Antiepileptics Flashcards
Atonic
Generalized seizure with loss of muscle tone, person suddenly drops
Convulsion
Paroxysm (occurring suddenly) of involuntary muscular contractions and relaxations
Epilepsy
Chronic, recurring seizure disorder
Generalized seizures
Loss of consciousness during seizure
Gingival hyperplasia
Overgrowth of gum tissue
Focal seizures
Localized seizure in the brain, with no impaired consciousness, aka partial seizure
Myoclonic
Sudden, forceful muscular contraction
Nystagmus
Involuntary and constant movements of the eyeball
Pancytopenia
Reduction in all cellular elements of the blood
Precipitation
Condensation of a solid from a solution during a chemical reactions
Seizure
Cluster of symptoms resulting from abnormal activity in the brain
Status epilepticus
Emergency situation characterized by continual seizure activity
Tonic-clonic
Generalized seizure activity consisting of alternating contraction (tonic) and relaxation (clonic) of muscles
Seizure disorders classifications
Idiopathic, hereditary, acquired
Idiopathic seizures
No known cause
Hereditary seizure disorders
Passed from parent to child in their genetic makeup
Acquired seizure disorders
Known cause (high fever, electrolyte imbalances, uremia, hypoglycemia, hypoxia, brain tumors, injury, and some drug withdrawal symptoms)
Known causes of epilepsy
Brain injury at birth, head injuries, and inborn error of metabolism,
Drug of first choice for focal seizures
Lamotrigine
Drug of first choice for generalized seizures
Valproate
Drug categories used as antiepileptics
Hydantoins, carboxylic acid derivatives, succinimides, oxazolidinediones, and benzodiazepines
Antiepileptics MOA
Depress abnormal neural discharges in the CNS
Hydantoins MOA for seizures
Stabilize the hyperexcitability postsynaptically in the motor cortex of the brain
Carboxylic acid derivatives MOA seizures
Increase GABA levels, stabilizing cell membranes
Succinimides MOA seizures
Depress the motor cortex and create a higher threshold before nerves react to the convulsive stimuli
Oxazolidinediones MOA seizures
Decrease repetitive synaptic transmissions of nerve impulses
Benzodiazepines MOA seizures
Elevate the seizure threshold by decreasing postsynaptic excitation
Nonspecifed antiepileptic Drugs
Gabapentin, topiramate
Antiepileptics uses
Prophylactically for seizures after trauma or neurosurgery in patients with a tumor, neuropathic pain, bipolar, anxiety, all seizure types