Which drug class is used to prevent or relieve convulsions?

• A. Antipsychotic
• B. Anticonvulsant
• C. Antianemic
• D. Antidiabetic

Answer: (B)

Convulsions arise from abnormal brain electrical activity, and preventing or stopping them requires medications that reduce neuronal excitability. This class of drugs, anticonvulsants, works by stabilizing neuronal membranes and enhancing inhibition or dampening excitation in the brain. Mechanisms include blocking voltage-gated sodium or calcium channels to prevent rapid firing, increasing GABAergic activity, or reducing glutamate transmission. They are used to prevent seizures in epilepsy and to treat acute seizure activity, with examples such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate, ethosuximide, and benzodiazepines for emergency treatment. The other drug classes serve different uses: antipsychotics treat psychosis, while antianemics and antidiabetics address anemia and blood sugar, respectively, and do not prevent or relieve convulsions.