Anti-seizure Medication Flashcards
What is epilepsy?
disturbances of mental functions or movements of the body that is due to excessive discharge of signals from brain cells
Epileptic seizures are an imbalance of what?
GABA and Glutamate neurotransmission
What are some causes of epilepsy?
idiopathic epilepsy
trauma
tumor
developmental abnormality
stroke
What is a partial seizure?
a seizure that occurs on one side of the brain
What is a generalized tonic-clonic seizure?
abnormal on both sides of the brain
What does a generalized absence seizure look like?
- shown as a 3-Hertz spike wave on both sides of the brain
Absence seizures occur so quickly that ______?
another seizure occurs before the patient is even conscious which could lead to hypoxia which then leads to brain damage
What are the 4 options of treatment for Epilepsy?
- Benzodiazepine
- Phenytoin/fosphenytoin/valproic acid/levetiracetam
- Phenobarbital
- Propofol
What is the strongest treatment for epilepsy?
Propofol (general anesthetic)
What is the most common type of seizure?
convulsion seizures
What are the different types of seizures? (4)
- Convulsive Seizures
- Absence
- Myoclonic
- Atonic
Which two seizures do you lose consciousness?
Convulsive Seizures
Absence
Which two seizures do you POSSIBLY lose consciousness?
Myoclonic and Atonic
What are automatisms?
repetitive gestures
What occurs during simple partial seizures?
uncontrolled muscle movements
automatisms
no loss of consciousness
Where does simple partial seizures originate?
1 hemisphere
What are the three parts of a seizure?
- Aura
- Ictus
- Postictus
What is an aura?
sensation or mood that will help identify location of seizure
What is an ictus?
the seizure itself; “what it looks like”
What is a postictus?
the period after the seizure
Auras do not occur in what types of seizures?
absence and myoclonic seizures
Postictus do not occur in what types of seizures?
absence seizures
How do you dose seizure medications?
you begin with one drug then you increase the dose until seizures stop or toxicity occurs, if seizures do not stop add another drug therapy and slowly increase that does as well until the seizures stop or toxicity occurs
Why measure serum levels of anti-seizures medications? (3)
- Help prevent toxicity
- Insure adequate dosing
- Increase patient compliance
What are the major mechanisms of action of for anti-seizure drugs? (3)
- decreases sodium and calcium influx
- increase GABA neurotransmission
- decrease glutamate/asparatate neurotransmission
What are the general side effects of anti-seizures drugs?
CNS effects: fatigue, dizziness, ataxia, blurry vision, headaches
GI upset
alterations in blood counts
potential to cause Stevens Johnson Syndrome
What are the comorbidities for anti-seizure drugs?
anxiety, depression,
How does Stevens Johnson Syndrome start?
a rash after using a seizure medication
What is the mechanism of action for Phenytoin (Dilantin)?
Na channel blocker; has the same mechanism as anesthetics
What is the drug that neurologists would not recommend?
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
What type of seizure is Phenytoin not used to treat?
absence and atonic epilepsy because it can exacerbate these issues
Why does it take phenytoin take a long time to get the brain?
because it has high protein binding
What are the two ways that Phenytoin can be administered?
oral or IV
What is a side effect of phenytoin that occurs in children?
Gingival Hyperplasia
What is Gingival Hyperplasia?
abnormal amount of collagen
What is a side effect of phenytoin?
Hirsutism
What is Hirsutism?
abnormal amount of facial hair
What does Phenytoin induce?
CYP3A4, CYP2C, and UGT
When taking Phenytoin patients should be treated with _______ to prevent _____ ?
- vitamin K supplements
- bleeding
What type of drug is Fosphenytoin?
prodrug
How is Fosphenytoin administered?
IM
What is the difference between phenytoin and fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)?
less hypotension risk
What is the enzyme that converts fosphenytoin to phenytoin?
phosphatases
What is the mechanism of action for Carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
blockage of Na channels
What are the uses of Carbamazepine (Tegretol)? (3)
generalized and partial seizures
trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain)
bipolar disorder
What does Carbamazepine induce?
CYP1A2, CYP2C, CYP3A, UGT
True or False: Carbamazepine do not induce their own metabolism with the rate of metabolism increasing in the first 4-6 weeks of therapy
False: they do induce their own metabolism
What is carbamazepine (Tegretol) metabolized to?
10,11 - epoxide which is pharmacologically active
What are the side effects of Carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
weight gain
Steven-Johnson syndrom
Hyponatremia
Liver toxicity
With what types of seizures are carbamazepines contraindicated?
in absence seizures
What is the mechanism of action of Ethosuximide?
calcium channel blocker
What is the indication of Ethosuximide?
absence seizures ONLY