Anticonvulsants

Question 1

what are anticonvulsants?

Answer 1

Drugs used to prevent seizure activity

Question 2

what is a seizure?

Answer 2

periods of altered brain function due to recurrent abnormal electrical impulses

Question 3

what is epilepsy?

Answer 3

recurrent seizures caused by a brain abnormality

Question 4

what is a convulsion?

Answer 4

seizure characterized by spastic muscle movement

Question 5

what is a partial seizure

Answer 5

animal may exhibit spastic muscle contraction in a limb, facial muscles
Grand Mal Seizure– animal unconscious, exhibits spastic muscle contraction over the entire body; salivation, chewing, defecation, urination may occur
Status Epilepticus– a continual seizure

Question 6

what may an animal experience during a partial seizure? (3)

Answer 6

hallucinations
develop apparent blindness
behavioral abnormalities

Question 7

what are the phases of seizure?

Answer 7

Preictal phase
Ictal phase
Postictal phase

Question 8

what is the preictal phase?

Answer 8

before seizure occurs

Question 9

what may the animal experience during the preictal phase?

Answer 9

pacing, panting, anxiety, apprehension

Question 10

what happens during the ictal phase?

Answer 10

seizure occurs

Question 11

how long does the ictal phase last

Answer 11

1 - 2 minutes

Question 12

what is teh postictal phase?

Answer 12

after seizure subsides

Question 13

can can the animal experience during the postictal phase

Answer 13

tired, confused, anxious

Question 14

what can be some cause of a seizure? (7)

Answer 14

1. Idiopathic
2. Hypoxemia
3. Hypoglycemia
4. Hypocalcemia
5. Toxins
6. CNS infections
7. CNS tumors

Question 15

which cause for seizures has no identafiable cause?

Answer 15

Idiopathic

Question 16

which cause of seizure is due to lack of oxygen?

Answer 16

Hypoxemia

Question 17

which cause of seizure is due to low blood sugar?

Answer 17

Hypoglycemia

Question 18

which cause of seizure is due to low calcium?

Answer 18

Hypocalcemia

Question 19

which anticonvulsant drug is the most popular anticonvulsant drug for long-term control of seizures?

Answer 19

phenobarbital

Question 20

how is pehnobarbital distributed?

Answer 20

Highly protein bound

Question 21

which dugs should phenobarbital not be given with?

Answer 21

Aspirin and sulfonamides

Question 22

where is phenobarbital metabolized?

Answer 22

liver

Question 23

how does the therapeutic dose vary?

Answer 23

between individuals

Question 24

what are some common side effect of phenobarbital? (3)

Answer 24

sedation
incoordination
lethargy

Question 25

waht are some rare side effects of phenobarbital? (2)

Answer 25

liver disease | anemia

Question 26

what should be monitored while on phenobarbital?

Answer 26

Therapeutic drug concentration

Question 27

which anticonvulsant drug is commonly used in conjunction w/ phenobarbital to control seizures?

Answer 27

potassium bromide

Question 28

which anticonvulsant has a narrow therapeutic index?

Answer 28

potassium bromide

Question 29

why does potassium bromide have a narrow therapeutic index?

Answer 29

Concentration for control is very close to the toxic level

Question 30

what can be seen with potassium bromide toxicity? (2)

Answer 30

GI irritation | sedation seen

Question 31

how is potassium bromide eliminated?

Answer 31

kidney

Question 32

what form is potassium bromide avaiable in?

Answer 32

Available as a powder that is mixed w/ dextrose or corn syrup for oral administration

Question 33

what should be monitored while on potassium bromide?

Answer 33

Loading dose and therapeutic drug concentration

Question 34

what is the drug of choice for emergency treatment of convulsing animals?

Answer 34

Diazepam

Question 35

what route of administration is diazepam given to produce effective results?

Answer 35

intravenously

Question 36

how is diazepam metabolized by the liver?

Answer 36

rapidly

Question 37

how long is the duration of diazepam?

Answer 37

Short

Question 38

what is the effect like when giving diazepam orally?

Answer 38

Poor

Question 39

what can diazepam be used to help treat in cats? (3)

Answer 39

1. appetite stimulant 2. urine marking 3. anxiety

Question 40

what anticonvulsant can be used on dogs (cats) when phenobarbital and/or potassium bromide aren’t controlling seizures adequately?

Answer 40

Levetiracetam (Keppra)

Question 41

what anticonvulsant is used on dogs with refractory seizure activity?

Answer 41

Zonisamide

Question 42

what is primidone metabolized into by the liver?

Answer 42

phenobarbital

Question 43

which anticonvulsant is a human drug, seldom used in animals?

Answer 43

Phenytoin

Question 44

how is phenytoin absorbed?

Answer 44

Poorly from GI tract

Question 45

how is phenytoin metabolized?

Answer 45

quickly

Question 46

what is a possible concern with taking phenytoin?

Answer 46

Hepatoxicity

Question 47

what does doxapram do?

Answer 47

Stimulates the respiratory center in the brainstem

Question 48

when is doxapran used?

Answer 48

Used to counteract apnea, slow breathing

Question 49

what medical consideration should doxapram not be used?

Answer 49

animals prone to seizures