A series of novel amides showing broad pharmaceutical activity. Compounds described herein are effective as anticonvulsants, chemical countermeasures, and analgesics. Such compounds also show, neuroprotective/neuroreparative effects and activity against spinal muscular atrophy. Such pharmaceutically active compounds show utility in the treatment of central nervous system (“CNS”) diseases and disorders, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, migraine headaches, schizophrenia, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, ALS, and Huntington's disease) spasticity, and bipolar disorder. Furthermore, such compounds may additionally find utility as analgesics (e.g., for the treatment of chronic or neuropathic pain) and as neuroprotective agents useful in the treatment of stroke(s), and/or traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries.