11. Anti-Epileptic Drugs PHARM Flashcards
what is the single most effective drug for generalized epilepsy?
valproate
what drug is best for childhood petit mal/absence?
ethosuximide
what are best for child-bearing women?
lamotrigine, levetiracetam
metaphorically, levetiracetam is considered to be what?
the swiss army knife of anti-epilepsy drugs: works for everything, does nothing really well, favorite in hosp settings
what is the single most effective drug for focal epilepsy?
carbamazepine
what is equally effective to carbamazepine for focal sz, but has a worse side effect profile?
phenytoin
why do barbutuates have a high drop out rate?
sedation
what drug is best in the elderly? why?
lamotrigene. less sedating than others, few drug interactions.
opening of Ca2+ and Na+ channels tend to produce what in the neuron?
depolarization (both flow in, make interior less negative)
opening of K+ and Cl- channels tend to produce what in the neuron?
hyperpolarization (K flows out, makes interior more neg. Cl flows in, makes interior more neg)
what does GABA do?
inhibitory. opens a Cl- channel, hyperpolarizes the cell. makes firing less likely
what does glutamate do?
excitatory. binds to receptors, opens Na+ and Ca2+ channels. depolarize cell, make firing more likely
what drugs are agonists of GABA receptors?
benzodiazepines, barbituates, topiramate
what drugs are antagonists of glutamate?
lamotrigine, topiramate
drugs that block Na+ channels are inhibitory or exitatory?
inhibitory.