NU 578 Controlled Substances Question
and Answer 2026 | Final Review and
Exam Preparation Pack | Grade A+
• Secondarily generalized seizures. CORRECT ANSWER: simple or complex partial
seizures evolving to a generalized seizure
• Generalized seizures. CORRECT ANSWER: May be convulsive or nonconvulsive. As
a rule, they produce immediate loss of consciousness.
• tonic-clonic seizure. CORRECT ANSWER: Neuronal discharge spread throughout
both hemispheres.
Sz manifest as major convulsions, characterized by a period of muscle rigidity (tonic
phase) followed by synchronous muscle jerks (clonic phase).
Are accompanied by marked impairment of consciousness and are followed by a period
of CNS depression, referred to as the postictal state. The sz itself typically lasts 90
seconds or less.
• Absence seizures (petit mal). CORRECT ANSWER: 10 to 30 sec loss of
consciousness with eyelid fluttering, abruptly stop activity
Pt may experience hundreds of absence attacks a day.
Occur primarily in children and usually cease during the early teen years.
• Atonic seizure (drop attack). CORRECT ANSWER: generalized seizure characterized
by sudden loss of muscle tone and strength; may cause the head to drop suddenly,
objects to fall from the hands, or the legs to lose strength, with falling and potential
injury
typically seen in children
• myoclonic seizure. CORRECT ANSWER: sudden jerk of the body or extremities lasts
for just 1 second
• status epilepticus. CORRECT ANSWER: a seizure that persists for 15-30 minutes or
longer or a series of recurrent seizures during which the pt does not regain
consciousness.
• febrile seizures. CORRECT ANSWER: Seizures that result from sudden high fevers,
particularly in children 6 months to 5 years.
, • How antiseizure drugs work. CORRECT ANSWER: 5 Basic mechanisms: Suppression
of sodium influx, Suppression of Calcium influx, promotion of potassium efflux, blockade
of receptors for glutamate, and potentiation or increase of gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA)
• suppression of sodium influx. CORRECT ANSWER: Dilantin (Phenytoin),
Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine
These drugs reversibly bind to sodium channels while they are in the inactivated state
and thereby prolong channel inactivation. By delaying return to the active state, these
drugs decrease the ability of neurons to fire at high frequency. As a result, sz that
depend on high-frequency discharge are suppressed.
other drugs: exlicarbazepine, oxcarbazepine, lacosamide, rufinamide, zonisamide,
topiramate
• suppression of calcium influx. CORRECT ANSWER: Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
In axon terminals, influx of calcium through voltage-gated calcium channels promotes
transmitter release. Hence drugs that block these calcium channels can suppress
transmission.
• Promotion of potassium efflux. CORRECT ANSWER: Ezogabine
During an action potential, influx of sodium causes neurons to depolarize, and then
efflux of potassium causes neurons to repolarize.
Ezogabine acts on voltage-gated potassium channels to facilitate potassium efflux. This
action is believed to underlie the drug's ability to slow repetitive neuronal firing and
thereby provide seizure control.
• Antagonism of Glutamate. CORRECT ANSWER: Felbamate and Topiramate (both
block the actions of glutamate at NMDA receptors and thereby suppress neuronal
excitation)
Glutamic acid is the primary excitatory transmitter in the CNS. The compound works
through 2 receptors: 1) N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), 2) alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-
methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA).
Perampanel is an AMPA glutamate receptor antagonist
• Potentiation of GABA. CORRECT ANSWER: Several anti-sz drugs potentiate the
actions of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is widely distributed throughout the
brain.
and Answer 2026 | Final Review and
Exam Preparation Pack | Grade A+
• Secondarily generalized seizures. CORRECT ANSWER: simple or complex partial
seizures evolving to a generalized seizure
• Generalized seizures. CORRECT ANSWER: May be convulsive or nonconvulsive. As
a rule, they produce immediate loss of consciousness.
• tonic-clonic seizure. CORRECT ANSWER: Neuronal discharge spread throughout
both hemispheres.
Sz manifest as major convulsions, characterized by a period of muscle rigidity (tonic
phase) followed by synchronous muscle jerks (clonic phase).
Are accompanied by marked impairment of consciousness and are followed by a period
of CNS depression, referred to as the postictal state. The sz itself typically lasts 90
seconds or less.
• Absence seizures (petit mal). CORRECT ANSWER: 10 to 30 sec loss of
consciousness with eyelid fluttering, abruptly stop activity
Pt may experience hundreds of absence attacks a day.
Occur primarily in children and usually cease during the early teen years.
• Atonic seizure (drop attack). CORRECT ANSWER: generalized seizure characterized
by sudden loss of muscle tone and strength; may cause the head to drop suddenly,
objects to fall from the hands, or the legs to lose strength, with falling and potential
injury
typically seen in children
• myoclonic seizure. CORRECT ANSWER: sudden jerk of the body or extremities lasts
for just 1 second
• status epilepticus. CORRECT ANSWER: a seizure that persists for 15-30 minutes or
longer or a series of recurrent seizures during which the pt does not regain
consciousness.
• febrile seizures. CORRECT ANSWER: Seizures that result from sudden high fevers,
particularly in children 6 months to 5 years.
, • How antiseizure drugs work. CORRECT ANSWER: 5 Basic mechanisms: Suppression
of sodium influx, Suppression of Calcium influx, promotion of potassium efflux, blockade
of receptors for glutamate, and potentiation or increase of gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA)
• suppression of sodium influx. CORRECT ANSWER: Dilantin (Phenytoin),
Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine
These drugs reversibly bind to sodium channels while they are in the inactivated state
and thereby prolong channel inactivation. By delaying return to the active state, these
drugs decrease the ability of neurons to fire at high frequency. As a result, sz that
depend on high-frequency discharge are suppressed.
other drugs: exlicarbazepine, oxcarbazepine, lacosamide, rufinamide, zonisamide,
topiramate
• suppression of calcium influx. CORRECT ANSWER: Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
In axon terminals, influx of calcium through voltage-gated calcium channels promotes
transmitter release. Hence drugs that block these calcium channels can suppress
transmission.
• Promotion of potassium efflux. CORRECT ANSWER: Ezogabine
During an action potential, influx of sodium causes neurons to depolarize, and then
efflux of potassium causes neurons to repolarize.
Ezogabine acts on voltage-gated potassium channels to facilitate potassium efflux. This
action is believed to underlie the drug's ability to slow repetitive neuronal firing and
thereby provide seizure control.
• Antagonism of Glutamate. CORRECT ANSWER: Felbamate and Topiramate (both
block the actions of glutamate at NMDA receptors and thereby suppress neuronal
excitation)
Glutamic acid is the primary excitatory transmitter in the CNS. The compound works
through 2 receptors: 1) N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), 2) alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-
methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA).
Perampanel is an AMPA glutamate receptor antagonist
• Potentiation of GABA. CORRECT ANSWER: Several anti-sz drugs potentiate the
actions of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is widely distributed throughout the
brain.
