NUR 145 Pharmacology Ch. 19
(Seizures) Questions and Correct
Answers
Seizures ✅are a symptom of an abnormality in the nerve cells of the brain. A seizure is
a brief period of abnormal electrical activity in these nerve centers. Seizures may be
convulsive (i.e. accompanied by violent, involuntary muscle contractions) or non-
convulsive. Patients may report an aura prior to having a seizure.
Seizure Disorders ✅- Symptoms of an abnormality in the nerve centers of the brain
- Chronic and recurrent seizures point to epilepsy
2 broad categories of seizure disorders: ✅Generalized seizures—affect both brain
hemispheres
Partial seizures—begin in one hemisphere
Causes of seizures include: ✅fever, head injury, brain tumor, meningitis,
hypoglycemia, drug overdose or withdrawal, and poisoning.
Sodium & calcium ✅ions that affect seizure activity within the brain.
Epilepsy ✅term used when seizures are chronic & recurrent.
Epilepsy ✅the most common of all neurologic disorders
Classification of Seizures ✅Generalized convulsive seizures
-Tonic-clonic (grand mal)
-Atonic or akinetic
-Myoclonic
Generalized nonconvulsive seizures
-Absence (petit mal): most common generalized
nonconvulsive seizure disorder
-Partial (localized)
Status epilepticus is a medical emergency
Tonic-clonic seizures ✅have a tonic phase, during which sudden intense muscular
contractions occur, and a clonic phase, during which bilateral symmetric jerks occur and
usually end in a postictal state—or recovery phase of flaccid paralysis and sleep.
Atonic seizures ✅sudden loss of muscle tone and dropping of a limb or slumping to the
ground; results in dramatic falls.
, Myoclonic seizures ✅lightning-like repetitive contractions of the face, trunk, and
extremities.
Absence seizures ✅occur primarily in children and disappear at puberty; involve
staring off into space, rhythmic movements of eyes, head, mumbling, chewing, lip-
smacking.
Partial seizures ✅localized convulsions of single body parts such as a finger or
extremity; involves jerking. Subdivided into: partial simple motor (Jacksonian) & partial
complex (Psychomotor)
Status epilepticus ✅rapidly recurring generalized seizures that do not allow normal
functioning between seizures; may result in death.
Tonic phase ✅patients suddenly develop intense muscular contractions that cause
them to fall to the ground, lose consciouness, and lie rigid.
Clonic phase ✅is manifested by bilaterally symmetrical jerks alternating with the
relaxation of the extremities, then begins.
Posticial state (post-seizure) ✅the seizure phase that involves the resting/recovery of
flaccid paralysis & sleep that last 2-3 hours.
Anticonvulsant Therapy: ✅Goals
- Reduce frequency of seizure activity
- Minimize adverse effects of the medicine
- Selection of drug depends on type of seizure, age and
gender of patient, and potential adverse effects
- Anticonvulsants increase seizure threshold
- Agents either inhibit excitatory processes or enhance
inhibitory processes
- Improve quality of life
- Reduce frequency of seizure activity
- Minimize adverse effects of medications
* Identify cause and contributing factors
**Before therapy is started, contributing factors of the underlying cause must be
identified: head injury, fever, hypoglycemia, drug overdose, etc.
**Anticonvulsant drugs and antiepileptic therapy are used interchangeably.
**Prevents seizures from spreading to adjacent neurons.
Broad-spectrum agents: ✅levetiracetam (Keppra), topiramate (Topamax), valproic acid
(Depakene), and lamotrigine (Lamictal).
(Seizures) Questions and Correct
Answers
Seizures ✅are a symptom of an abnormality in the nerve cells of the brain. A seizure is
a brief period of abnormal electrical activity in these nerve centers. Seizures may be
convulsive (i.e. accompanied by violent, involuntary muscle contractions) or non-
convulsive. Patients may report an aura prior to having a seizure.
Seizure Disorders ✅- Symptoms of an abnormality in the nerve centers of the brain
- Chronic and recurrent seizures point to epilepsy
2 broad categories of seizure disorders: ✅Generalized seizures—affect both brain
hemispheres
Partial seizures—begin in one hemisphere
Causes of seizures include: ✅fever, head injury, brain tumor, meningitis,
hypoglycemia, drug overdose or withdrawal, and poisoning.
Sodium & calcium ✅ions that affect seizure activity within the brain.
Epilepsy ✅term used when seizures are chronic & recurrent.
Epilepsy ✅the most common of all neurologic disorders
Classification of Seizures ✅Generalized convulsive seizures
-Tonic-clonic (grand mal)
-Atonic or akinetic
-Myoclonic
Generalized nonconvulsive seizures
-Absence (petit mal): most common generalized
nonconvulsive seizure disorder
-Partial (localized)
Status epilepticus is a medical emergency
Tonic-clonic seizures ✅have a tonic phase, during which sudden intense muscular
contractions occur, and a clonic phase, during which bilateral symmetric jerks occur and
usually end in a postictal state—or recovery phase of flaccid paralysis and sleep.
Atonic seizures ✅sudden loss of muscle tone and dropping of a limb or slumping to the
ground; results in dramatic falls.
, Myoclonic seizures ✅lightning-like repetitive contractions of the face, trunk, and
extremities.
Absence seizures ✅occur primarily in children and disappear at puberty; involve
staring off into space, rhythmic movements of eyes, head, mumbling, chewing, lip-
smacking.
Partial seizures ✅localized convulsions of single body parts such as a finger or
extremity; involves jerking. Subdivided into: partial simple motor (Jacksonian) & partial
complex (Psychomotor)
Status epilepticus ✅rapidly recurring generalized seizures that do not allow normal
functioning between seizures; may result in death.
Tonic phase ✅patients suddenly develop intense muscular contractions that cause
them to fall to the ground, lose consciouness, and lie rigid.
Clonic phase ✅is manifested by bilaterally symmetrical jerks alternating with the
relaxation of the extremities, then begins.
Posticial state (post-seizure) ✅the seizure phase that involves the resting/recovery of
flaccid paralysis & sleep that last 2-3 hours.
Anticonvulsant Therapy: ✅Goals
- Reduce frequency of seizure activity
- Minimize adverse effects of the medicine
- Selection of drug depends on type of seizure, age and
gender of patient, and potential adverse effects
- Anticonvulsants increase seizure threshold
- Agents either inhibit excitatory processes or enhance
inhibitory processes
- Improve quality of life
- Reduce frequency of seizure activity
- Minimize adverse effects of medications
* Identify cause and contributing factors
**Before therapy is started, contributing factors of the underlying cause must be
identified: head injury, fever, hypoglycemia, drug overdose, etc.
**Anticonvulsant drugs and antiepileptic therapy are used interchangeably.
**Prevents seizures from spreading to adjacent neurons.
Broad-spectrum agents: ✅levetiracetam (Keppra), topiramate (Topamax), valproic acid
(Depakene), and lamotrigine (Lamictal).
