The Nervous System Drugs for Seizures

Question 1

A patient is prescribed carbamazepine (Tegretol).

For which type of seizure should the nurse monitor this patient?
a) Mixed seizure patterns
b) Absence seizures
c) Status epilepticus
d) Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

Answer 1

a) Mixed seizure patterns

Question 2

A patient has multiple seizures with mixed patterns of activity and recovery.

Which medication should the nurse anticipate being prescribed for this patient?
a) Methsuximide (Celontin)
b) Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)
c) Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
d) Phenytoin (Dilantin)

Answer 2

c) Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

Question 3

A patient who has been taking an antiepileptic drug (AED) for several years wants to stop taking the medication.

Which response should the nurse provide?
a) “Your medication can be stopped because you have been seizure free for a year.”
b) “Your medication must be withdrawn slowly over a period of 6 to 12 weeks.”
c) “Your medication can be withdrawn over a 4-week period.”
d) “Your medication cannot be discontinued. Once you start an antiepileptic medication, you will be on it for the rest of your life.”

Answer 3

b) “Your medication must be withdrawn slowly over a period of 6 to 12 weeks.”

Question 4

The nurse is asked to explain the use of phenytoin (Dilantin) to treat seizures.

Which information should the nurse include when explaining the mechanism of action?
a) It depresses the motor cortex by inhibiting the influx of calcium.
b) It enhances the action of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which inhibits abnormal neuronal discharges.
c) It increases the amount of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which suppresses abnormal neuron discharges.
d) It suppresses seizure activity by delaying the influx of sodium.

Answer 4

d) It suppresses seizure activity by delaying the influx of sodium.

Question 5

A patient is diagnosed with postherpetic neuralgia.

Which antiepileptic drug (AED) should the nurse anticipate being prescribed for this patient?
a) Gabapentin (Neurontin)
b) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
c) Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
d) Valproic acid

Answer 5

a) Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Question 6

A patient is taking ethosuximide (Zarontin) for absence seizures.

Which adverse effect should the nurse instruct the patient to report while taking this medication?
a) Hypertension
b) Diplopia
c) Suicidal ideation
d) Heart block

Answer 6

c) Suicidal ideation

Question 7

A patient taking a hydantoin for seizure activity develops a red-purple skin rash with blisters that appears to look like sunburn.

Which adverse effect should the nurse identify?
a) Systemic lupus erythematosus
b) Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)
c) Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
d) Common rash

Answer 7

b) Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)

Question 8

A patient is taking valproic acid for a seizure disorder.

Which disorder should the nurse expect this patient to have?
a) Tonic-clonic seizures
b) Febrile seizures
c) Atonic seizures
d) Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

Answer 8

d) Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

Question 9

A patient is prescribed a barbiturate to control seizure activity.

For which medication should the nurse prepare teaching for this patient?
a) Phenobarbital
b) Clonazepam
c) Diazepam
d) Gabapentin

Answer 9

a) Phenobarbital

Question 10

A patient is prescribed phenytoin (Dilantin) for tonic-clonic seizures.

Which adverse effect should the nurse instruct the patient to report?
a) Blisters that ooze and weep and form hard plaques
b) Painful rash in a linear pattern
c) Red or purple skin rash with possible blisters and sunburn
d) Redness, dilated blood vessels, papules, and pustules on the face

Answer 10

c) Red or purple skin rash with possible blisters and sunburn

Question 11

A patient is diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Which medication should the nurse expect to be prescribed?
a) Dibenzazepine
b) Valproic acid
c) Succinimide
d) Barbiturate

Answer 11

b) Valproic acid

Question 12

A pregnant patient with no history of epilepsy or a seizure disorder is treated after having a seizure.

For which health problem should the nurse assess this patient?
a) Primidone (Mysoline)
b) Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)
c) Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
d) Valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene, Depakote)

Answer 12

d) Valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene, Depakote)

Question 13

A patient has a new onset of a seizure disorder.

Which step should the nurse take first when assessing this patient?
a) Identify the cause of the seizure.
b) Monitor for seizure activity.
c) Start antiepileptic drug therapy.
d) Teach strict medication adherence.

Answer 13

a) Identify the cause of the seizure.

Question 14

A patient is diagnosed with atonic seizures.

For which manifestation should the nurse assess this patient?
a) Seizures lasting more than 30 minutes
b) Sudden bending forward
c) Loss of muscle control and randomly falling
d) Repetitive movements

Answer 14

c) Loss of muscle control and randomly falling

Question 15

A pregnant patient with no history of epilepsy or a seizure disorder is treated after having a seizure.

For which health problem should the nurse assess this patient?
a) Eclampsia
b) Brain tumor
c) Meningitis
d) Hypoxia

Answer 15

a) Eclampsia

Question 16

The teacher of a school-age patient taking an antiepileptic drug (AED) reports hyperactive behavior in the classroom.

Which class of medication should the nurse suspect this patient is taking?
a) Benzodiazepine
b) Barbiturate
c) Succinimide
d) Hydantoin

Answer 16

b) Barbiturate

Question 17

The nurse is preparing a presentation on seizure disorders.

