Pharmacology Exam 2

Question 1

Any disorder characterized by recurrent seizures

Answer 1

Epilepsy

Question 2

Clinically detectable sign of epilepsy,
is a disturbance of electrical activity in the brain that may affect consciousness, motor activity, and sensation,
caused by abnormal or uncontrolled neuronal discharges

Answer 2

Seizure

Question 3

Generalized symptoms may include blacking out, fainting spells, sensory disturbances, jerking body movements, and temporary loss of memory

Answer 3

Seizures

Question 4

Involuntary, violent spasms of large skeletal muscles such as the face, neck, arms, and legs..
some types of seizures don’t involve these

Answer 4

Convulsions

(so all convulsions are seizures, but not all seizures are convulsions) this makes a difference when prescribing drugs

Question 5

The signs you get before a seizure that let you know one is coming

Answer 5

Auras

Question 6

Prolonged seizures

Answer 6

Status epilepticus

Question 7

Severe hypertensive (high blood pressure) disorder of pregnancy,
hypertension occurs occurs around the 20th week of gestation until at least 1 week after the delivery,
characterized by seizures, coma, and perinatal mortality

Answer 7

Eclampsia

Question 8

Symptoms of this partial seizure include:
olfactory, auditory, and visual hallucinations,
intense emotions,
twitching from arms, legs, and face

Answer 8

Simple partial seizure

Question 9

Symptoms of this partial seizure include:
auras preceding the seizure,
brief periods of confusion or sleepiness afterward with no memory of seizure (postictal confusion),
fumbling with or attempting to remove clothing,
no response to verbal commands

Answer 9

Complex partial seizure (psychomotor)

Question 10

Symptoms of this generalized seizure include:
lasting only a few seconds,
seen most often in children (they stare into space, don’t respond to verbal stimulation, may have fluttering eyelids or jerking),
misdiagnosed often (especially in children) as ADD or day dreaming

Answer 10

Absence (petit mal)

Question 11

Symptoms of this generalized seizure include:
falling or stumbling for no reason,
lasting only a few seconds

Answer 11

Atonic (drop attacks)

Question 12

Symptoms of this generalized seizure include:
auras preceding the seizure,
intense muscle contraction (tonic phase) followed by alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles (clonic phase),
crying at the beginning as air leaves lungs, loss of bowel/bladder control, shallow breathing with periods of apnea, usually lasting 1-2 minutes
disorientation and deep sleep after seizure (postictial state)

Answer 12

Tonic-clonic (grand mal)

Question 13

Symptoms of this special seizure include:
tonic-clonic activity lasting 1-2 minutes,
rapid return to consciousness,
occurs in children usually between 3 mo - 5 yrs

Answer 13

Febrile seizure

Question 14

Symptoms of this special seizure include:
large jerking movements of a major muscle group, such as an arm and falling from a sitting position or dropping what is held

Answer 14

Myoclonic seizure

Question 15

Symptoms of this special seizure include:

considered a medical emergency and continuous/prolonged seizure activity occurs which can lead to coma and death

Answer 15

Status epilepticus

Question 16

Side effect of Dilantin: constant involuntary movement of the eyeball

Answer 16

Nystagmus

Question 17

Side effect of Dilantin: uncoordinated movements

Answer 17

Ataxia

Question 18

Side effect of Dilantin: when you develop more anxiety and nervousness/restlessness

Answer 18

Paradoxical nervousness

Question 19

Side effect of Dilantin: a very severe skin reaction

Answer 19

Stevens Johnson’s Syndromes

Question 20

Side effect of Dilantin: overgrowth of the gum tissue

Answer 20

Gingival hyperplasia

Question 21

Dilantin is dangerous when given through an IV so you should..

Answer 21

Give very slowly

Never give more than 50mg/minute

Question 22

A temporary episode of cerebral ischemia also known as a mini stroke

Answer 22

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Question 23

Interruption of cerebral blood flow by a clot, plaque breaking off and causing cholesterol build up, and vessels could pop
damage is permanent and cerebral aneurysms can take place

Answer 23

Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA)

Question 24

Similarities between TIA and CVA

Answer 24

Their manifestations/appearance begin the same:

muscle drooping & change in speech

Question 25

Why is it important to distinguish between TIA and CVA

Answer 25

Their treatments vary/different and drugs won't be the same for both

Question 26

How do antiseizure drugs work?

Answer 26

Once the medication is selected, the patient is put on a low dose and then the amount is slowly increased until the seizures are controlled the way the want them to be. A 2nd medication can be added but the first drug will continually discontinue or 6-12 weeks Observe for suicidal behavior **DO NOT just stop taking seizure medications because that can make the seizure worse or the patient dies

Question 27

What are the 3 general mechanisms that are used to basically prevent seizures..

