Central Nervous System Drugs

Question 1

___________ drugs are used to treat psychiatric disorders, to suppress seizures, to relieve pain, and to provide anesthesia.

Answer 1

Central Nervous System

Question 2

A slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity, postural instability, and slowed movement.

Answer 2

Parkinson’s Disease

Question 3

True or false: Monitoring blood levels is a nursing consideration with phenytoin. The therapeutic level should be between 10-20 mcg/mL.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

___________ is a first-line drug that converts to dopamine and activates dopamine receptors.

Answer 4

Levodopa

Question 5

An opioid antagonist that suppresses craving and pleasurable effects of alcohol.

Answer 5

Naltrexone

Question 6

How many compounds in the central nervous system function as neurotransmitters?

Answer 6

21

Question 7

A direct-acting agent used to treat malignant hyperthermia and is particularly most effective for spasticity of cerebral origin.

Answer 7

Dantrolene Sodium

Question 8

___________ blocks the peripheral conversion of levodopa, allowing it to be transported to the brain.

Answer 8

Carbidopa

Question 9

A seizure is a sudden rush of abnormal electrical activity in your brain. Give the 2 major types of seizures.

Answer 9

1. Partial Seizures
2. Generalized Seizures

Question 10

MAO-A inhibitors should never be given with ___________ foods or ___________ since they both increase norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system.

Answer 10

Tyramine-rich, Levodopa

Question 11

What blocking drugs relax skeletal muscles by disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses at the motor end plate?

Answer 11

Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs

Question 12

___________ suppresses seizures by potentiating the effects of GABA and can be used as daytime sedative “sleeping pills.”

Answer 12

Phenobarbital

Question 13

A group of disorders characterized by excessive excitability of neurons in the central nervous system.

Answer 13

Epilepsy

Question 14

True or false: If you have withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing a drug, you have a physical dependence, which means your brain and body rely on them.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

The ___________ impedes drugs from entering the brain, and passage is limited to lipid-soluble agents or via specific transport systems.

Answer 15

Blood-brain Barrier

Question 16

A rare long-term brain condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times.

Answer 16

Narcolepsy

Question 17

___________ is given to increase child’s attention span and cognitive performance.

Answer 17

Methylprenidate

Question 18

Anti-epileptic drugs are the most commonly used treatment for epilepsy. What are the four mechanisms of anti-epileptic drugs?

Answer 18

1. Suppression of Sodium Influx
2. Suppression of Calcium Influx
3. Antagonism of Glutamate
4. Potentiation of GABA

Question 19

True or false: To reduce the effects of drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, and ataxia, the first dose of gabapentin should be taken at bedtime.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

___________ is the cornerstone of epilepsy therapy. When administered alone, the therapeutic range is 4-12 mcg/mL.

Answer 20

Carbamazepine