Question 1

A client is taking carbamazepine (Tegretol).What type of seizure activity does the nurse anticipate this client has experienced?

Accepted Answer

Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat tonic-clonic seizures.

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?

Accepted Answer

Phenytoin (Dilantin) is classified as a Pregnancy Category D medication, indicating there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

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?

Accepted Answer

Phenytoin (Dilantin) can cause central nervous system effects such as confusion and slurred speech. Insomnia can also occur as an adverse effect. These are important for the nurse to educate the client about.

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?

Accepted Answer

When starting a medication for epilepsy, the client is typically placed on a low initial dose. This approach allows for the assessment of the client's response to the medication and minimizes the risk of adverse effects. The dose can then be gradually increased as needed to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A client complains of gingival hypertrophy and...

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.

Accepted Answer

Complex partial seizures, also known as focal impaired awareness seizures, often involve a change in consciousness or awareness. They can be preceded by an aura, which is a sensory or psychic experience that signals the onset of a seizure. Following the seizure, individuals may experience confusion and somnolence (sleepiness or drowsiness), which are common postictal (after-seizure) symptoms. Stumbling and falling for no apparent reason (A) and alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles (D) are more characteristic of generalized seizures, such as tonic-clonic seizures, rather than complex partial seizures.

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?

Accepted Answer

Lorazepam (Ativan) is commonly used in emergency settings to manage acute seizures, including those potentially related to alcohol withdrawal or toxicity. It acts quickly to control seizure activity, making it a preferred choice in urgent situations.

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.

Accepted Answer

Meningitis, ingestion of poison, and hypoglycemia are known causative factors for seizures. Meningitis can cause inflammation in the brain, ingestion of poison can disrupt normal brain function, and hypoglycemia can lead to insufficient glucose for brain activity, all potentially triggering seizures. Hypertension and depression are not direct causes of seizures.

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?

Accepted Answer

Phenytoin (Dilantin) can cause gingival hyperplasia, which is an overgrowth of the gums. Good oral hygiene and regular dental visits can help manage this side effect.

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?

Accepted Answer

Febrile seizures are common in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years and are typically associated with a high fever. The description of rapid jerking motions and the age of the infant align with the characteristics of febrile 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.

Accepted Answer

Antiseizure medications work by stabilizing the electrical activity in the brain to prevent or control seizures. Delaying an influx of sodium ions (A) and slowing an influx of calcium ions (D) help to stabilize neuronal membranes and reduce the ability of the neurons to fire at high frequencies, which is a common mechanism of many antiseizure drugs. Stimulating an influx of chloride ions (B) typically increases the action of GABA, a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, which can help to calm neuronal activity and prevent seizures. Increasing the neuronal firing in the brain (C) would likely provoke seizures rather than prevent them, and reducing an influx of potassium ions (E) is not a recognized mechanism of action for antiseizure medications.

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?

Accepted Answer

Folate deficiency is a concern for pregnant women, especially those with epilepsy, as certain antiepileptic drugs can interfere with folate metabolism, increasing the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus.

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?

Accepted Answer

The client is experiencing eclampsia, which is characterized by the onset of seizures in a woman with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia includes high blood pressure and often protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Eclampsia is a severe complication of preeclampsia.

Question 14

The nurse knows that the client with a history of epilepsy might also have what nursing diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Epilepsy increases the risk for injury due to the potential for falls and other accidents during seizures.

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.

Accepted Answer

Seizure medications are typically started at a low dose and gradually increased until seizures are controlled or side effects become problematic. If one medication doesn't work, another may be added gradually while the first is tapered off, rather than stopping medication abruptly or making sudden changes.

Question 16

What condition is a disturbance of electrical activity in the brain that can affect consciousness,motor activity,and sensation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What condition is a disturbance of electrical...

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?

Accepted Answer

Tolerance to clonazepam (Klonopin) can develop after a few months of therapy, necessitating dose adjustments to maintain therapeutic effectiveness and prevent seizure recurrence.

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?

Accepted Answer

Carbamazepine (Tegretol) is commonly used and considered a drug of choice for managing tonic-clonic seizures due to its effectiveness in controlling and preventing these types of seizures.

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In order to monitor the effectiveness of...

Question 20

What condition specifically refers to involuntary,violent spasms of the large skeletal muscles of the face,neck,arms,and legs?

Accepted Answer

Convulsions specifically refer to involuntary, violent spasms of the large skeletal muscles, including those of the face, neck, arms, and legs.

Quiz 14: Drugs for Seizures

A client is taking carbamazepine (Tegretol) .What type of seizure activity does the nurse anticipate this client has experienced?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.

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?

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.

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?

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?

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?

The nurse knows that the client with a history of epilepsy might also have what nursing diagnosis?

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.

What condition is a disturbance of electrical activity in the brain that can affect consciousness,motor activity,and sensation?

The client prescribed clonazepam (Klonopin) asks the nurse why the medication dose needs to be adjusted.What is the best response by the nurse?

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?

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.

What condition specifically refers to involuntary,violent spasms of the large skeletal muscles of the face,neck,arms,and legs?