With currently available drugs, patients with anxiety disorders experience only partial response to pharmacotherapy and require augmentation therapy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines are commonly used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Unfortunately many patients do not achieve a complete response and experience significant adverse effects. Thus, pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders is an active area of research. Results of these trials suggest potential usefulness of antiepileptic drugs in treatment of anxiety disorders. Tiagabine, a selective GABA reuptake inhibitor, has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the most potent inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. There is evidence that GABA is implicated in both aetiology and treatment of anxiety. Tiagabine acting by GAT-1 transporter presynaptic blockade, facilitates GABA neurotransmission. Recent studies suggest than tiagabine may have anxiolytic properties with a reasonable adverse events profile, including dizziness, headache and nausea. Tiagabine has shown promise in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, post- traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder, and as monotherapy or augmentation therapy for patients with anxiety disorders who are partial responders.

tiagabine, antiepileptic drugs, anxiety disorders, GABAergic system, pharmacotherapy