C HAPTER 18: D RUGS U SED FOR S EIZURE
D ISORDERS
Willihnganz: Clayton’s Basic Pharmacology for Nurses, 19th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which condition would indicate to the nurse that a patient has phenytoin
(Dilantin) toxicit y?
a. Oculogyric crisis
b. Nystagmus
c. Strabismus
d. Ambl yopia
ANS: B
Nystagmus (involuntary rhythmic, uncontrollable movements of one or both
eyes) may be a sign of phenytoin toxicit y. Oculogyric crisis is an adverse
effect of some antipsychotic medica tions. Strabismus is a visual disorder in
which the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. Ambl yopia is
a loss of visual acuity in the nondominant eye caused by lack of use of the
eye in earl y childhood.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 284 OBJ: 5
NAT: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrit y
TOP: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation CON: Clinical Judgment |
Safet y
2. Which information would be most important for the nurse to provide to a
patient when teaching about the adverse effects of succinimide 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 con tinued
therapy.
d. Reducing the dosage of medication will relieve symptoms of nausea.
ANS: A
Nausea, vomiting, and indigestion are common during initiation of therapy.
Taking the medicine with food or milk reduces the nausea and indigestion.
Sedation, drowsiness, and dizziness tend to disappear with continued therapy.
Gradual increases in dosage tend to decrease nausea and vomiting.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 285 OBJ: 5
NAT: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrit y
TOP: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
CON: Clinical Judgment | Patient Education
3. 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
ANS: B
Phenytoin is administered slowl y at a rate of 25 to 50 mg/min. A rate of 5
mg/min is too slow. A rate of 60 mg/min or 100 mg/min is too fast.
D ISORDERS
Willihnganz: Clayton’s Basic Pharmacology for Nurses, 19th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which condition would indicate to the nurse that a patient has phenytoin
(Dilantin) toxicit y?
a. Oculogyric crisis
b. Nystagmus
c. Strabismus
d. Ambl yopia
ANS: B
Nystagmus (involuntary rhythmic, uncontrollable movements of one or both
eyes) may be a sign of phenytoin toxicit y. Oculogyric crisis is an adverse
effect of some antipsychotic medica tions. Strabismus is a visual disorder in
which the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. Ambl yopia is
a loss of visual acuity in the nondominant eye caused by lack of use of the
eye in earl y childhood.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 284 OBJ: 5
NAT: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrit y
TOP: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation CON: Clinical Judgment |
Safet y
2. Which information would be most important for the nurse to provide to a
patient when teaching about the adverse effects of succinimide 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 con tinued
therapy.
d. Reducing the dosage of medication will relieve symptoms of nausea.
ANS: A
Nausea, vomiting, and indigestion are common during initiation of therapy.
Taking the medicine with food or milk reduces the nausea and indigestion.
Sedation, drowsiness, and dizziness tend to disappear with continued therapy.
Gradual increases in dosage tend to decrease nausea and vomiting.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 285 OBJ: 5
NAT: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrit y
TOP: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
CON: Clinical Judgment | Patient Education
3. 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
ANS: B
Phenytoin is administered slowl y at a rate of 25 to 50 mg/min. A rate of 5
mg/min is too slow. A rate of 60 mg/min or 100 mg/min is too fast.
