LO 16-17 Flashcards
Anticonvulasants and psychotherapeutics (59 cards)
Describe Epilepsy
- group of disorders characterized by recurrent seizures caused by electrical activity in the brain that can be recorded via an electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Can be localized or generalized
- 1% of the population
List the possible causes of epilepsy
- Idiopathic: most common
- Genetic or birth influences
- Cancer
- Trauma, Infection
- circulatory disturbances, metabolic or nutritional alterations
- toxicity to exogenous agents, degenerative diseases
Describe the 2 major groups of Epilepsy and their sub-types
- Partial: simple and complex attacks
- Generalized seizures: tonic-clonic and absence seizures
Describe auras that occur before seizures
- The patient may experience an aura before the onset of the seizure
- May be characterized by numbness, nausea, or unusual sensitivity to light, odor, or sound
- Service dogs can detect aura (when the person can’t)
Describe Partial (Focal) Epilepsies
- Partial epilepsies involve activation of only part of the brain, and the location of the activity determines the clinical manifestations
- Simple attack: consciousness is not impaired
- Complex attack: consciousness is impaired - Also called: psychomotor or temporal-lobe seizures
Describe Generalized: Absence Seizures (Petit Mal)
- brief, complete loss of consciousness with characteristic EEG waves and little movement
- Absence seizures usually begin during childhood and disappear during middle age
- The patient is usually unaware that these seizures are occurring, and body tone is not lost
- No aura
Describe Generalized: Tonic-Clonic Seizures (Grand Mal)
- longer periods of loss of consciousness and major motor activity of the large muscles of the body - jerking
- The seizure begins by the body becoming rigid and the patient falling to the floor
- Tonic rigidity is followed by clonic (spasm/rhythmic) jerking of the face, limbs, and body
- Finally, the patient becomes limp and comatose
- Consciousness gradually returns with postictal (altered state of consciousness): confusion, headache, and drowsiness
- Foaming around the mouth
Describe Status Epilepticus
Status epilepticus seizures are continuous tonic-clonic seizures that last longer than 30 minutes or recur before the end of the postictal period of the previous seizure
What are the general adverse reactions of epilepsy medication?
- Narrow TI
- CNS - depressants, tolerance, behaviour changes such as hyperactivity and sedation
- GI - upset stomach - take with food
- Withdrawal - gradual, otherwise seizure precipitate
- Renal & Hepato - liver microsomal enzymes STIMULATORS. Resulting in the decrease effect of some drugs; Toxicity
- Teratogenic - likely to cause fetal anomalies
- Oral - gingival hyperplasia, xerostomia, increase bleeding
- Idiosyncratic - Stevens- Johnson’s like lesions; lupus-like symptoms
What drugs do epilepsy medications tend to react with?
- opioids
- alcohol
- anti-anxiety
- antipsychotics
- antidepressants
- Other anticonvulsants
- NSAIDs
What is the trade name for phenytoin and what type of drug is it?
- Dilantin
- quinidine-like anti-arrhythmic - epilepsy med
List the adverse reactions of phenytoin/Dilantin
- gingival hyperplasia
- oral ulcers
- dizziness/insomnia
- lupus-like symptoms
- Stevens-Johnson-like symptoms
- Fetal hydantoin syndrome - microcephaly and mental retardation
Other than epilepsy, what is phenytoin/Dilantin used in the treatment of?
Trigeminal neuralgia
What is the trade name for carbamazepine and what type of drug is it?
- Tegretol
- Related to TCA Na+ Ch. blocker
What are the adverse reactions of carbamazepine/Tegretol
- Caries - esp. children b/c of sugar content
- Xerostomia (anticholinergic)
- Glossitis
- Fatal blood dyscrasias
Other than epilepsy, what is carbamazepine/Tegretol used in the treatment of?
- Bipolar
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Migraines
What is the trade name for valproic acid?
Depakote
What are the adverse reactions for valproic acid/Depakote?
- Increase bleeding
- Sedation/drowsiness
- Teratogenic
What should valproic acid/Depakote NEVER be mixed with?
NEVER mix w/ Warfarin & Aspirin/ASA
What barbiturate is used in the treatment of epilepsy?
Pheno-barbital
What are the adverse reactions of Pheno-barbital?
- Sedation
- Skin reactions
What Benzo-diazepine is used in the treatment of epilepsy?
Clonazepam - used as an adjunct to treat absence seizures
Describe the Non-seizure Uses of Anticonvulsants
- Neurologic Pain - Several anticonvulsants are used to manage chronic pain syndromes
- Psychiatric Use - Carbamazepine, valproic acid, clonazepam, and gabapentin have been used in the treatment of certain mental disorders. They can be used to “level out” (stabilize) the mood in patients with bipolar disorder
Which 2 anticonvulsants can also be used to treat trigeminal neuralgia?
- phenytoin/Dilantin
- carbamazepine/Tegretol