Chapter 19 : Antiseizure Drugs Flashcards
What does seizure mean?
Brief episode of abnormal electrical activity in nerve cells of the brain
What does epilepsy mean?
Chronic, recurrent pattern of seizures
What are 3 common generalized seizure types?
Tonic clonic ( grand mal )
Absense ( petit mal )
Psychomotor
What is tonic-clonic ( gland mal )?
Most common
Generalized altering muscle spams and jerkiness
What is absence (petit mal)?
Brief loss of consciousness (10secs or less)
Usually occurs in children
( day dreaming stare )
What is psychomotor?
Repetitive behavior
- chewing or swallowing motions
- behavior changes
Motor seizures
What are the 2 functions of antiseizure drugs?
Stabilizes nerve cell membranes
Suppress abnormal electric impulses in cerebral cortex
What are the 3 specific types of action any anti seizure drug?
Suppress sodium influx
Suppress calcium influx
Enhance action of GABA
Antiseizure drugs usually is better with what?
Another seizure medication
Like adding on
What is the goal of therapy?
To control or prevent seizures while maintaining a reasonable quality of life
To minimize adverse effects and drug induced toxicity
Antiseizure drugs usually are a what time drug?
Life long
Usually we start off what with these drugs?
Low dose is started
Notes
If low dose is not effective
Increase dosages
If not we use multiple drug therapy
Serum drug concentrations must be measured
- therapeutic drugs monitoring
Patients who are seizure free for 1-2 years ___be able to what for antieplieptic therapy?
May be able to discontinue
( to see what happens )
Patients who have a seizure, usually what happens to their driving status?
They get suspended for 6 months
Then their doctors are able see if their able to drive
Indications for antiseizure drugs
Prevention or control of seizure activity
Long term maintenance therapy for chronic, recurring seizures
Acute treatment of convulsions and status epilepticus
Sometimes antiseizure drugs can be used to treat what other 2 conditions?
Migraine management
Pain control
What are the 4 antiseizure drugs we will be talking about?
Hydrantoins ( phenytoin )
Phenobarbital ( barbiturate )
Benzodiazepines
Valproate
What is the action of an hydantoins ( phenytoin )?
Inhibits sodium influx and stabilize cell membranes
Reduces repetitive neuronal firing
Limits seizures
What is super important to note about hydantoins (phenytoin)?
It’s highly protein bound
Narrow therapeutic window
What is the syndrome with hydantoins (phenytoin)?
Purple glove syndrome
How do we get purple glove syndrome?
How do we give it?
What do we do prior to this medication administration?
Potent vasoconstrictor
Give in central line or PICC line, never in hands or IM
Dilute
( this vasoconstriction can cause tissue damage and loss of limb )
What are the 6 hydantoins side effects?
Gingival hyperplasia
Osteoporosis
Fatal hepatotoxicity
Nephrotoxicity
CV side effects
Teratogenic
What is gingival hyperplasia?
Overgrowth of the gum tissue