Ch. 14- Antiepileptic Drugs Flashcards
(34 cards)
What is a seizure vs. a convulsion?
A seizure is a brief episode of abnormal electrical activity in nerve cells of the brain, which may or may not lead to convulsion.
A convulsion is more severe seizure characterized by involuntary spasmodic contractions of any or all voluntary muscles throughout the body
What percentage of patients with epilepsy have normal EEGs?
50%
What age groups does epilepsy appear the most in?
Children and older adults
What is primary epilepsy?
Epilepsy without an identifiable cause
How much of the epilepsy population has primary epilepsy?
50%
What is secondary epilepsy?
There is a distinct cause, such as trauma, infection, cerebrovascular disorder, or other illness
What are febrile seizures?
Occur in children six months to five years of age, and by definition are caused by fever
In adults, what is the most common cause of secondary epilepsy?
Brain disorders- head injury, disease or infection of brain/spinal cord, stroke, metabolic disorders, adverse drug reactions
What are the three major classifications of seizures?
Partial onset, generalized onset, and underclassified seizures
What are generalized onset seizures?
Characterized by neuronal activity that originates simultaneously in the gray matter (cerebral cortex) of BOTH HEMISPHERES
What are tonic-clonic seizures?
Begin with muscular contraction throughout the body (tonic phase), and progress to alternating contraction and relaxation (clonic phase)
What are tonic seizures?
Involve spasms of the upper trunk with flexion of the arms
What are clonic seizures?
Same as tonic-clonic but without the tonic
What are atonic seizures?
AKA drop attacks. Sudden global muscle weakness and syncope (fainting)
What are myoclonic seizures?
Brief muscular jerks, not as extreme
What are absence seizures?
Brief loss of awareness that commoly occurs with repetitive spasmodic eye blinking for up to 30 seconds–primarily in childhood, rarely after age 14
What are partial onset seizures?
Originate in a localized or focal region of the brain
What are simple partial onset seizures?
Brief loss of awareness but without loss of consciousness or spasmodic eye blinking
What are complex partial onset seizures?
Level of consciousness is reduced but is not completely lost
What are secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures?
When partial onset seizures progress to generalized tonic-clonic seizures
What is postictal confusion?
The confused mental state that follows seizure activity
What are unclassified seizures?
Those that do not fit into any particular category
What is status epilepticus?
Multiple seizures occur with no recovery between them. If not treated immediately, hypotension, hypoxia, brain damage, and death can ensue. Medical emergency
How long is a person usually on antiepileptic drugs?
Their whole life
