Exam 3 Section (50% of Questions) Flashcards
Seizure meds do NOT
cure
Epilepsy is seizure activity that is
chronic and recurrent
Examples of single-instance seizure
febrile seizure; kids, hypoglycemia, alcohol and drug abuse, overdose, withdrawal
With single-instance seizure, we must treat the
underlying cause
Tonic-clonic seizures are
the most common type of generalized seizure
generalized seizures involve both hemispheres and involve
loss of consciouness, bilateral and symmetrical
What does the tonic in tonic-clonic seizure imply?
sustained contraction of skeletal muscles—patient can’t even take a deep breath—fear of hypoxia; what causes patient to fall to floor
What does the clonic in tonic-clonic seizure imply?
rapid rhythmic jerking motion
Absence seizure—petit mal
last only a minute or so—blank stare
Atonic seizure
sudden loss of muscle tone
Febrile seizure
convulsions brought on by a fever in infants or small children
Partial seizures involve
one hemisphere and don’t involve loss of consciousness
Complex partial seizure characteristics
smacking lips or pacing back and forth
Antiseizure medications/AEDs prototype
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Phenytoin (Dilantin) is the ___ drug of choice
first — is the oldest and most widely used
Phenytoin (Dilantin) is used to treat
Tonic-Clonic seizures
Phenytoin (Dilantin) mechanism of action is
Na Channel Blocker
the influx of sodium causes an action potential that causes the neurons to fire
Will raise the seizure threshold—raises the level of stimulation required to initiate a seizure
Phenytoin (Dilantin) Contraindications (4)
- Bradycardia
- Heart block
- Allergy to med
- CNS depression
When is used Phenytoin (Dilantin) used prophylactically?
before surgery to reduce chances of post op seizures
Patients can be kept on Phenytoin (Dilantin) for what amount of time?
6 months to a year
One of main issues with anti-seizure meds is
non-compliance
Gingival hyperplasia is when
gums hypergrow can almost cover the teeth especially with kids—must see dentist every 6 months
Phenytoin (Dilantin) can be mixed only with ____, and not with ____
Phenytoin (Dilantin) can be mixed only with normal saline not with dextrose
3 Black box warnings for Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Category D for pregnancy
- Must be given slowly!—if IV push, pull up a chair, have a seat, and do it slowly
- Higher risk of suicide
When patients are seizing, you can use both dilantin and benzo, but not in the
same syringe
Serious ADE for Phenytoin (Dilantin) - 2
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
2. Hepatotoxicity
patients with DM might need ___ if given Dilantin
increased diabetes medication
Benzodiazepines prototype
Prototype: Diazepam (Valium)
How do benzos work? What are some examples?
Enhances GABA
alprazolam (Xanax)
chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
diazepam (Valium)
Clonazepam (Klonopin) treats ___ seizures
absence
Lorazepam (Ativan) is used as a ___ treatment for seizures
long-acting
Epilepsy patients are not prescribed benzos for daily use, only to
stop seizures like status epilepticus
status epilepticus
dangerous condition in which epileptic seizures follow one another without recovery of consciousness between them
Long acting barbiturate prototype
Phenobarbital
Main cause of status epilepticus
is cold-turkey stopping meds
Nursing care for patients with seizures:
- Ask if have ever had a seizure
- How long
- When was last seizure
- Does anything precipitate it
- Risk for injury
- Noncompliance with meds
Nursing interventions for patients with seizures:
- Observe and document
- Do not restrain the patient
- Clear other things away
- Loosen clothing around neck
- Only use padded tongue blade if patient says I’m seizing
ONLY use padded tongue blade
BEFORE the patient starts seizing
most tonic-clonic seizures are over in
less than 2-3 min
if they’re not, call the rapid response team (if it gets near 3 minutes)
Main point of patient teaching for patients on anti seizure medications is
DON’T STOP THE MEDICATIONS unless you have specific instructions from HCP for how/with
Mr. Grover is a 62-year-old police captain. He is hospitalized for thrombophlebitis of the right leg and a r/o (rule out) pulmonary emboli. He is on Heparin 10,000 units IV drip every 6 hours.
Mr. Grover develops epigastric-burning pain between his meals and his HCP orders:
Tagament 300 mg IV every 6 hours
Amphogel 30 mL PO between meals and HS (bedtime)
What specific assessment will you want to make after he takes the Amphogel?
Assess pain levels
Mr. Grover is a 62-year-old police captain. He is hospitalized for thrombophlebitis of the right leg and a r/o (rule out) pulmonary emboli. He is on Heparin 10,000 units IV drip every 6 hours.
Mr. Grover develops epigastric-burning pain between his meals and his HCP orders:
Tagament 300 mg IV every 6 hours
Amphogel 30 mL PO between meals and HS (bedtime)
With regard to the Amphogel, what adverse effect will you assess him for?
