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Pharmacology > Seizure Drugs > Flashcards

Seizure Drugs Flashcards

1
Q

What are convulsions?

A

Involuntary, violent spasms or large skeletal muscles of face, neck, arms, and legs.

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2
Q

Are all convulsions seizures?

A

Yes

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3
Q

Are all seizures convulsions?

A

No, sometimes with absent seizures, you don’t move.

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4
Q

What is a seizure?

A

A disturbance of the brain’s electrical activity that may affect consciousness, motor activity, and sensation.

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5
Q

What can cause seizures?

A

Infectious diseases, trauma, neoplasms, metabolic disorders, vascular disease, febrile, medications, idiopathic.

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6
Q

When do seizures occur?

A

When the seizure threshold is exceeded.

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7
Q

What is epilepsy?

A

Any disorder in which the patient experiences recurrent seizures.

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8
Q

Do patients with epilepsy have a higher or lower seizure threshold?

A

Lower

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9
Q

What percentage of epilepsy is idiopathic (no known cause)?

A

50%

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10
Q

What are the two categories of seizures?

A
  1. Generalized onset

2. Partial onset

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11
Q

What are generalized onset seizures?

A

Multiple foci that spread abnormal neuronal discharges across both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously.

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12
Q

What are the 4 types of generalized onset seizures?

A
  1. Tonic-clonic (motor)
  2. Absence (non-motor)
  3. Atonic (motor)
  4. Myoclonic (motor)
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13
Q

What is a tonic-clonic seizure?

A
  • loss of consciousness
  • aura
  • intense muscle contraction
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14
Q

What is another name for a tonic-clonic seizure?

A

Grand-mal

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15
Q

What is an absence seizure?

A
  • staring

- transient loss of consciousness (short time)

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16
Q

What is an atonic seizure?

A
  • stumbling or falling
  • no loss of consciousness
  • short duration
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17
Q

What is a myoclonic seizure?

A
  • no loss of consciousness
  • contraction of major muscles
  • jerky motion
18
Q

What is a partial (focal) onset seizure?

A

A seizure that usually occurs in a limited portion of the brain.

19
Q

What are the two types of partial seizures?

A
  1. Simple (focal aware)

2. Complex (focal impaired awareness)

20
Q

What are some symptoms of simple partial onset seizures?

A
  • motor: tonic, clonic, atonic, or repeated motions

- non-motor: autonomic, behavioural, cognitive, sensory, and emotional changes

21
Q

What are some symptoms of complex partial onset seizures?

A
  • altered level of consciousness, often w aura

- may be motor, sensory, and autonomic symptoms

22
Q

What are the 4 mechanisms of action for seizure medication?

A
  1. increasing the stimulation of GABA receptors
  2. reducing Na+ influx into neurons
  3. reducing Ca influx into neurons
  4. block glutamate receptors
23
Q

What are 3 classes of drugs that stimulate GABA receptors:

A
  1. Barbiturates
  2. Benzodiazepines
  3. Gabapentin
24
Q

What are barbiturates used for?

A
  • tonic-clonic seizures

- sedative, hypnotic and general anaesthetic purposes

25
Q

Name a barbiturate:

A

Pentobarb

26
Q

What are Benzodiazepines used for?

A
  • absence and myoclonic seizures

- anxioolytic and sedative

27
Q

Name a benzodiazepine:

A

Diazepam

28
Q

What is Gabapentin used for?

A

Partial Seizures

29
Q

What do GABA receptors do to vital signs?

A
  • decreased BP
  • decreased pulse
  • decreased resps
  • decreased LOC
  • vitamin deficiency (D, B12, folate)
30
Q

How do Pentobarb work?

A

It increases the activity of GABA receptors, reducing the excitability of post-synaptic neurons which increases the seizure threshold.

31
Q

What are some of the adverse effects of Pentobarb?

A
  • drowsiness, sedation, excitation (children), confusion, depression, headache
  • vitamin deficiencies, anemia
  • laryngospasm
32
Q

How do drugs that reduce Na+ influx work?

A

They desensitize Na+ channels thereby delaying opening of channels and reducing excitability of neurons.

33
Q

What class of drugs reduce Na+ influx?

A

Hydantoins

34
Q

Name a hydantoin drug:

A

Dilantin

35
Q

What is dilantin used for?

A

All seizures except absence seizures

36
Q

What are some adverse effects of Dilantin?

A
  • lethargy, drowsiness, dizziness
  • headache
  • bradycardia, hypotension
  • agranulocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
  • gingival hyperplasia
  • rashes, weight loss
  • hepatotoxicity
37
Q

Name another barbiturate?

A

Depakene

38
Q

What is Depakene used for?

A
  • absence, complex partial seizures
  • migraine headaches
  • bipolar disorder
39
Q

What are some adverse effects of Valproic Acid?

A
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, reduced appetite
  • prolonged bleeding, increased clotting times
  • headache, sedation, dizziness
40
Q

What are some serious adverse effects of Depakene?

A
  • bone marrow depression
  • photosensitivity
  • pulmonary edema
  • pancreatitis
  • hepatotoxicity

Pharmacology (8 decks)

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