NUR 635 TOPIC 3 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What is epilepsy? - ANS A chronic seizure disorder characterized by different types of seizures
and medications used to treat them.
What are antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)? - ANS Medications used to treat seizures.
What are the three main types of seizures based on where they start in the brain? -
ANS Focal seizures, generalized seizures, and unknown onset seizures.
What is a focal aware seizure? - ANS A focal seizure that results in no loss of consciousness.
What is a focal seizure with impaired awareness? - ANS A focal seizure that results in loss of
consciousness.
What are motor symptoms in generalized seizures? - ANS Sustained rhythmical jerking
movements (clonic), limp or weak muscles (atonic), muscle twitching (myoclonus), and rigid or
tense muscles (tonic).
What happens at 2 minutes during a seizure? - ANS Most seizures last less than two minutes
and do not require medical intervention.
What is the initial treatment for seizures? - ANS A benzodiazepine injection.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is the first-line treatment for epilepsy? - ANS Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the first-line
treatment for epilepsy.
Why should AEDs not be stopped abruptly? - ANS Stopping AEDs abruptly can lead to
seizures.
Name some broad-spectrum AEDs. - ANS Lamotrigine, levetiracetam, topiramate, and
valproic acid.
Name some narrow-spectrum AEDs. - ANS Carbamazepine, lacosamide, oxcarbazepine,
phenobarbital, phenytoin, and fosphenytoin.
What are some common side effects of carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, and eslicarbazepine? -
ANS Hyponatremia, rash, and enzyme induction.
What are the side effects associated with phenobarbital and primidone? - ANS Sedation,
dependence/tolerance/overdose risk, and enzyme induction.
What are the side effects of gabapentin and pregabalin? - ANS Weight gain, peripheral
edema, and mild euphoria.
What are the side effects of topiramate and zonisamide? - ANS Weight loss, metabolic
acidosis, nephrolithiasis, and oligohidrosis/hyperthermia in children.
What is the concern regarding skin disorders with lamotrigine therapy? - ANS There is a risk
of serious skin reactions such as SJS/TEN.
What is the concern for drug-drug interactions with lamotrigine? - ANS Valproic acid
increases lamotrigine levels, while other drugs can decrease its effectiveness.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Can lamotrigine be helpful in bipolar disorder? - ANS Yes, lamotrigine can be used in bipolar
disorder with predominant depression symptoms.
What are the CNS side effects associated with Levetiracetam? - ANS Psychotic symptoms,
somnolence, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, weakness, and vomiting.
What are some serious warnings associated with Levetiracetam? - ANS Angioedema,
SJS/TEN, anemia, hypertension, and loss of seizure control in pregnancy.
What additional use does Topiramate have besides treating seizures? - ANS It can be used in
migraine prevention.
What rare side effects are associated with Topiramate? - ANS Metabolic acidosis,
oligohidrosis, hyperthermia in children, kidney stones, and visual problems.
What are some potential side effects of Valproic Acid? - ANS Pancreatitis, hyperammonemia,
thrombocytopenia, alopecia, and weight gain.
What serious skin reaction is associated with Carbamazepine? - ANS SJS/TEN; testing for
allele HLA-B*1502 is recommended.
What does it mean that Carbamazepine is an autoinducer? - ANS It decreases its own level
over time.
What is the schedule level of Lacosamide? - ANS Schedule V.
Why is an ECG required before starting Lacosamide? - ANS To assess for arrhythmia risk due
to PR interval prolongation.
What condition can chronic use of Phenytoin lead to? - ANS Gingival hyperplasia, hair
growth, hepatotoxicity, and increased blood glucose.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What is epilepsy? - ANS A chronic seizure disorder characterized by different types of seizures
and medications used to treat them.
What are antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)? - ANS Medications used to treat seizures.
What are the three main types of seizures based on where they start in the brain? -
ANS Focal seizures, generalized seizures, and unknown onset seizures.
What is a focal aware seizure? - ANS A focal seizure that results in no loss of consciousness.
What is a focal seizure with impaired awareness? - ANS A focal seizure that results in loss of
consciousness.
What are motor symptoms in generalized seizures? - ANS Sustained rhythmical jerking
movements (clonic), limp or weak muscles (atonic), muscle twitching (myoclonus), and rigid or
tense muscles (tonic).
What happens at 2 minutes during a seizure? - ANS Most seizures last less than two minutes
and do not require medical intervention.
What is the initial treatment for seizures? - ANS A benzodiazepine injection.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is the first-line treatment for epilepsy? - ANS Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the first-line
treatment for epilepsy.
Why should AEDs not be stopped abruptly? - ANS Stopping AEDs abruptly can lead to
seizures.
Name some broad-spectrum AEDs. - ANS Lamotrigine, levetiracetam, topiramate, and
valproic acid.
Name some narrow-spectrum AEDs. - ANS Carbamazepine, lacosamide, oxcarbazepine,
phenobarbital, phenytoin, and fosphenytoin.
What are some common side effects of carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, and eslicarbazepine? -
ANS Hyponatremia, rash, and enzyme induction.
What are the side effects associated with phenobarbital and primidone? - ANS Sedation,
dependence/tolerance/overdose risk, and enzyme induction.
What are the side effects of gabapentin and pregabalin? - ANS Weight gain, peripheral
edema, and mild euphoria.
What are the side effects of topiramate and zonisamide? - ANS Weight loss, metabolic
acidosis, nephrolithiasis, and oligohidrosis/hyperthermia in children.
What is the concern regarding skin disorders with lamotrigine therapy? - ANS There is a risk
of serious skin reactions such as SJS/TEN.
What is the concern for drug-drug interactions with lamotrigine? - ANS Valproic acid
increases lamotrigine levels, while other drugs can decrease its effectiveness.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Can lamotrigine be helpful in bipolar disorder? - ANS Yes, lamotrigine can be used in bipolar
disorder with predominant depression symptoms.
What are the CNS side effects associated with Levetiracetam? - ANS Psychotic symptoms,
somnolence, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, weakness, and vomiting.
What are some serious warnings associated with Levetiracetam? - ANS Angioedema,
SJS/TEN, anemia, hypertension, and loss of seizure control in pregnancy.
What additional use does Topiramate have besides treating seizures? - ANS It can be used in
migraine prevention.
What rare side effects are associated with Topiramate? - ANS Metabolic acidosis,
oligohidrosis, hyperthermia in children, kidney stones, and visual problems.
What are some potential side effects of Valproic Acid? - ANS Pancreatitis, hyperammonemia,
thrombocytopenia, alopecia, and weight gain.
What serious skin reaction is associated with Carbamazepine? - ANS SJS/TEN; testing for
allele HLA-B*1502 is recommended.
What does it mean that Carbamazepine is an autoinducer? - ANS It decreases its own level
over time.
What is the schedule level of Lacosamide? - ANS Schedule V.
Why is an ECG required before starting Lacosamide? - ANS To assess for arrhythmia risk due
to PR interval prolongation.
What condition can chronic use of Phenytoin lead to? - ANS Gingival hyperplasia, hair
growth, hepatotoxicity, and increased blood glucose.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
