Deck 14: Drugs for Seizures

Question 1

A client is taking carbamazepine (Tegretol).What type of seizure activity does the nurse anticipate this client has experienced?
1)Tonic-clonic seizure
2)Absence seizure
3)Simple partial seizure
4)Febrile seizure

Answer 1

1

Question 2

A female client taking phenytoin (Dilantin)has notified the nurse that she is pregnant.The nurse knows that phenytoin (Dilantin)belongs to which pregnancy category?
1)A
2)B
3)C
4)D

Answer 2

4

Question 3

A client with a history of seizures is taking phenytoin (Dilantin).Based on this medication prescription,what are adverse effects the nurse should teach the client?
1)Weight gain,back pain,and headaches
2)Hypertension,bradycardia,and vomiting
3)Confusion,slurred speech,and insomnia
4)Constipation,rashes,and seizures

Answer 3

3

Question 4

The choice of drug for epilepsy pharmacology is determined upon assessment of the client.Once a medication is selected,what type of dose is the client placed on?
1)Bolus dose
2)Life dose
3)Maximum dose
4)Low initial dose

Question 5

A client complains of gingival hypertrophy and weight loss.The nurse knows that this patient has a history of absence seizures.What drug is most likely responsible for the client's pathophysiological process?
1)Phenytoin (Dilantin)
2)Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
3)Phenobarbital (Luminal)
4)Methsuximide (Celontin)

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with complex partial seizures.Which symptoms would the client be likely to experience with a complex partial seizure? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)The client stumbles and falls for no apparent reason.
2)A period of brief confusion following the seizure.
3)Seizure is preceded by an aura.
4)The client experiences alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles.
5)A period of brief somnolence following the seizure.

Question 7

An accident victim who presented to the Emergency Department 8 hours earlier begins having seizures.Toxicology reports indicate an abnormally high blood alcohol level.Based on this information,what drug does the nurse expect to administer?
1)Valproic acid (Depakote)
2)Levetiracetam (Keppra)
3)Lorazepam (Ativan)
4)Phenytoin (Dilantin)

Question 8

Which items are known causative factors for seizures? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Meningitis
2)Ingestion of poison
3)Hypertension
4)Hypoglycemia
5)Depression

Question 9

A client taking phenytoin (Dilantin)chronically for seizures should be encouraged to maintain good oral hygiene and visit the dentist every 6 months.Why is this such an important area of teaching for this client?
1)Cavities
2)Builds up tartar on the teeth
3)Mouth cancers
4)Gingival hyperplasia

Question 10

A 5-month-old infant has been brought to the Emergency Department,and the parent states the child had a high fever and rapid jerking motions that lasted for a minute.Based on these symptoms,the nurse anticipates this client will be diagnosed with which type of seizure?
1)Febrile seizures
2)Generalized seizures
3)Myoclonic seizures
4)Atonic seizures

Question 11

The nurse is preparing a presentation about antiseizure medications.The nurse plans to include the general mechanisms of actions for these medications.Which items would be appropriate to include? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Delaying an influx of sodium ions
2)Stimulating an influx of chloride ions
3)Increasing the neuronal firing in the brain
4)Slowing an influx of calcium ions
5)Reducing an influx of potassium ions

Question 12

The nurse is caring for a client with epilepsy.The client informs the nurse that she is pregnant.What condition should the nurse warn this client about?
1)Vitamin C deficiency
2)Anemia
3)Decreased oxygen
4)Folate deficiency

Question 13

The nurse is admitting a client to the labor and delivery unit.While obtaining the assessment data,the client informs the nurse she has had high blood pressure since week 22 of this pregnancy.Upon assessment,the nurse finds 2+ edema.The client relates that she has an occasional headache.Before the nurse leaves the room,the client begins to have a seizure.What pregnancy disorder is this client experiencing?
1)HELLP
2)Preeclampsia
3)Eclampsia
4)Anemia

Question 14

The nurse knows that the client with a history of epilepsy might also have what nursing diagnosis?
1)Impaired gas exchange
2)Risk for injury
3)Chronic pain
4)Risk for infection

Question 15

The nurse is teaching a client about medications for seizures.Which items should be included in this teaching? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)If seizure activity continues,a different medication is added in small-dose increments while the dose of the first drug is slowly reduced.
2)The amount is gradually increased until seizure control is achieved,or until drug adverse effects prevent additional increases in dose.
3)Once a medication is selected,the patient is placed on a low initial dose.
4)Seizure medication will be stopped when the seizures have been gone for a month.
5)Seizure medications will be required for the rest of your life.

Question 16

What condition is a disturbance of electrical activity in the brain that can affect consciousness,motor activity,and sensation?
1)Convulsion
2)Dystonia
3)Epilepsy
4)Seizure

Question 17

The client prescribed clonazepam (Klonopin)asks the nurse why the medication dose needs to be adjusted.What is the best response by the nurse?
1)"Tolerance can begin to develop after only a few months of therapy,and seizures can recur unless doses are periodically adjusted."
2)"Your dose will be decreased every month until you begin to have seizures again."
3)"Your body stores this drug,and you will need a lower dose of the medication now."
4)"The physician will not need to adjust your medication dose."

Question 18

A client on the unit is experiencing tonic-clonic seizures.What drug does the nurse anticipate for this client because it is considered the drug of choice for this type of seizure?
1)Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
2)Valproic acid (Depakote)
3)Zonisamide (Zonegran)
4)Eslicarbazepine (Aptiom)

Question 19

In order to monitor the effectiveness of drug therapy in a client with seizures,what should the nurse teach the client to do? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Attend office visits.
2)Take medications as ordered.
3)Make up skipped doses.
4)Keep a diary of seizure activity.
5)Keep a normal sleep-wake schedule.

Question 20

What condition specifically refers to involuntary,violent spasms of the large skeletal muscles of the face,neck,arms,and legs?
1)Seizures
2)Epilepsy
3)Convulsions
4)Anticonvulsant

Question 21

The client is experiencing status epilepticus.What medication does the nurse anticipate the healthcare provider to order for this client?
1)Tiagabine (Gabitril)
2)Gabapentin (Neurontin)
3)Diazepam (Valium)
4)Pregabalin (Lyrica)

Question 22

A client has been prescribed phenobarbital (Luminal).What are the side effects of phenobarbital (Luminal)? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Hypertension
2)Vitamin deficiencies
3)Drowsiness
4)Tachycardia
5)Bradycardia

Question 23

The client taking phenytoin (Dilantin)asks the nurse what the side effects of the drug are.What should the nurse include in the response? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Bradycardia
2)Hyperglycemia
3)Hypotension
4)Hypertension
5)Hypoglycemia 6.Tachycardia

Question 24

The nurse is diagnosed with absence seizures.The client tells the nurse that they experienced an adverse effect with Ethosuximide (Zarontin).Which medication would the nurse anticipate the prescriber to treat absence seizures? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
2)Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
3)Valproic acid (Depakene)
4)Zonisamide (Zonegran)