Which information should the nurse include?
a) The term epilepsy is used to describe any seizure activity.
b) Tonic-clonic seizures last a few seconds.
c) Partial seizures have no aura.
d) Seizures are caused by abnormal or uncontrolled neuronal discharges.

Answer 17

d) Seizures are caused by abnormal or uncontrolled neuronal discharges.

Question 18

The nurse is teaching a patient about strategies to monitor the effectiveness of a prescribed antiepileptic drug (AED).

Which information should the nurse include?
a) “Keep a diary of pertinent information regarding type, length, and frequency of seizure activity.”
b) “If you miss a dose, you should take an extra dose to maintain therapeutic levels.”
c) “It is fine to take any over-the-counter pain relievers if you need them.”
d) “Do not worry about any laboratory values. Your medication does not require it.”

Answer 18

a) “Keep a diary of pertinent information regarding type, length, and frequency of seizure activity.”

Question 19

A patient is experiencing seizures due to alcohol withdrawal.

Which benzodiazepine should the nurse recognize as a possible treatment for this patient?
a) Zonisamide (Zonegran)
b) Tiagabine (Gabitril)
c) Diazepam (Valium)
d) Pregabalin (Lyrica)

Answer 19

c) Diazepam (Valium)

Question 20

An adult patient newly diagnosed with a seizure disorder is prescribed an antiepileptic drug (AED).

Which laboratory test result should the nurse monitor while the patient is taking this medication?
a) Urinalysis
b) Liver and kidney function
c) Prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR)
d) Hemoglobin and hematocrit

Answer 20

b) Liver and kidney function

Question 21

A patient is experiencing agitation from severe dementia.

Which medication should the nurse suspect may be prescribed for this patient?
a) Lorazepam (Ativan)
b) Diazepam (Valium)
c) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
d) Valproic acid (Depakene)

Answer 21

d) Valproic acid (Depakene)

Question 22

The nurse teaches a patient about a prescribed antiepileptic drug.

Which patient statement indicates the need for additional teaching?
a) “If I miss a dose, I can take a double dose the next time.”
b) “I should take my medication at the same time every day.”
c) “If it causes my stomach to be upset, I can take my medication with food.”
d) “I should report any adverse effects I am experiencing to my healthcare provider.”

Answer 22

a) “If I miss a dose, I can take a double dose the next time.”

Question 23

The nurse notes that a patient is prescribed phenobarbital.

Which health problem should the nurse expect to be documented in the patient’s medical record?
a) Schizophrenia
b) Depression
c) Seizure disorder
d) Bipolar disorder

Answer 23

c) Seizure disorder

Question 24

The nurse is assessing a patient taking a benzodiazepine for seizure activity.

For which finding should the nurse immediately contact the healthcare provider?
a) Lethargy
b) Eye pain
c) Drowsiness
d) Ataxia

Answer 24

b) Eye pain

Question 25

A patient is diagnosed with status epilepticus.

Which finding should the nurse expect to assess in this patient?
a) A high fever
b) Seizures that are hard to notice
c) Facial twitching
d) Continuous seizure activity

Answer 25

d) Continuous seizure activity

Question 26

A patient taking an antiepileptic drug (AED) learns of being pregnant.

Which adverse effect should be a concern for the nurse?
a) Neural tube defect in the fetus
b) Placenta previa
c) Preterm labor
d) Cephalopelvic disproportion

Answer 26

a) Neural tube defect in the fetus

Question 27

A patient is prescribed phenytoin (Dilantin) for complex partial seizures.

Which patient statement should indicate that teaching about this medication was effective?
a) “I will take with milk to avoid gastrointestinal upset.”
b) “If I miss a dose, it is OK to take an extra dose.”
c) “I will take my medication at the same time every day.”
d) “I can take my digoxin at the same time as my phenytoin.”

Answer 27

c) “I will take my medication at the same time every day.”

Question 28

A patient recovering from an infection-induced seizure asks how a person “gets” epilepsy.

Which response should the nurse make?
a) “Epilepsy has one known specific cause.”
b) “Epileptic seizures are often symptoms of an underlying disease.”
c) “Epilepsy occurs in individuals with hyperglycemia.”
d) “Epilepsy is caused by hypernatremia.”

Answer 28

b) “Epileptic seizures are often symptoms of an underlying disease.”

Question 29

Which of the following is the Intermost structure surrounding the CNS?
1. Pia mater
2. Dura mater
3. Arachnoid
4. Subdural space

Answer 29

1. Pia mater

Question 30

A patient with right sided sciatica would most likely have degenerative changes causing mass effect at which level of the spine?
1. T12-L1
2. C8-T1
3. L1-L2
4. L4-L5

Answer 30

4. L4-L5

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a cause of a seizure?
1. Encephalitis
2. Hypothyroidism
3. Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
4. Brain tumor

Answer 31

2. Hypothyroidism

Question 32

Which of the following seizure medications activates GABA?
1. Phenytoin
2. Valproic Acid
3. Topiramate
4. Carbamazepine

Answer 32

3. Topiramate