The present invention relates to diene nitrile compounds with anti-convulsant activity and can also be used to treat pain. These compounds are useful in modulating voltage-gated sodium channel activity and can be used in the treatment of epilepsy and chronic or acute pain. E and Z mixtures of compounds of formula (I) are used to eliminate or reduce convulsant activity or epileptic seizures in patients. The compounds prolong the time required for voltage-gated sodium channels to recover from a normally inactive state induced by depolarization and tend to suppress abnormal brain behavior. The present application relates to compounds and methods for reducing the severity of convulsant activity, or epileptic seizures.
