Introduction
-
Nature and Origin:
- Bromide is an inorganic ion similar to chloride.
- Naturally present in the environment, especially in seawater (approximately 65 mg/L).
- Found in significant amounts in human blood due to seafood consumption.
-
Historical Uses:
- Widely used in the 19th and early 20th centuries as sedatives and for headaches.
- Lithium bromide used for bipolar disorder treatment.
- Current uses include low-concentration antiseptic agents in swimming pools.
-
Relevance in Epilepsy:
- Potassium bromide (KBr) was the first “modern” anticonvulsant.
- Introduced in 1857 by Sir Charles Locock for hysterical (catamenial) epilepsy.
- Remained the primary anticonvulsant until the discovery of phenobarbital in 1912.
