Deck 9: Drugs Affecting the Nervous System: Anticonvulsants and Behavior-Modifying Drugs

Question 1

Drugs that "lyse" anxiety or decrease fear responses are called:

A)antipsychotic drugs.
B)anxiolytic drugs.
C)antidepressant drugs.
D)major tranquilizers.

Answer 1

anxiolytic drugs.

Question 2

Which neurotransmitter does acepromazine antagonize to decrease anxiety in both humans and veterinary patients?

A)Seratonin
B)Dopamine
C)Glycine
D)GABA

Answer 2

Dopamine

Question 3

Which of the following classes of antidepressant medications function by modifying the activity of enzymes that are responsible for the biotransformation of neurotransmitters?

A)Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
B)Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
C)Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
D)All of the above

Answer 3

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Question 4

Plasma phenobarbital concentrations achieved with any given dose vary considerably from patient to patient. Therefore, the only way to ensure a dosage regimen is adequate is to

A)monitor the animal's behavior.
B)check blood levels of phenobarbital.
C)check frequent blood chemistry panels.
D)monitor the animal's urine output.

Question 5

Side effects of using phenobarbital to control seizure activity in dogs include

A)ataxia.
B)polyuria.
C)polyphagia.
D)All of the above

Question 6

Diazepam is a benzodiazepine tranquilizer that, in contrast to phenobarbital which is used as a long-term anti-seizure medication, is instead used as an emergency IV drug for use during an active convulsion. All of the following are characteristics of diazepam except one. Which choice is incorrect?

A)The mode of action is stimulation of GABA
B)Oral dosing is severely limited by an extensive first-pass effect
C)Tends to cause withdrawal signs after abruptly ceasing use
D)Good choice for a dog with a history of aggression that is controlled with obedience training

Question 7

Over time, barbiturate use results in upregulation of the enzymes responsible for the drug's breakdown. This phenomenon is known as enzyme __________________.

A)tolerance
B)anabolism
C)induction
D)inactivation
E)modulation

Question 8

What is the general role of the neurotransmitter serotonin?

A)Mood determinant
B)Starting material for catecholamine production
C)Central nervous system inhibition
D)Increase parasympathetic nervous system tone

Question 9

There are several mechanisms of action for behavior-modifying drugs used in veterinary medicine. Which of the following is not considered one of these mechanisms?

A)Modifying neurotransmitter release
B)Imitating a neurotransmitter in an agonistic or antagonistic manner
C)Modifying neurotransmitter duration by altering chemical breakdown capability
D)Stimulate euphoria by binding to the µ opioid receptor

Question 10

Phenobarbital induced hepatotoxicity:

A)is idiosyncratic in dogs.
B)happens more often in cats.
C)is a common occurrence.
D)causes kidney failure.

Question 11

Clomipramine's FDA-approved indication is for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders in dogs. A more common use of clomipramine in veterinary medicine is for:

A)treatment of separation anxiety.
B)treatment of depression.
C)treatment of seizures.
D)treatment of epilepsy.

Question 12

An uncommonly used unit of measurement that is often used in conjunction with barbiturates is the grain. What is the size in milligrams of a 2-grain phenobarbital tablet?

A)2 mg
B)20 mg
C)120 mg
D)200 mg

Question 13

Seizures generally originate from the brain but seizure activity can also arise from other causes. Veterinary technicians should always consider these other sources except:

A)hypoxia.
B)hypoglycemia.
C)hypocalcemia.
D)hypothermia.

Question 14

On an animal that is not responding particularly well to phenobarbital or the phenobarbital/bromide combination for long-term seizure control, all of the following drugs might be tried except:

A)Clomicalm.
B)levetricetam.
C)gabapentin.
D)zonisamide.

Question 15

What is primidone's primary mechanism of activity?

A)Directly increases activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine
B)Directly decreases the activity of the excitatory neurotransmitter norepinephrine
C)Is metabolized to phenobarbital, so functions to stimulate GABA
D)Agonism of $\alpha$ ₂-adrenergic receptors

Question 16

The drug of choice for managing seizures long term is an oral barbiturate that has the benefit of being relatively inexpensive while having an extensive half-life. What is this drug?

A)Diazepam
B)Phenobarbital
C)Xylazine
D)Potassium bromide
E)Pentobarbital

Question 17

Phenobarbital used to control seizures has a well-established therapeutic range for dogs but dosages vary widely based upon:

A)weight of the animal.
B)how the individual metabolizes the drug.
C)frequency of seizures.
D)animals age.

Question 18

________________ is the term used to describe seizure activity that is prolonged and can result in positive feedback where muscle activity increases temperature and increase seizure activity.

A)Idiopathic
B)Status epilepticus
C)Prodromal phase
D)Postictal phase

Question 19

Three classes of antidepressant drugs used in human beings have also found use in veterinary medicine include all except:

A)monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)
B)tricyclic antidepressants (TCA's)
C)selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's)
D)gamma ( $\gamma$ ) aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Question 20

Which of the following is a property of potassium bromide?

A)Half-life exceeds 3 weeks
B)Drug of choice for cats with seizures
C)Often used as the sole therapy for seizures
D)Antagonizes the effect of phenobarbital if given concurrently

Question 21

Which of the following is not a side effect of barbiturate use?

A)Polyphagia
B)Polydactyly
C)Polydipsia
D)Polyuria

Question 22

When considering neurotransmitter-modifying drugs for behavior therapy, which of the following is true?

A)Use of these drugs provides an immediate response
B)Once an effective dose is determined, no further adjustments are needed
C)Every animal responds differently to these drugs
D)Allows for optimal behavior modification without requiring training

Question 23

Potassium bromide is used as an adjunct drug for treating seizures when standard doses of barbiturates prove ineffective alone. Considering the long 3-week half-life of potassium bromide, how would you determine the length of time it takes to reach a steady state when using this drug daily?

A)10.5 days
B)21 days
C)21 weeks
D)105 days
E)201 days

Question 24

What is the portion of the brain that controls animal emotion and is thus targeted for alteration by behavior-modifying drugs?

A)Cerebrum
B)Cerebellum
C)Limbic region
D)Pituitary gland
E)Pineal gland

Question 25

In addition to treating behavioral problems, selegiline is also used to treat this condition in dogs.

A)Cushing's disease
B)Parkinson's disease
C)Pituitary dwarfism
D)Hypoadrenocorticism