Sweatman - Epilepsy Drugs Flashcards
Which anti-convulsant should NOT be used in pregnant women?
- Valproic acid
- With women of child-bearing age, should be concerned about whether or not they are pregnant when you initiate therapy
What is fetal hydantoin syndrome?
- Gp of defects to fetus via teratogenic effects of Phenytoin or Carbamazepine
- Intrauterine growth restriction w/small head (microcephaly) and minor dysmorphic craniofacial features + limb defects (skeletal malformations particular to fingers/hands, incl. hypoplastic nails of fingers and/or toes)
- May have developmental delay, intellectual disability
- Heart defects and cleft lip may also be seen
What is the 1st-line drug for acute, prolonged epileptic crisis?
- Lorazepam
- NOTE: while you control epilepsy with subsequent drugs, their physico-chemical characteristics are that they cannot be given as a bolus, and you want to terminate the epileptic rxn now
7-y/o child w/o any hx of brain damage, but who had mild speech delay and hyperkinesia started having brief episodes of fixed gaze and falls. In sleep, the parents observed tonic fits. Which of the following is most appropriate to tx this pt?
- Valproate
- He said this is absence?
What drug can elicit gingival hyperplasia as a symptom?
- Phenytoin
- NOTE: Cyclosporine, dihydropyridine Ca-channel blockers can also cause this (i.e., Nifedipine)
What drug is used in tx of epilepsy that works by INH Ca channels?
- Gabapentin (alpha-2-delta-1 subunit)
- NOTE: Pregabalin (alpha-2-delta-1 subunit), Oxcarbazepine (possibly), and Zonisamide (Type-T) also do this
What is the MOA of Valproate?
- INH the breakdown of GABA, INC its time in the synaptic cleft —> slightly unusual MOA
What drug gets dose adjusted over time to maintain appropriate serum levels?
- Carbamezepine bc it induces its own metabolis via CYP -> activity reaches a pt where it’s maximally induced, so you don’t keep INC dose
- Phenytoin also a self-inducer, but may not be as much as Carbamezepine
Metabolic acidosis secondary to AED tx is most likely to occur with which drug?
- Topiramate: INH carbonic anhydrase, so bicarb retained in urine flow
- Can also get formation of kidney stones
Which drug exhibits zero-order kinetics?
- Phenytoin
- Linear elimination: constant amt eliminated per unit time, so half-life changes as you INC dose
- NOTE: high-dose ASA also exhibits zero-order kinetics
Routine CBC reveals neutrophil count of <0.5 x 10^9/L; what is the most likely causative agent?
Carbamazepine
57-y/o woman being tx’d for epilepsy has petechiae on lower legs and a number of recent bruises. What drug is she on?
- Valproic acid: can cause thrombocytopenia
For which pt would HLA-B genotyping be prudent if considering Carbamazepine therapy?
Asian
56-y/o man with epilepsy complains of weakness, SOB on exertion. He is tachycardic, with pale skin. What AED is he on?
- He is anemic
- He is taking Felbamate
What is the pro-drug for Phenytoin?
Fosphenytoin
What 2 drugs share the same pharmacology as Valproate?
- Divalproex
- Valproic acid
What is the drug list for anti-convulsants (table)?
What are the seizure classifications (table)?
- Many of the drugs have specific indications in regards to types of seizures they are used to treat
- This relates underlying pathophys of seizure and MOA of respective drug
What is the pathophys of seizures?
- Start discretely, then spread to neighboring regions
- High-frequency bursts of AP’s: influx of EC Ca, then depolarization = activation of voltage-dependent Na channels, generating repetitive AP’s
- Hypersynchronization: hyperpolarizing after-potential via GABA receptors or K+ channels
- Surrounding (normally) INH neurons opposed by:
1. INC in EC K+
2. Ca in presynaptic terminals -> INC NT release
3. Activation of NMDA excitatory neurons
4. Cell swelling, and changes in tissue osmolarity
What are the 3 MOA’s of the anti-convulsants? How do these vary by seizure type?
