week 6 Flashcards
what are antiepileptics?
antiseizure agents
what is a generalized seizure?
seizure that begins in one area of brain and rapidly spreads throughout both hemispheres
what is a partial seizure?
involve one area of brain that do not spread throughout entire organ
what condition involves seizures rapidly recurring?
Status epilepticus
what happens during absence seizures?
sudden, temporary loss of consciousness, sometimes with staring or blinking for 3-5 seconds
what is a convulsion?
tonic-clonic muscular reaction to excessive electrical energy arising from nerve cells in brain
what is the collection of various syndromes, all characterized by seizures
Epilepsy
muscular reactions and loss of consciousness; with exhaustion and little memory of the event
Tonic-clonic
how do Antiepileptic Drugs
work?
They suppress discharge of the neurons and stop spread of seizure activity to other areas of the brain
what things should be avoided when taking AEDS?
alcohol and other CNS depressants because of additive effects
what can happen with sudden withdrawal of AEDS?
may precipitate seizures and status epilepticus
levels of what need to be monitored with patients taking AEDS?
plasma drug levels
if a patient is on more than 1 AEDS how will should they go off the drug?
one at a time
drug of choice for status epilepticus
IV benzodiazepine drug - lorazepam
what to check for in children after controlling the seizure
fever
