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Abstract Details

The History of Neurological Serendipities
Research Methodology, 好色先生, and History
P4 - Poster Session 4 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)
4-049

To report on several medications used in neurology, whose effects were discovered by chance.

Serendipity implies an unexpected, yet beneficial discovery by accident. 

A Pubmed search was performed.

Developed as a substitute for iodine, bromides were thought to be an anaphrodisiac. They were incidentally reported to cause seizure reduction in women who had epilepsy. Phenobarbital was developed as a hypnotic drug but later found to cause seizure reduction in patients with epilepsy. Warfarin, the most widely used anticoagulant, was initially developed as a rodenticide. The agent was isolated after it was observed that cattle who fed on moldy silage made from sweet clover bled of minor injuries. Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, was developed during an attempt to develop a new antipsychotic drug. Its derivative amitriptyline is widely used for the treatment of migraine headaches and neuropathic pain. Amantadine used for prophylaxis against influenza, was coincidentally found to improve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Baclofen, developed as an antiepileptic drug was later found to decrease spasticity. Valproate was used as a solvent for many decades before a pharmaceutical company attempted to develop new epileptic medications, and it found that all tested agents dissolved in valproate had antiepileptic properties. Carbamazepine was developed as a psychoactive substance and later found to be efficacious in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and partial epilepsy. Gabapentin was developed as an antiepileptic agent but is now widely used for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Topiramate was developed in search of an antidiabetic medication that would block gluconeogenesis, with disappointing results, but it is now commonly used in the treatment of seizures and migraine headaches. Piracetam was developed to improve cognitive function, but later its derivate levetiracetam is widely used as an antiepileptic medication.

Throughout the history of neurology, there have been several unintentional yet valuable drug discoveries.

Authors/Disclosures
Taha Nisar, MD (Rutgers New Jersey Medical School)
PRESENTER
Dr. Nisar has nothing to disclose.
Walter G. Husar, MD (VA New Jersey Healthcare System) Dr. Husar has nothing to disclose.