Deck 9: Antiepileptic Drugs

Question 1

Barbiturates are considered to be very safe and effective in the treatment of seizures,but their use is often limited because of their strong tendency to produce

A) sedation
B) myopathy
C) cardiac dysrhythmias
D) hair loss
E) glaucoma

Answer 1

sedation

Question 2

It appears that antiseizure medications can be successfully discontinued in a large percentage of people with seizure disorders,especially if these patients

A) have been free of seizures for at least 2 years while on medications
B) have a normal neurologic examination prior to withdrawal
C) were relatively young when the seizures started
D) all the above are true
E) antiseizure drugs can never be discontinued under any circumstances

Answer 2

all the above are true

Question 3

Neuropathic pain and certain other chronic pain syndromes may respond to treatment with _____,presumably because these drugs reduce excitation in specific pain pathways in the CNS.

A) amphetamines such as dextroamphetamine
B) antiseizure drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica)
C) anticholinergic drugs such as atropine
D) all the above
E) none of the above

Answer 3

antiseizure drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica)

Question 4

Newer or "second-generation" antiseizure drugs are helpful in treating certain patients because

A) newer agents generally have milder side effects than traditional antiseizure drugs
B) newer agents have favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and so forth)
C) newer agents can be combined with a traditional antiseizure drug to provide adequate seizure control in patients who did not respond to a single traditional antiseizure agent
D) all the above are true
E) none of the above are true

Question 5

Antiseizure drugs attempt to control neuronal activity via all of the following mechanisms EXCEPT

A) decreasing the effects of excitatory amino acids (glutamate, aspartate)
B) increasing the excitatory effects of acetylcholine in the CNS
C) decreasing sodium entry into rapidly firing neurons
D) increasing the inhibitory effects of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)
E) decreasing the excitatory effects of calcium ions in the CNS

Question 6

Benzodiazepines such as clonazepam (Klonopin)are effective in controlling certain seizures because they increase the inhibitory effects of ______ in the CNS.

A) norepinephrine
B) acetylcholine
C) serotonin
D) dopamine
E) gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA)