Epileptic Drugs Flashcards
What are some symptoms of epilepsy?
- Altered state of consciousness
- Brief loss of consciousness
- Violent convulsions (not always)
What are the different types of seizures?
Primary (idiopathic)
- Cause cannot be determined
Secondary
- Distinct cause identified
- Trauma, infection, stroke, tumour
Partial (focal)
- Simple seizures (consciousness not lost)
- Complex seizures (consciousness impaired)
Generalized seizures (consciousness lost)
- Tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures (convulsions)
- Absence (petit mal) seizures (brief loss in consciousness)
- Status epilepticus (recurrent tonic-clonic episodes without regaining consciousness or normal muscle movements between episodes, 20% mortality in adults)
What are the goals of therapy for Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AED)
- To control or present seizures while maintaining a reasonable quality of life
- To minimize adverse effects and drug induced toxicity
- AED therapy must prevent generation and spread of excessive electrical discharge from abnormally functioning nerve cells
- Protect surrounding normal cells
How to AEDs impact Na and CA channels?
- Blocks Na channels
- Blocks calcium channels
- Enhances GABA activity
Overall reduces nerve excitability
What is the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in CNS?
GABA
What are the 3 examples of AEDs and what channel do they effect?
Carbamazepine (Na channel block)
Phenytoin (Na channel block)
Valproate (Na and Ca channels)
What are two categories of drugs and an example of each?
- Benzodiazepines
- Clonazepam
Barbiturates
- *Phenobarbital
Both are GABA receptors
Which drug is used for absence seizures only?
Ethosuximide
What drugs are used for tonic-clonic?
Carbamazepine and phenytoin
What are some adverse effects and what drugs are they caused by?
Sedation and drowsiness
- Caused by phenytoin, lamotrigine, BZD’s
What are some client care implications for AED’s?
Take regularly, same time each day, take with meals to reduce GI upset
