The invention is a novel series of cyclic amino acids which are useful in the treatment of epilepsy, faintness attacks, neurodegenerative disorders, depression, anxiety, panic, pain, neuropathological disorders, gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammation, especially arthritis. A pharmaceutical composition containing a compound of the invention as well as methods of preparing the compounds and novel intermediates useful in the preparation of the final compounds are included.