Antiepileptic drugs Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is a seizure?
A seizure is a brief episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that may or may not klead to convulsion
What is a convulsion?
A convulsion is involuntary contracitions of voluntary muscles in the body
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is chronic reccurance of seizures
What are the two types of epilepsy and what is their difference?
There is primary (Idiopathic) and secondary (symptomatic). The difference is primary has no known cause and secondary has a direct cause
What is status epilepticus and what is the main treatment for this?
This is multiple seizures that are 5 minutes or longer. The drug of choice is diazepam
What are the goals of therapy for antiepileptic drugs?
To control and prevent seizures to improve patient quality of life
What drug serum concentrations correlate better with seizure control and toxicity?
Phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and primidone
What are the drugs phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbemazepine, and primidone work better than?
Valporic acid, ethosuximide, and clonazepam
What are the 4 types of drugs used to treat epilepsy?
Barbiturates, hydantoins, iminostilbenes plus valporic acid, and second or third generation antiepileptics
What are the pharmacological effects of antiepileptic drugs?
They reduce nerve stimulation, suppress transmission of impulse, and decrease speed of nerve impulse
What has to happen when dverse effects occur with antiepileptic drugs?
There will be a change in drugs
What are the main contraindications for antiepileptic drugs?
Drug allergy, pregnancy,
What is a serious phenytoin drug interaction?
It increases free Phenytoin might increase free warfarin levels which increases likelihood of bleeding
What is a drug interaction of carbamazepine
It increase the metabolism of acetaminophen
What is a drug interaction for aspirin?
Aspirin displaces valporic acid from protein binding which increases levels and toxic risk
Why do we need lab monitoring for antiepile[tic drugs?
Because these drugs have a narrow therapuetic index
Which antiepileptic drugs especially need lab drug monitoring?
Pheytoin, phenobarbital, valporic acid, and carbamazepine
What are barbiturate examples and what is its adverse effect?
Primidone which is a prodrug turned into phenobarbital. Its adverse effect is sedation
What are hydantoins diluted in and what is used for them. WHat is the example of hydantoins
Hydantoins (phenytoin) is diluted in normal saline and filtered
What is ethosuximide?
This is a drug used in the treatment of uncomplicated absence seizures
What is gabapentin?
It is an antiepileptic drug that mimics GABA
What is valproic acid and what does it interact with?
Valproic acid is a drug that is used for absence and myoclonic seizures. It has a drug interaction with aspirin
What is levetiracetam used to treat?
Focal seizures
What is an important interaction for carbamazepine
Grapefruit juice
