Which anticonvulsants are used to treat general seizures?

Phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital are all anticonvulsants that are widely recognized for their effectiveness in treating general seizures.

Phenytoin is particularly effective for controlling tonic-clonic seizures, and it works by stabilizing the neuronal membrane and preventing excessive neuronal firing. Carbamazepine is also effective for various seizure types, especially partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, by inhibiting neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels. Phenobarbital, a barbiturate, can be used for controlling generalized tonic-clonic seizures as well, by enhancing the inhibitory effects of GABA, an important neurotransmitter that helps to calm neuronal activity.

The other options include medications that may not be as broadly effective for general seizures. For example, while valproic acid is supportive for a wide range of seizure types and is included among effective treatments, levetiracetam and topiramate, while also effective in certain contexts, do not have the same historically established role as the first choice for general seizures in all patients. Similarly, lamotrigine and ethosuximide are primarily used for specific seizure types but may not cover the entire spectrum of general seizure disorders adequately. Clonazepam, while