This invention is related to carbocyclic and heterocyclic substituted semicarbazones and thiosemicarbazones represented by formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, wherein: Y is oxygen or sulfur; R 1 , R 21 , R 22 and R 23 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aminoalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl or carboxyalkyl; or R 22 and R 23 , together with the N, form a heterocycle; A 1 and A 2 are independently aryl, heteroaryl, saturated or partially unsaturated carbocycle or saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle, any of which is optionally substituted; X is one or O, S, NR 24 , CR 25 R 26 , C(O), NR 24 C(O), C(O)NR 24 , SO, SO 2 or a covalent bond; where R 24 , R 25 and R 26 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aminoalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl or carboxyalkyl. The invention is also directed to the use of carbocycle and heterocycle substituted semicarbazones and thiosemicarbazones for the treatment of neuronal damage following global and focal ischemia, for the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative conditions such as amyiotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), for the treatment and prevention of otoneurotoxicity and eye diseases involving glutamate toxicity and for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of pain, as anticonvulsants, and as antimanic depressants, as local anesthetics, as antiarrhythmics and for the treatment or prevention of diabetic neuropathy and urinary incontinence.