Anti-seizure Meds Ch 23 Flashcards
Describe epilepsy
-Sudden discharge of excessive electrical energy from nerve cells
-May stimulate motor neurons causing contractions/muscle spasms
-Treatment depends on type of seizure and manifestations
Manifestation of seizures depends on:
-Location of cells initiating electrical impulse
-Pathways that are stimulated
What is are primary seizures?
-No underlying cause, there isn’t a reasoning its happening
What is secondary seizures?
-Could be cause by outside factor like head trauma, overdose, but a reasoning that is causing the excessive impulses
What is a generalized seizure?
-Begins in one area, spreads and involves LOC
-Involves both hemisphere and loss of consciousness
-Multiple classisfications like:
-Tonic clonic
-Absence
-Tonic
-Atonic
-Myoclonic
-Status epilepticus
-Febrile
What are partial seizures?
-Usually focal origin, does not spread
-Presentations depends on the area of the foci
-Involve one area of the brain,
-Pt can be presenting symptoms depending on where in the brain the seizures are happening
What is a tonic clonic seizure?
*Generalized seizure
-Motor type seizure with stiffening(tonic) and clonic (jerking)
-Person may have a vague sensation that warns them that the tonic contractions are about to begin
What are absence seizures?
*Generalized seizure
-Absent seizures, loss of consciousness from 3- 5 seconds
-could be just blinking and blank staring, no motion or contractions
What are atonic seizures?
Could be generalized or focal
Seizures that causes sudden loss of muscle tone
-Limp in extremities and facial muscles
What is the myoclonic seizure?
Can be either motor or non motor
-Muscle contractions that can be isolated to the face, trunk, extremity
-More rare and secondary seizures
What is status epilepticus?
-Seizures happening rapidly with out cognitive recovery in between
-Most sever form of generalized seizures and a medical emergency
What is a Febrile seizure?
-Mostly occur to children 3 months -6 years old
-High fevers that results in families
What do drugs that are for generalized seizures do?
-Stabilize nerve membrane by blocking channels in the cell membrane
-Effect mainly the CNS
-Effect the entire brain
What are drugs used for generalized seizures?
Hydantoins- phenytoin (Dilantin)
Barbituates- phenobarbital (Luminal)
Benzos- diazepam (Valium)
Succinimides- ethosuximide (Zarontin)
What are Hydantoins used for ?
Generalized seizures
What is Phenytoin(Dilantin)?
Hydantoins
which is used for generalized seizures
What is the therapeutic action of Phenytoin(Delantin)?
Hydantoins
-Stabilize nerve membranes throughout the CNS directly by influencing Ionic channels in the cell membrane, stopping sodium movement
-Less sedating than other anti epileptics
-Decreasing excitability and hyperexictlybilty to stimulation
What are the indications of phenytoin (Dilantin)?
Hydantoins
-Generalized seizures
-Help treat tonic clonic seizures
-Treatment of seizures after surgery
-Prevention of status epilepticus
What are pharmokinetics of phenytoin (Dilantin)?
Hydantoins
Well absorbed in the GI tract, metabolized in liver, and excreted in urine
-Therapeutic serum levels is 10-20 mcg/mL
What are adverse effects of phenytoin (Dilantin)?
Hydantoins
-CNS depression (esp when starting med)
Depression, confusion, drowsiness ,legarthy, fatigue, constipation ,dry mouth, anorexia, urinary retention
-Ataxia-seen with overdose/dose regulation
-severe Liver toxicity
-Bone marrow suppression
-Skin reactions
-Gingival hyperplasia(enlargement of gums)
-Dermatological reactions (hirsutism, stevens-Johnson syndrome)
What are contras for phenytoin (Dilantin)?
Hydantoins
Pregnancy/lactation weigh risks. Come with risk of fetal abnormalities
What are cautions for phenytoin (Dilantin)?
Hydantoins
Renal/ hepatic dysfunction** Can increase risk of liver toxicity if pt already has hepatic dys
What are drug to drug interaction for phenytoin (Dilantin)?
Hydantoins
ETOH, CNS depressants. BECAUSE its already a cns depressant , you will have increase cns depression