Antiepileptic drugs

Question 1

What is a seizure?

Answer 1

A seizure is a brief episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that may or may not klead to convulsion

Question 2

What is a convulsion?

Answer 2

A convulsion is involuntary contracitions of voluntary muscles in the body

Question 3

What is epilepsy?

Answer 3

Epilepsy is chronic reccurance of seizures

Question 4

What are the two types of epilepsy and what is their difference?

Answer 4

There is primary (Idiopathic) and secondary (symptomatic). The difference is primary has no known cause and secondary has a direct cause

Question 5

What is status epilepticus and what is the main treatment for this?

Answer 5

This is multiple seizures that are 5 minutes or longer. The drug of choice is diazepam

Question 6

What are the goals of therapy for antiepileptic drugs?

Answer 6

To control and prevent seizures to improve patient quality of life

Question 7

What drug serum concentrations correlate better with seizure control and toxicity?

Answer 7

Phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and primidone

Question 8

What are the drugs phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbemazepine, and primidone work better than?

Answer 8

Valporic acid, ethosuximide, and clonazepam

Question 9

What are the 4 types of drugs used to treat epilepsy?

Answer 9

Barbiturates, hydantoins, iminostilbenes plus valporic acid, and second or third generation antiepileptics

Question 10

What are the pharmacological effects of antiepileptic drugs?

Answer 10

They reduce nerve stimulation, suppress transmission of impulse, and decrease speed of nerve impulse

Question 11

What has to happen when dverse effects occur with antiepileptic drugs?

Answer 11

There will be a change in drugs

Question 12

What are the main contraindications for antiepileptic drugs?

Answer 12

Drug allergy, pregnancy,

Question 13

What is a serious phenytoin drug interaction?

Answer 13

It increases free Phenytoin might increase free warfarin levels which increases likelihood of bleeding

Question 14

What is a drug interaction of carbamazepine

Answer 14

It increase the metabolism of acetaminophen

Question 15

What is a drug interaction for aspirin?

Answer 15

Aspirin displaces valporic acid from protein binding which increases levels and toxic risk

Question 16

Why do we need lab monitoring for antiepile[tic drugs?

Answer 16

Because these drugs have a narrow therapuetic index

Question 17

Which antiepileptic drugs especially need lab drug monitoring?

Answer 17

Pheytoin, phenobarbital, valporic acid, and carbamazepine

Question 18

What are barbiturate examples and what is its adverse effect?

Answer 18

Primidone which is a prodrug turned into phenobarbital. Its adverse effect is sedation

Question 19

What are hydantoins diluted in and what is used for them. WHat is the example of hydantoins

Answer 19

Hydantoins (phenytoin) is diluted in normal saline and filtered

Question 20

What is ethosuximide?

Answer 20

This is a drug used in the treatment of uncomplicated absence seizures

Question 21

What is gabapentin?

Answer 21

It is an antiepileptic drug that mimics GABA

Question 22

What is valproic acid and what does it interact with?

Answer 22

Valproic acid is a drug that is used for absence and myoclonic seizures. It has a drug interaction with aspirin

Question 23

What is levetiracetam used to treat?

Answer 23

Focal seizures

Question 24

What is an important interaction for carbamazepine

Answer 24

Grapefruit juice

Question 25

How should antiepileptic drugs be taken

Answer 25

They should be taken at the same time every day

Question 26

What are the names of all the antiepileptic drugs?

Answer 26

Phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, ethosuximide, gabapentin, lamotrigine, valproic acid, levetiracetam, pregabalin,