Denzimol, a new anticonvulsant drug. I. General anticonvulsant profile.

The anticonvulsant profile of N-[beta-[4-(beta-phenylethyl)phenyl]-beta-hydroxyethyl]imidazole hydrochloride (denzimol, Rec 15-1533) has been evaluated in mice, rats and rabbits in comparison with some standard antiepileptic drugs. Denzimol suppressed electrically and chemically induced tonic seizures but did not prevent the clonic ones. In mice and rabbits the anticonvulsant activity of denzimol against maximal electroshock seizures was almost equal to that of phenytoin and phenobarbital with more rapid onset of action, whereas in rats the compound resulted in being the most potent and the less toxic one showing a longer duration of anticonvulsant activity than phenytoin. In the maximal pentetrazol seizures test in rats denzimol showed a profile similar to that of phenytoin and carbamazepine, but different from that of barbiturates and benzodiazepines so that it is suggested that its clinical application would be that of "grand mal" and psychomotor type seizures therapy.