Focus on Nursing Pharmacology nurs 317 Flashcards
chapter 24
When teaching a group of students about epilepsy, which characteristic should the nurse include?
a.Always characterized by grand mal seizures
b.Only a genetic problem
c.The most prevalent neurological disorder
d.The name given to one brain disorder
d
Which type of seizure would the nurse be least likely to include as a type of generalized seizure?
a.Petit mal seizures
b.Febrile seizures
c.Grand mal seizures
d.Complex seizures
c
Which instruction would the nurse encourage a patient receiving an antiepileptic drug to do?
a.Give up his or her driver’s license.
b.Wear or carry a MedicAlert identification.
c.Take antihistamines to help dry up secretions.
d.Keep the diagnosis a secret to avoid prejudice.
c
Drugs that are commonly used to treat grand mal seizures include
a.barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and hydantoins.
b.barbiturates, antihistamines, and local anesthetics.
c.hydantoins, phenobarbital, and phensuximide.
d.benzodiazepines, phensuximide, and valproic acid.
a
The drug of choice for the treatment of absence seizures is
a.valproic acid.
b.methsuximide.
c.phensuximide.
d.ethosuximide.
b
Focal or partial seizures
a.start at one point and spread quickly throughout the brain.
b.are best treated with benzodiazepines.
c.involve only part of the brain.
d.are easily diagnosed and recognized.
c
One drug that is used alone in the treatment of partial seizures is
a.carbamazepine.
b.topiramate.
c.lamotrigine.
d.gabapentin.
b
Treatment of epilepsy is directed at
a.blocking the transmission of nerve impulses into the brain.
b.stabilizing overexcited nerve membranes.
c.blocking peripheral nerve terminals.
d.thickening the meninges to dampen brain electrical activity.
c
A patient has been stabilized on phenytoin (Dilantin) for several years and has not experienced a grand mal seizure in more than 3 years. The patient decides to stop the drug because it no longer seems to be needed. In counseling, the nurse should include which points?
a.The patient will always need this drug.
b.This drug needs to be slowly tapered to avoid potentially serious adverse effects.
c.The patient is probably correct, and the drug is not needed.
d.The drug should not be stopped until appropriate blood tests are done.
e.Stopping the drug suddenly could precipitate seizures because the nerves will be more sensitive.
f.The patient’s insurance company won’t cover any problems that might occur if the drug is stopped without physician approval.
a,b,c
The most common adverse effects associated with antiepileptic therapy reflect the depression of the CNS. In assessing a patient on antiepileptic therapy, the nurse would monitor the patient for which conditions?
a.Hypertension
b.Insomnia
c.Confusion
d.GI depression
e.Increased salivation
f.Tachycardia
b,c,f
