Which of the following is an antiepileptic drug?

• A. Ibuprofen
• B. Amoxicillin
• C. Lisinopril
• D. Valproic acid

Answer: (D)

Valproic acid is an antiepileptic drug. Antiepileptic medications work by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain to prevent seizures. Valproic acid does this through multiple mechanisms: it increases GABA, the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter, which dampens neuronal excitability, and it also blocks voltage-gated sodium channels and T-type calcium channels to stabilize neuronal membranes. Because of these actions, it is effective against a broad range of seizure types, including generalized tonic-clonic, absence, and myoclonic seizures. It’s also used for mood stabilization in bipolar disorder and sometimes for migraine prevention, though it carries risks like liver toxicity and teratogenicity, so monitoring is important. The other drugs listed are not anticonvulsants: ibuprofen is an NSAID for pain, amoxicillin is an antibiotic, and lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor for hypertension.