Chapter 15: Antiepileptic Drugs Flashcards
Which antiepileptic drug allows once-a-day dosing?
a. topiramate (Topamax®)
b. phenobarbital sodium
c. valproic acid (Depakene®)
d. gabapentin (Neurontin®)
b. phenobarbital sodium
During the nurse’s assessment, the patient describes her seizures as initial muscular
contractions throughout her body, then alternating between contractions and relaxation. What
kind of seizure is she describing?
a. Convulsion
b. Partial seizure
c. Simple seizure
d. Generalized tonic–clonic seizure
d. Generalized tonic–clonic seizure
While teaching a patient about taking a newly prescribed antiepileptic drug (AED) at home,
what information should the nurse emphasize?
a. Driving will be allowed after 2 weeks of therapy.
b. If seizures recur, the patient should take a double dose of the medication.
c. Antacids can be taken with the AED to reduce gastrointestinal adverse effects.
d. Regular consistent dosing is important for successful treatment.
d. Regular consistent dosing is important for successful treatment.
A patient has a 9-year history of a seizure disorder that has been managed well with phenytoin
therapy. He is to receive nothing by mouth because he has surgery in the morning. What
should the nurse do about his morning dose of phenytoin?
a. Give the same dose intravenously.
b. Give the morning dose with a small sip of water.
c. Contact the physician for another dosage form of the medication.
d. Notify the operating room that the medication has been withheld.
c. Contact the physician for another dosage form of the medication.
A patient has been taking carbamazepine (Tegretol®) for several months and is worried
because the physician has increased the dose twice since the beginning of therapy. Which is
the nurse’s best explanation to the patient?
a. The initial dose was not sufficient to prevent seizures.
b. Autoinduction results in lower-than-expected drug concentrations.
c. Because the seizures are difficult to manage, increased doses are needed to control
them.
d. Forgetting to take the medication as prescribed led to a need for increased dosage.
b. Autoinduction results in lower-than-expected drug concentrations.
When administering phenytoin (Dilantin®) intravenously, what must the nurse remember?
a. Normal saline is the only solution to be used with phenytoin.
b. Intravenous (IV) doses must be given rapidly to raise blood levels quickly.
c. The patient should be monitored closely for tachycardia and increased blood
pressure.
d. Phenytoin can be combined with other solutions without fear of precipitate
formation.
a. Normal saline is the only solution to be used with phenytoin.
Which teaching tips is appropriate for the nurse to give a patient taking topiramate
(Topamax®)?
a. Do not chew, crush, or break the tablet.
b. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
c. Crush the medication if needed to facilitate swallowing.
d. If adverse effects are too severe, a dose may be skipped.
a. Do not chew, crush, or break the tablet
Whatis the drug of choice for the immediate treatment of status epilepticus?
a. diazepam (Valium®)
b. midazolam
c. valproic acid (Depakene)
d. carbamazepine (Tegretol)
a. diazepam (Valium®)
Phenytoin (Dilantin) has a narrow therapeutic index. Which statement defines this
characteristic?
a. The safe and toxic plasma levels are very close.
b. Phenytoin has a narrow chance of being effective.
c. No difference exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
d. A very small dosage can result in the desired therapeutic effect.
a. The safe and toxic plasma levels are very close.
A patient has been taking gabapentin (Neurontin®) for several years as part of the treatment
for partial seizures. His wife has called because he ran out of medication this morning, and
she wonders whether he can go without it for a week until she can go to the drugstore. Which
statement is true in this situation?
a. Because the patient is taking another antiepileptic drug, he can go a week without
the gabapentin.
b. Stopping this medication abruptly may cause withdrawal seizures.
c. The patient should temporarily increase the dosage of his other medications.
d. The patient can probably stop all medication because he has been treated for
several years now.
b. Stopping this medication abruptly may cause withdrawal seizures.
Which statements about antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy are true? (Select all that apply.)
a. AED therapy can be stopped when seizures are under control.
b. AED therapy is usually lifelong.
c. Consistent dosing is key to control of seizures.
d. A dose may be skipped if the patient is experiencing adverse effects.
e. Abrupt withdrawal from AEDs may cause rebound seizure activity.
b. AED therapy is usually lifelong.
c. Consistent dosing is key to control of seizures.
e. Abrupt withdrawal from AEDs may cause rebound seizure activity.
