252 Pharmacology - Antiepileptic Drugs

Question 1

anticonvulsants

Answer 1

Substances or procedures that prevent or reduce the severity of epileptic or other convulsive seizures.

Question 2

antiepileptic

Answer 2

Prescription drugs that prevent or reduce the severity of epilepsy and different types of epileptic seizures, not just convulsive seizures.

Question 3

autoinduction

Answer 3

A metabolic process in which a drug stimulates the production of enzymes that enhance its own metabolism over time, which leads to a reduction in therapeutic drug concentrations.

Question 4

convulsion

Answer 4

A type of seizure involving excessive stimulation of neurons in the brain and characterized by the spasmodic contraction of voluntary muscles. (See also seizure.)

Question 5

electroencephalogram

Answer 5

A recording of the electrical activity that arises from spontaneous currents in nerve cells in the brain, derived from electrodes placed on the outer skull.

Question 6

epilepsy

Answer 6

Any of a group of neurological disorders characterized by recurrent episodes of convulsive seizures, sensory disturbances, abnormal behaviour, loss of consciousness, or any combination of these.

Question 7

focal onset seizures

Answer 7

Seizures originating in a more localized region of the brain. Formerly known as partial seizures.

Question 8

generalized onset seizures

Answer 8

Seizures originating simultaneously in both cerebral hemispheres.

Question 9

Gingival hyperplasia

Answer 9

Overgrowth of gum tissue; often an adverse effect of phenytoin.

Question 10

Primary epilepsy

Answer 10

Epilepsy in which there is no identifiable cause. Also known as idiopathic seizures.

Question 11

Seizure

Answer 11

Excessive stimulation of neurons in the brain, leading to a sudden burst of abnormal neuron activity that results in temporary changes in brain function, primarily affecting sensory and motor activity.

Question 12

Status epilepticus

Answer 12

A medical emergency of prolonged seizure activity, that lasts for 5 minutes or longer, of continuous clinical or electrographic seizure activity or recurrent seizure activity without recovery (returning to baseline) between seizures.

Question 13

Tonic-clonic seizures

Answer 13

Seizures involving initial muscular contraction throughout the body (tonic phase), progressing to alternating contraction and relaxation (clonic phase).

Question 14

True or false: Serum concentrations of phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and primidone correlate better with seizure control and toxicity than do those of valproic acid, ethosuximide, and clonazepam.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Which antiepileptic drugs had a narrow therapeutic index requiring lab drug monitoring?

Answer 15

• phenytoin
• valproic acid
• phenobarbital
• carbamazepine