Pharmacology II (Liberty University-
NURS 306) Test 1 Questions And
Answers
/. Define epilepsy - Answer-A disease of the brain with at least 2 unprovoked seizures
>24 hours apart or one unprovoked seizure with >59% chance of reoccurence within 0
years
/.What does it mean when epilepsy has resolved? - Answer-Seizure-free for 10 years
and off of seizure medications for the past 5 years
/.What is status epilepticus? - Answer-Recurrent seizures lasting 30 minutes or longer
that aren't stopping; If seizure persists for more than 5 minutes, likely to continue so
emergency treatment
/.How long is a normal seizure? How do you acutely treat it? - Answer-Most seizures
resolve spontaneously in 45-90 seconds; no acute treatment necessary (except to turn
patient on side if possible to reduce aspiration risk)
/.What do you not do for a seizing patient? - Answer-DON'T put tongue blade or
anything else in mouth
/.What is a focal seizure? - Answer-Only occurs in one area of the brain
aka partial seizure
/.What is a generalized seizure? - Answer-They involve both sides of the brain
Includes absence and tonic-clonic seizures
/.Define seizure - Answer-An abnormal increase in electrical activity in the brain
/.Seizures can cause what muscular reaction? - Answer-Convulsion
/.Can convulsion happen on it's own? - Answer-No- only after seizure
/.What is a focus? - Answer-The point in the brain that a seizure originates
/.Define aura - Answer-The initial part of seizure that is recognized by the patient
/.Define prodrome in relation to a seizure - Answer-The mood or behavior that often
precedes a seizure by several hours or days
, /.Define ictus - Answer-seizure
/.Define postictal - Answer-The time period immediately following the seizure
S&S: drowsiness, confusion, abnormal motor movement
/.Define clonus - Answer-Movement marked by rapid contraction/relaxation
/.Define tonus - Answer-Continuous, unremitting action
/.What is the most important thing to remember about anti-epileptics when a patient
reports side effects? - Answer-All anti-epileptics are narrow therapeutic index drugs
/.Are all anti-epileptics blackbox? - Answer-Yes
/.Should anti-epileptics all be black boxed? - Answer-Probably not
/.What anti-epileptics require black box warning and why? - Answer-Lamotrigene and
Topiramide for increased risk of suicide
/.General side/adverse effects for most/all anti-epileptics include: (List at least three) -
Answer-CNS depression
GI complications
Anticholinergic effects
Many drug-drug interactions
Teratogenic
/.Examples of anticholinergic effects - Answer-Bronchodilation
Decreased respiratory tract secretions
Acts as an antispasmodic on the GI tract (decrease tone and motility)
Pupil dilation (mydriasis)
Decreased salivary and sweat gland secretions
Relaxation of ureters, urinary bladder (decreases tone, thus may be used for control of
mild incontinence)
Relaxes smooth muscle in gallbladder and bile ducts
/.Teratogenic definition - Answer-Shown to be a cause of malformation in utero
/.Goals of anti-epileptic therapy? - Answer-Elimination of all seizures
No adverse effects
/.What is a reality of anti-epileptic treatment? - Answer-Most patients have a hard time
even balancing seizure frequency and severity with quality of life
NURS 306) Test 1 Questions And
Answers
/. Define epilepsy - Answer-A disease of the brain with at least 2 unprovoked seizures
>24 hours apart or one unprovoked seizure with >59% chance of reoccurence within 0
years
/.What does it mean when epilepsy has resolved? - Answer-Seizure-free for 10 years
and off of seizure medications for the past 5 years
/.What is status epilepticus? - Answer-Recurrent seizures lasting 30 minutes or longer
that aren't stopping; If seizure persists for more than 5 minutes, likely to continue so
emergency treatment
/.How long is a normal seizure? How do you acutely treat it? - Answer-Most seizures
resolve spontaneously in 45-90 seconds; no acute treatment necessary (except to turn
patient on side if possible to reduce aspiration risk)
/.What do you not do for a seizing patient? - Answer-DON'T put tongue blade or
anything else in mouth
/.What is a focal seizure? - Answer-Only occurs in one area of the brain
aka partial seizure
/.What is a generalized seizure? - Answer-They involve both sides of the brain
Includes absence and tonic-clonic seizures
/.Define seizure - Answer-An abnormal increase in electrical activity in the brain
/.Seizures can cause what muscular reaction? - Answer-Convulsion
/.Can convulsion happen on it's own? - Answer-No- only after seizure
/.What is a focus? - Answer-The point in the brain that a seizure originates
/.Define aura - Answer-The initial part of seizure that is recognized by the patient
/.Define prodrome in relation to a seizure - Answer-The mood or behavior that often
precedes a seizure by several hours or days
, /.Define ictus - Answer-seizure
/.Define postictal - Answer-The time period immediately following the seizure
S&S: drowsiness, confusion, abnormal motor movement
/.Define clonus - Answer-Movement marked by rapid contraction/relaxation
/.Define tonus - Answer-Continuous, unremitting action
/.What is the most important thing to remember about anti-epileptics when a patient
reports side effects? - Answer-All anti-epileptics are narrow therapeutic index drugs
/.Are all anti-epileptics blackbox? - Answer-Yes
/.Should anti-epileptics all be black boxed? - Answer-Probably not
/.What anti-epileptics require black box warning and why? - Answer-Lamotrigene and
Topiramide for increased risk of suicide
/.General side/adverse effects for most/all anti-epileptics include: (List at least three) -
Answer-CNS depression
GI complications
Anticholinergic effects
Many drug-drug interactions
Teratogenic
/.Examples of anticholinergic effects - Answer-Bronchodilation
Decreased respiratory tract secretions
Acts as an antispasmodic on the GI tract (decrease tone and motility)
Pupil dilation (mydriasis)
Decreased salivary and sweat gland secretions
Relaxation of ureters, urinary bladder (decreases tone, thus may be used for control of
mild incontinence)
Relaxes smooth muscle in gallbladder and bile ducts
/.Teratogenic definition - Answer-Shown to be a cause of malformation in utero
/.Goals of anti-epileptic therapy? - Answer-Elimination of all seizures
No adverse effects
/.What is a reality of anti-epileptic treatment? - Answer-Most patients have a hard time
even balancing seizure frequency and severity with quality of life
