical penicillin G potassium injection. The effects of intraperitoneal injections of memantine, memantine + alpha-tocopherol, memantine + ascorbic acid, and memantine + pyridoxine combinations on epileptiform activity were evaluated in electrocorticogram recordings. Results: The antiepileptiform effects appeared earlier in all memantine and vitamin coadministrated groups compared to the memantine-alone group, but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant considering the frequency and amplitude of the epileptiform activity. Conclusion: Coadministration of vitamins does not enhance the antiepileptiform activity of memantine in penicillin-induced epilepsy in rats. However, this coadministration causes the earlier appearance of antiseizure effects. Since moderate doses of these vitamins have no side effects, it might be a good idea to use them with NMDA blockers to provide an earlier antiepileptic effect.