Voltage-gated sodium channel blockers, 2001-2006:: An overview

Voltage-gated sodium channel blockers have long been used in the therapy of various central nervous system diseases, including epilepsy, chronic pain, psychiatric disorders, and spasticity. Several old agents are available with suboptimal features. Their properties may be improved by enhancing their state-dependent channel blocking action, and/or sodium channel subtype selectivity. This paper gives a short overview on the present state of research in this field, and the chemical structures of old sodium channel blockers, and those of recently published or patented compounds with sodium channel blocking action.