- PARTIAL and SECONDARILY GENERALIZED tonic-clonic seizures:
1. Limit sustained, repetitive firing of neurons by promoting inactivated state of voltage-gated Na channels (MOA of local anesthetics)
2. Pre- or post-synaptic enhancement of GABA-mediated synaptic INH via pre- or post-synaptic action - ABSENCE seizures: INH of voltage-activated Ca channels responsible for T-type Ca currents
Which drugs target voltage-gated Na+ channels? How does this MOA work?
-
Prolong inactivation of Na+ channels, reducing ability of neurons to fire at high frequencies (LVZ - PCT)
1. Bind to specific components of Na channel, preventing action, even in presence of membrane depolarization - Multimeric transmembrane-spanning channel complex normally exists in closed state -> when the membrane is depolarized, various subunits rapidly reconfigure to open ion channel to free mvmt of Na+
1. Almost immediately, inactivation gate swings across open pore to rapidly terminate ion passage
2. Normally, various components reconfigure into closed, but activatable state
Which anti-convulsants enhance GABA action? How?
- Several mechanisms, but all produce greater quantum yield of GABA release w/e/neuronal impulse:
1. Benzodiazepines/barbiturates bind separately at sites on multimeric ion channel complex to modulate activity of endogenous GABA (post-syn)
2. Gabapentin acts pre-syn to promote GABA release
3. Vigabatrin and Valproate reduce metabolism of GABA - NOTE: GABA is principle INH NT in the brain
Which drugs act via Ca-channel blockade? How?
- Reduce flow of Ca through T-type Ca channels
- Reduce pacemaker current underlying thalamic rhythm in spikes and waves seen in generalized ABSENCE seizures
- Both Na- and Ca-channel blockers diminish effects of glutamate, the principal stimulatory NT in the brain
How do AED’s affect the high-frequency firing characteristic of seizures?
- Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, and sodium valproate all markedly reduced number of AP’s elicited by current pulses -> diminish atypical neuronal activity, reducing seizure activity, as seen on an EEG
- NOTE: in absence of drug, a series of high-frequency AP’s filled entire duration of current pulse
What psych concern should you be conscious of with all of the anti-convulsants? How can you monitor this?
- Suicidal ideation: INC incidence, according to FDA
- According to clinical trials, behavioral effect observed 1-24 weeks after starting drug
- MONITOR all pts for emerging or worsening depression or suicidial thoughts/behavior
1. Educate pts/caregivers about risks, and advise to immediately report emergence of worsening of depression, suicidal, or self-harm thoughts/beh - Minimally effective drug levels should be used
How effective are current anti-convulsants?
- Current drugs control seizures in ONLY 50% of pts, with another 25% helped somewhat
- AE’s vary from minimal impairment to death from aplastic anemia or hepatic failure
1. Can limit pt adherence, and be responsible for tx discontinuation
What are 2 clinical guidelines for anti-convulsant therapy?
- 1) Use single-agent therapy; substitution preferred with Rx failure, rather than additive tx
- 2) # of these drugs require monitoring of serum drug level, but these levels provide only guidance; clinical assessment of effect vs. toxicity is paramount
What is the MOA of Carbamazepine?
INH Na+ channels
What is the MOA of Clonazepam?
GABA allosteric agonist
What is the MOA of Ethosuximide?
INH T-type Ca channels
What is the MOA of Felbamate?
INH NMDA; enhance GABA
What is the MOA of Gabapentin?
INH alpha-2-delta-1 subunit of Ca channel
What is the MOA of Lacosamide?
INH Na+ channels
What is the MOA of Lamotrigine?
INH Na+ channels
What is the MOA of Levetiracetam?
Unknown
What is the MOA of Oxcarbazepine?
INH Na+; possible INC K+ and DEC Ca effects
What is the MOA of Phenytoin?
INH Na+ channels