Epilepsy Drugs

Question 1

First line drug for simple partial seizures

Answer 1

Carbamazepine

Question 2

First line drug for complex partial seizures

Answer 2

Carbamazepine

Question 3

First line drugs for tonic clonic seizures

Answer 3

Phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid

Question 4

First line drug for absence seizures

Answer 4

Ethosuximide

Question 5

First line drug for acute status epilepticus

Answer 5

Benzodiazepines (diazepam or lorazepam)

Question 6

First line prophylaxis for status epilepticus

Answer 6

Phenyotin

Question 7

First line drug for trigeminal neuralgia

Answer 7

Carbamazepine

Question 8

Epileptic drug used as migraine prophylaxis

Answer 8

Topiramate

Question 9

MOA of phenytoin

Answer 9

Increases Na channel inactivation

Question 10

MOA of carbamazepine

Answer 10

Increases Na channel inactivation

Question 11

MOA of lamotrigine

Answer 11

Blocks voltage gated Na channels

Question 12

MOA of gabapentin

Answer 12

Designed as GABA analog, but primarily inhibits high-voltage activated Ca channels

Question 13

MOA of topiramate

Answer 13

Blocks Na channels, increases GABA action

Question 14

MOA of phenobarbital

Answer 14

Increases GABAa action

Question 15

MOA of valproic acid

Answer 15

Increases Na channel inactivation, increases GABA concentration

Question 16

MOA of ethosuximide

Answer 16

Blocks thalamic T-type Ca channels

Question 17

MOA of benzodiazepines

Answer 17

Increases GABAa action

Question 18

MOA of tigabine

Answer 18

Inhibits GABA reuptake

Question 19

MOA of vigabatrin

Answer 19

Irreversibly inhibits GABA transaminase which increases GABA

Question 20

Alternative use for gabapentin other than seizures

Answer 20

Peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia

Question 21

Anti-epileptic that an also be used for seizures of eclampsia

Answer 21

Benzodiazepines

Question 22

Anti-epileptic drugs that can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Answer 22

Carbamazepine, ethosuximide, phenytoin, lamotrigine

Question 23

Main side effects of carbamazepine

Answer 23

Diplopia, ataxia, blood dyscrasias (agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia), liver toxicity

Question 24

Main side effects of phenytoin

Answer 24

Gingival hyperplasia, hirsutism, teratogenesis, SLE-like syndrome

Question 25

Main side effects of gabapentin

Answer 25

Sedation, ataxia

Question 26

Main side effects of topiramate

Answer 26

Sedation, mental dulling, kidney stones, weight loss