Antiseizure Drugs Flashcards
A disorder that results from abnormal electrical discharges from the cerebral neurons, characterized by a loss or disturbance of consciousness and usually involuntary, uncontrolled movements
Seizure
An electrophysiologic monitoring method to record electrical activity of the brain
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Of unknown cause
Idiopathic
Absence of oxygen
Anoxia
Formerly known as grand mal seizure
Tonic-clonic
Formerly know as petit mal seizure
Absence
Drugs used for epileptic seizures
Antiseizure drugs
Inhibit sodium influx, stabilize cell membranes, reduce repetitive neuronal firing, and limit seizures
Hydantoins
Substances that can cause developmental abnormalities in a fetus
Teratogenic
Overgrowth of gums or reddened gums that bleed easily
Gingival hyperplasia
Constant, involuntary, cyclical movement of the eyeball
Nystagmus
A rapid succession of epileptic seizures
Status epilepticus
The point at which a seizure may be induced
Seizure threshold
True or False: It is ok for a patient taking seizure medications to not take their medicine at the same time every day.
False
What are the three ways in which antiseizure drugs work?
- Suppress sodium influx. 2. Suppress calcium influx. 3. Enhance action of GABA.
Phenytoin is what type of seizure medication?
Hydantoin
The therapeutic serum level of phenytoin is:
10-20 mcg/mL
Side effects/adverse reactions to Hydantoins include:
Gingival hyperplasia, nystagmus, diplopia, HA, dizziness, slurred speech, alopecia, purple glove syndrome, v-fib, depression, suicidal ideation, hyperglycemia, GI distress, urine discoloration, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome
True or False: Drinking alcohol while taking Phenytoin will decrease the serum level.
True
True or False: Phenytoin has less teratogenic effect than Phenobarbital.
False
The therapeutic range of phenobarbital is:
15-40 mcg/mL
Succinimides work by:
Decreasing calcium influx
Ethosuximide is typically used for which type of seizure?
Absence (petit mal)
The drug of choice for status epilepticus is?
Diazepam
A major adverse reaction of Valproic acid (Depakote) is?
Hepatotoxicity
What medication is given to pregnant women who are taking antiseizure drugs at the end of pregnancy?
Vitamin K
True or False: A febrile seizure indicates that a child is very likely to develop epilepsy.
False
