Anti epileptic drugs Flashcards
What is epilepsy
characterized by seizers or shaking due to abnormal brain electrical activity
No identifiable cause
Difference between focal and generalised epilepy
focal= no loss of conscoiusness
Generalized= loss of consciousness
Focal seizures
involves only 1 brain hemisphere
Simple partial=abnormal activity in 1 locus of brain
Complex partial= hallucinations can lose consciousness
Genralised seixures
Spreads to both hemipheres
Tonic
clonic
Tonic cloninc -continuous contraction (tonic) then rapid contr and relax (clonic)
abscence-sudden, short loss of consciousness
atonic -drop attacks loss of muscle tone
what is status epilepticus
what is the first line drug used
Constinuous uninterupted sizrues, new one starts before previous finisheed
Lorazepam
Drugs that increase GABA transmission
BNZ, Barbiturates, Valproate,
increase chloride ion permeability
Vaproate inhibits GABA transaminase so prevents breakdown of gAbA
Drugs that blocks Na channels
Carbamezine , Phenytoin , valproate
Drugs that blockT type Ca channels
Ethosuximide
What does Levetiracetam do (keppra)
revents pre synaptic vesicles from fusing therefore decrease release of calcium ions so inhibit glutamate release
Which of the drugs is a enzyme inhibitor
Valproate- broad antiepileptic drug
What are the adverse effefst of valproate
DO NOT GIVE PREG- severe tetragenocity
loss of hair then comes back curly
polycystic ovary syndrome
Phenytoin can be used to treat what else
Digitalis intoxication
has antiarrythmic activity
What are adverse effects of Phenytoin
gum hyoerplasia
behaviour chnages
atazia
nystagmus
What is the drug of choice for absence seizures (petit mal)
Ethosuximide
Why are BNZ preffered over barbituates
Because they have antidote - flumonezil
