Pharmacology of epilepsy

Question 1

What are the 4 drugs used to treat epilepsy?

Answer 1

Valproate

Carbamazepine

Lamotrigine

Diazepam

Question 2

What class of drug is diazepam?

Answer 2

Benzodiazepine

Question 3

Which epilepsy drug should be avoided in females of child-bearing age?

Answer 3

Valproate

Question 4

What are the 2 key side effects of antiepileptic drugs?

Answer 4

Dizziness, ataxia

Question 5

What is a key side effect and a risk of diazepam?

Answer 5

Sedation

Risk of dependency

Question 6

What is the MOA of the antiepileptic drugs?

Answer 6

Inhibition / blockage of voltage-gated sodium channels

Question 7

Which antiepileptic drug has multiple drug interactions?

Answer 7

Carbamazepine

Question 8

Which of the antiepileptic drugs has been shown to have a dual effect in reducing seizures - it also increases GABA availability?

Answer 8

Valproate

Question 9

Which drug is used to treat status epilepticus and how is it administered?

Answer 9

Diazepam - IV or rectal gel

Question 10

What is the MOA of diazepam?

Answer 10

Positive allosteric modulator - no direct activation of GABA receptors, but increase the intrinsic effect of natural GABA in the CNS