Constipation
At 1PM, after lunch, Mr. Grover vomits a small amount of bright red blood. You have notified Mr. Grover’s HCP regarding this new development and she has scheduled Mr. Grover for an upper endoscopy in the morning.
In the meanwhile, what are you going to do about his 2 pm Amphogel dose and why?
Hold because it’s an oral med and he just threw up
At 1PM, after lunch, Mr. Grover vomits a small amount of bright red blood. You have notified Mr. Grover’s HCP regarding this new development and she has scheduled Mr. Grover for an upper endoscopy in the morning.
What should be done about his 6PM Tagament dose and why?
Give it because it’s IV
At 1PM, after lunch, Mr. Grover vomits a small amount of bright red blood. You have notified Mr. Grover’s HCP regarding this new development and she has scheduled Mr. Grover for an upper endoscopy in the morning.
What should be done about his 6pm Heparin dose?
Hold it
Peptic and ulcer disease occurs in any areas that are
exposed to HCL acid and pepsin
In GERD: heartburn, reflux brings HCL and pepsin up to the
lower part of the esophagus
What are the two medications that are most commonly associated with ulcers?
- Aspirin
2. non-steroidals
Main causes of ulcers (5 categories)
- stress
- major trauma
- major systemic infections
- stroke, MI, head trauma
- smoking
2 types of medications for the GI tract
- cell destruction
2. cell protection
3 methods of Cell Destruction medications
- Gastric acid (HCL): Acetylcholine and Histamine II
- Pepsin
- H. Pylori
5 methods of Cell protection medications
- Mucus
- Dilution of HCL acid
- Tight esophageal sphincter
- Cytroprotective prostaglandins
- Alkalization
H Pylori is the bacteria found in about ___ % of gastric ulcers and ___ % of duodenum ulcers
75; 90
For acetylcholine, think
- “wet” - released by PSNS
- acetylcholine can be produced within GI tract by mere thought of food
- receptors for this are in the pyramidal cells
- also have receptors for histamine II, causing more gastric acid to be released
5 Types of Anti-ulcer Meds:
- Antacids
- Ulcer adherent
- Histamine II Receptor Blockers
- Proton Pump Inhibitors
- H. Pylori Agents
Antacids are alkaline solutions that
neutralize acid
Antacids prototype:
Aluminum + Magnesium: Maalox, Mylanta (Gelusel, Di-Gel)
Aluminum Hydroxide:
Amphogel
Amphogel is very often used by the patients that have chronic renal failure because
they have difficulty removing and getting rid of phosphates that are in food
Magnesium Hydroxide:
MOM – Treats constipation, upset stomach, or heartburn. This medicine is a laxative and an antacid.
Sodium Bicarbonate: Alka-Seltzer and Bromo-Seltzer is high in sodium, so it’s NOT for patients who have
HTN or heart disease
they either need another type of antacid or a low-sodium option
All antacid mediations are made for ___ use
short term (weeks) – NOT years
Antacids bring HCL up above pH of
3.5
When patients have ulcers they often describe the pain as
burning
Patients don’t want to take antacid along with other medications because
antacids will decrease the absorption of other medications
ideally they should take them 2 hours apart (meds first, then 2 hours later, antacids)
DO NOT GIVE digoxin and calcium channel blocker at the same time as
antacids
Directions for taking antacids
- Drink down antacid
- then drink a full 8 oz glass of water which will help the antacid to get down to where it needs to be and not interfere with pH at all
- Most patients do better taking antacids 1 hour after meals (this will help the effect last for about 3-4 hours)
Antacids can cause ___ because of aluminum or ___ because of magnesium
constipation; diarrhea
Ulcer Adherent prototype
sucralfate (carafate)
sucralfate (carafate) is the least popular because it has a
very cumbersome schedule (1 hour before eating and at bedtime for at least 4-8 weeks)
if given with meals or antacids, sucralfate (carafate) will
lose its effectiveness
Histamine 2 blockers will antagonize or block the histamine, which will
prevent the secretion of gastric acid, which decreases the acidity and amount of gastric acid
Histamine 2 Receptor Blocking Agents Prototype:
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Histamine 2 receptor blocking agents (prototype: Cimetidine (Tagamet)) are used to
prevent and treat stress ulcers
histamine 2 receptor blocking agents (prototype: Cimetidine (Tagamet)) are not used very often because they
interfere so much with so many medications
You would not want to give histamine 2 receptor blocking agents (prototype: Cimetidine (Tagamet)) to a patient with
kidney or liver disease
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) prototype
Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Prilosec is the __ drug of choice, and there are about ___ $ in sales
first
100 million prescriptions written a year for these- $13.9 billion in sales
Omeprazole (Prilosec) is recommended for what length of time?
recommended for 8-12 week use ONLY
long term risks associated with Omeprazole (Prilosec)
- increased risk for bone loss
- increased risk for developing C. Diff
Omeprazole (Prilosec) works by
preventing or stopping the “pumping” or release of gastric acid
When can you take Prilosec?
Right before meals - it’s very well absorbed