Convulsant
Convulsant
Convulsant (pronunciation: /kənˈvʌlsənt/) is a term used in medicine to describe a class of drugs or substances that induce convulsions or seizures.
Etymology
The term "convulsant" is derived from the Latin word "convellere", which means "to tear loose". It is combined with the suffix "-ant", which is used in English to form adjectives and nouns indicating something that performs a certain action.
Definition
A convulsant is a drug or chemical agent that induces convulsions, a type of paroxysmal event due to abnormal, excessive, synchronous discharges of an ensemble of central nervous system (CNS) neurons. Convulsants are often used in research to develop and test new anticonvulsant drugs.
Related Terms
- Convulsion: A sudden, violent, irregular movement of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children.
- Seizure: A sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness.
- Anticonvulsant: A type of drug which prevents or reduces the severity of epileptic fits or other convulsions.
- Paroxysmal: Relating to or occurring as a sudden outburst of symptoms or emotion.
- Central Nervous System (CNS): The complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body. In vertebrates, it comprises the brain and spinal cord.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Convulsant
- Wikipedia's article - Convulsant
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