epilepsy and anticonvulsants

Question 1

what are the types of epilepsy?

Answer 1

grand mal generalised seizure, petit mal generalised seizure, partial seizures and status epilepticus

Question 2

what are grand mal generalised seizures?

Answer 2

initial sustained contraction of muscles, often accompanied by defecation. consciousness reappears after several minutes

Question 3

what are petit mal generalised seizures?

Answer 3

seizure not associated with motor function but involves a loss of attention for periods of seconds

Question 4

what are partial seizures?

Answer 4

jacksonian epilepsy - muscle spasm in one digit, limb or side of the body. often spreads

Question 5

what is status epilepticus?

Answer 5

when a seizure continues or repeats for a period of 30 mins or more. life threatening

Question 6

causes of epilepsy?

Answer 6

brain injury, infection, tumours, autoimmune disease or idiopathic

Question 7

what are the 2 main classes of anti-epileptic drugs?

Answer 7

drugs that enhance the activity of inhibitory ion channels gated by GABA.
drugs that act to block voltage dependent na or ca channels in a use-dependent manner and so block repetitive nerve activity

Question 8

pharmacology of the GABAa receptor?

Answer 8

chloride channel, G-protein coupled receptor, predominantly presynaptic, inhibits cAMP production which in turn enhances k+ conductance and stabilises membrane potential

Question 9

how do benzodiazepines affect the GABA receptor?

Answer 9

bzd’s bind to the extracellular domain of a-subunits. promote an increase in affinity of GABA for its binding site

Question 10

how do barbiturates affect the GABA receptor?

Answer 10

prolong the open time of thr GABAa ion channel. bind to a different site from bzd’s.