Deck 19: Drugs Used for Seizure Disorders

Question 1

For which condition may carbamazepine (Tegretol) be used?

A) Tardive dyskinesia
B) Psychotic episodes
C) Trigeminal neuralgia pain
D) Sedation

Answer 1

Trigeminal neuralgia pain

Question 2

Which is the drug of choice when treating a generalized tonic-clonic seizure?

A) Diazepam (Valium)
B) Haloperidol (Haldol)
C) Valproic acid (Depakene)
D) Risperidone (Risperdal)

Answer 2

Valproic acid (Depakene)

Question 3

The nurse is providing education to a patient recently prescribed pregabalin (Lyrica). Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further instruction?

A) "I may feel tired at first, but this should improve with continued use."
B) "Once my pain improves, I will stop taking this medication."
C) "Taking sleeping aids will increase the sedative effect of this medication."
D) "This drug may affect my mental alertness, so I need to be careful around machinery."

Answer 3

"Once my pain improves, I will stop taking this medication."

Question 4

Which is a guideline for the nurse when administering phenytoin (Dilantin) intravenously?

A) Deliver rapidly.
B) Monitor for signs of tachycardia.
C) Assess for hypertensive crisis.
D) Administer without mixing with other medications.

Question 5

Which response by the nurse is accurate when a patient who has been on lamotrigine (Lamictal) for seizure control reports a skin rash and urticaria?

A) Reassure the patient that this is a common adverse effect of the medication and not to worry.
B) Instruct the patient to discontinue use of the drug immediately.
C) Instruct the patient to decrease the dosage of the medication until the rash disappears.
D) Advise the patient that this adverse effect usually resolves but should be reported to the health care provider.

Question 6

The health care provider orders diazepam (Valium) 10 mg IV stat for a patient who was admitted with status epilepticus. What are important nursing considerations associated with administration of this medication IV? (Select all that apply.)

A) Apply a cardiac monitor to the patient to assess for continuous heart rate, if not already done.
B) Administer the prescribed dosage over 1 minute.
C) Mix diazepam in a primary IV solution to avoid overdosing.
D) Continuously assess the patient's airway.
E) Obtain the correct dose (10 mg) and administer over slow IV push.

Question 7

Which dose is within the acceptable range for administering IV phenytoin (Dilantin) to a patient with a seizure disorder?

A) 5 mg/min
B) 30 mg/min
C) 60 mg/min
D) 100 mg/min

Question 8

Which premedication assessment by the nurse is most important prior to the initiation of carbamazepine (Tegretol) therapy?

A) Determine patient's ancestry.
B) Monitor blood pressure lying, sitting, and standing.
C) Auscultate lung sounds.
D) Obtain smoking history.

Question 9

Which condition is associated with hydantoin therapy?

A) Postictal state
B) Atonia
C) Seizure threshold reduction
D) Gingival hyperplasia

Question 10

Patients taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for control of seizures must be aware of the risk for which of the following adverse effects? (Select all that apply.)

A) Blood dyscrasias
B) Hyperglycemia
C) Urinary retention
D) Gingival hyperplasia
E) Insomnia
F) Sedation

Question 11

Which condition would indicate to the nurse that a patient has phenytoin (Dilantin) toxicity?

A) Oculogyric crisis
B) Nystagmus
C) Strabismus
D) Amblyopia

Question 12

Which information would be most important for the nurse to provide to a patient when teaching about the adverse effects of succinamide therapy?

A) Nausea, vomiting, and indigestion are common during the initiation of therapy.
B) Avoid taking the medication with food or milk to minimize adverse effects.
C) Sedation, drowsiness, and dizziness tend to worsen with continued therapy.
D) Reducing the dosage of medication will relieve symptoms of nausea.

Question 13

The nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a patient with a history of diabetes who has just been diagnosed with seizure disorder. The patient has been prescribed hydantoin therapy. Which will the patient most likely experience?

A) Hunger
B) Hyperglycemia
C) Diarrhea
D) Pupil dilation

Question 14

Which medication is used to control seizures or prevent migraine headaches?

A) Topiramate (Topamax)
B) Zonisamide (Zonegran)
C) Valproic acid (Depakene)
D) Tiagabine (Gabitril)

Question 15

What is included in the nursing management of the patient with generalized tonic-clonic seizure activity? (Select all that apply.)

A) Restraining the patient's arms to avoid further injury
B) Placing padding around or under the patient's head
C) Attempting to insert a tongue depressor into the patient's mouth.
D) Positioning the patient on the side once the relaxation stage is entered to allow oral secretions to drain
E) Requesting additional assistance and/or necessary equipment in case the patient does not begin breathing spontaneously when the seizure is over

Question 16

The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient prescribed phenytoin (Dilantin) for management of a seizure disorder. Which patient statement indicates a need for further teaching?

A) "I need to avoid or limit caffeine intake."
B) "I will check with the pharmacist before taking over-the-counter medication."
C) "If I develop enlarged gums, I will stop taking the medication."
D) "It is important for me to take my medicine at the same time daily."