One of the newest antiseizure medication is levetiracetam (LEV). It might be effective in various indications, not only related to convulsions. Central nervous system disorders are common during anticonvulsant therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of LEV on various types of memory and anxiety in rats. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 58) were given LV p.o. as a single (100 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg) or repeated doses (300 mg/kg). The effect of the drug on memory was assessed in the Morris water maze (MWM) (spatial memory), the passive avoidance (PA) (emotional memory) and the novel object recognition (NOR) (recognition memory). The anxiety was evaluated in the elevated plus maze (EPM). LEV administered as repeated doses disturbed the long-term recognition memory in NOR and locomotor activity in EPM. A single dose affected emotional memory in PA. LEV did not alter spatial memory in MWM. LEV may cause memory and locomotor disturbances, but some of these adverse effects seem to be temporary and limited to the effect of acute dose.

Postpartum depression (PPD) remains a significant health concern worldwide. Both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments are available for patients with PPD; however, the standard approach involving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressants fails to provide a rapid response. This narrative review presents basic clinical and epidemiological data on PPD, summarizes currently used pharmacotherapies of PPD, highlights their limitations, and discusses new therapies based on a revised understanding of the disease’s pathogenesis. Numerous studies indicate that dysregulation of GABAergic neurotransmission, which may result from fluctuating levels of neuroactive steroids during pregnancy and the postpartum period, plays an important role in the complex pathology of PPD. Considering this, neuroactive steroids, which act as positive allosteric modulators of central GABA_A receptors (GABA_ARs), may offer new promising avenues for treating PPD. The first rapid-acting neurosteroid approved by the FDA to treat PPD in women is brexanolone, although its use is constrained by pharmacokinetic properties. The first oral neuroactive steroid-based antidepressant approved by the FDA for PPD is zuranolone. This review discusses the molecular mechanism of zuranolone action and the results of preclinical and clinical studies regarding the effectiveness and safety of the drug in treating PPD.

Background: Memory deficits and anxiety symptoms are undesirable effects that occur in epilepsy patients. They may be associated with the pathophysiology of the disease but also with anticonvulsant therapy. Brivaracetam (BRV) is one of the newest antiseizure drugs. It acts as a ligand for synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A), which may play a significant role in cognitive processes. Although BRV has a favorable safety profile, its central side effects remain unclear. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of BRV on various types of memory and anxiety in rats. Methods: BRV was given to adult male Wistar rats (n = 80) via gastric tube as a single dose (6 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg) or chronically (6 mg/kg). The effect of the drug on spatial memory was evaluated in the Morris water maze (MWM), fear-learning by passive avoidance (PA), and recognition memory with novel object recognition (NOR). The elevated plus maze (EPM) was used to assess anxiety-like behaviors. Results: The impact of BRV on memory is dose-dependent and mainly high doses may alter retrieval memory and fear-learning. Sub-chronic administration also impaired retrieval and spatial memory in animals. Moreover, chronic BRV may increase anxiety levels in rats but did not affect recognition memory. Conclusions: BRV may cause transient memory deficits as well as anxiety disturbances. However, the results are varied and depend on the type of memory, used dose, and duration of administration.

Zonisamide is an antiepileptic drug with a perspective of a broader use. Although it is regarded as a relatively safe drug, zonisamide might cause disorders of the central nervous system. The study assessed the influence of zonisamide on spatial and emotional memory in adult Wistar rats. Morris water maze test was used to examine the effect of zonisamide administered p.o. as single dose (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg) or repeatedly (50 mg/kg) on spatial memory. The impact of zonisamide administered as above on emotional memory was assessed in the Passive avoidance test. Zonisamide mainly in a high acute dose impaired the spatial memory, whereas when administered repeatedly, its effect was observed only in the initial phase of the study. Emotional memory disturbances were noted only during repeated administration of zonisamide. Zonisamide may impair memory and learning processes in rats but the results are varied and depend on the type of memory.