Drugs For Seizures Flashcards
Seizure Definition
Electrical disturbances in the brain which affect consciousness, motor activity, and sensation
Can occur in one area=focus
Epilepsy
Any disorder w/ recurrent sizures
Convulsions
Involuntary muscle spasms
All convulsions are sz but not vice versa
Causes of Seizures
Metabolic disorders Infectious diseases Truama Vascular diseases Pediatric disorders/disease Neoplastic disease
Sz drugs can interfere with hormonal contraception T/F
True
Generalized Seizures
Absence-few sec/ day dreaming
Atonic-few sec/ stumbling for no reason
Tonic-clonic- aura preceding/ intense muscle contraction(tonic) followed by alternating contrqction/ relaxation (clonic) - deep sleep after
Special Syndromes (Seizures)
Febrile seizure- pediatric seizure due to rapid inc of body temp.
Myclonic seizure- large jerking movements
Status epilepticus- med emergency/ can lead to death
Epilepsy Treatment
Start with low dose and work up to efficacy to avoid and monitor toxicity
Must taper on/off
Action Potential Review
Depolarization- Na+ into neuron
Repolarization- K+ out of neuron
Hyperpolarization- either neg ions(Cl-) flow into neuron or too many positive (K+) flow out
Anti-epileptic/antiseizure MOA
Inc Cl- influx (chloride channel agonist) -GABA receptors open Cl- channels/ “pumps the brakes”
Dec Na+ influx (Na+ channel antagonist)- “slow down acceleration”
Block glutamate (glutamate antagonist) which prevents influx of positive ions
Block Ca+ influx (Ca channel blocker) prevent vesicle fusion/release of neurotransmitters
Major exitatory neurotransmitter in CNS
Glutamate
Non-Drug approach to Epilepsy
Ketogenic diet
Antiseizure Drugs
Barbiturates Benzodiazepines GABA potentiators Hydantoins Phenytoin-related
Barb- Phenobarbital (Luminal) MoA
GABA receptor agonist/inc chloride influx
CNS depressant
Benzo- diazepam(Valium)
Lorazepam(Ativan) MoA
GABA chloride channel agonists/hyperpolarize neuron to prevent AP
CNS depressant