Answer 27

Stimulating an influx of chloride ions (GABA) Delaying an influx of sodium (hydantoin) Delaying an influx of calcium

Question 28

What does GABA stand for?

Answer 28

Gamma-aminobutyric acid

Question 29

A disorder is characterized by a sad or despondent mood: the most common mental illness

Answer 29

Depression

Question 30

Symptoms of depression

Answer 30

``` lack of energy sleep disturbance abnormal eating patterns feelings of despair guilt hopelessness ```

Question 31

Types of depression

Answer 31

``` Major Depressive Disorder (clinical depression) Dysthymic Disorder Postpartum Depression Seasonal Affective Disorder Psychotic Depression ```

Question 32

Symptoms of ADHD

Answer 32

``` Easily distracted Failure to receive or follow instructions Inability to focus on one task at a time Difficulty remembering Frequent loss or misplacement of personal items Excessive talking and interrupting Inability to sit still Impulsiveness Sleep disturbance ```

Question 33

Can occur when the patient is taking another medication that affects the metabolism, synthesis, or reuptake of serotonin

Answer 33

Serotonin syndrome (SES)

Question 34

Episodes of depression alternating with episodes of mania

Answer 34

Bipolar Disorder

Question 35

Cultural considerations for medications

Answer 35

Antipsychotic dose may need to be decreased for Asian patients Antidepressant dose may be lower for Hispanic patients

Question 36

A severe mental disorder characterized by disordered thought processess

Answer 36

Psychosis

Question 37

When someone believes something is there when its really not

Answer 37

Hallucinations

Question 38

When someone has false beliefs, such as someone controlling their thoughts

Answer 38

Delusions

Question 39

When someone has distorted perceptions of something

Answer 39

Illusions

Question 40

When someone has the belief that someone is out to hurt them

Answer 40

Paranoia

Question 41

A type of psychosis characterized by abnormal thoughts and processes, disordered communication, withdrawal from other people and the outside environment, and a high risk for suicide appears in men around 15-24 years old appears in women around 25-34 years old

Answer 41

Schizophrenia

Question 42

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 42

Symptoms that add on to normal behavior: hallucinations delusions disorganized thought or speech patterns

Question 43

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 43

Symptoms that subtract from normal behavior: lack of interest motivations responsiveness or pleasure in daily activities *negative symptoms are harder to associate with schizophrenia because they are sometimes mistaken for depression or even laziness

Question 44

Acute dystonia

Answer 44

Severe spasms of the tongue, face, neck, and upper back Very painful Can occur days after the dose has been given

Question 45

Akathisia

Answer 45

Constant pacing and agitation, cant be still can occur 2 months from the first dose can be treated with other medications for restless behavior

Question 46

Parkinsonism

Answer 46

``` NOT parkinson's, just some of the symptoms, caused by medications having tremors, muscle rigidity, stooped posture, shuffling gate, bradykinesia, slow movements, pill rolling ```

Question 47

Tardive dyskinesia

Answer 47

Bizzare tongue and face movements such as lip smacking or wormlike motions of the tongue that occur during pharmacotherapy so try to use the lowest dose possible

Question 48

Hypotension

Answer 48

decreased blood pressure, could be orthostatic

Question 49

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Answer 49

Medical emergency that can be fatal caused by certain antipsychotic medications characterized by an extremely high body temperature, drowsiness, changing in blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and muscle rigidity

Question 50

Anticholinergic effects

Answer 50

Dry mouth and blurred vision

Question 51

Sedation

Answer 51

Depression of the CNS causing drowsiness or sleep

Question 52

Drugs administered for schizophrenia and their 3 categories

Answer 52

Antipsychotic Agents (most of these drugs bind to dopamine receptors and block the action of dopamine): Phenothiazines: more sedating Nonphenothiazines Atypical antipsychotics

Question 53

An experience characterized by unpleasant feelings, usually associated with trauma or disease

Answer 53

Pain

Question 54

More severe heaches Often occuring in women 20-30 years of age Some people have warning signs that it is about to happen Accompanied by nausea and vomiting sometimes Can't tolerate light so need to be in a dark room Lasts 4-24 hours or severeal days Dilation of blood vessels so more blood gets to your brain causing some pain

Answer 54

Migraines

Question 55

Preventative treatments for migraines

Answer 55

Beta-adrenergic blockers Anticonvulsants Tricyclic antidepressants