NSG 533 ADVANCED PHARM EXAM 1
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
COMPLETE SOLVED QUESTIONS 2026
• Abnormal electrical activity in the brain/misfiring of neurons . Answer:
Seizure
• Seizures are caused by.... . Answer: 1. Sodium influx into neuron
2. Calcium influx into neuron
3. Lack of GABA
• Involuntary muscle contractions . Answer: Convulsions
• Chronic reoccurring seizures without known cause . Answer: Epilepsy
• Mechanism of action of anticonvulsants . Answer: 1. Suppress sodium
influx (suppresses transmission of nerve impulses)
2. Suppress calcium influx (makes it more difficult for nerve to become
excited
0
3. Enhance GABA (stops the spread of the nerve impulse)
• Goals of anticonvulsant therapy . Answer: 1. Stop or prevent seizures
,2. Balance and maintain quality of life
3. Avoid toxicity
• Indications for anticonvulsant drugs . Answer: 1. Long term
maintenance
2. Controlling active seizure (acute)
• Drug interactions with anticonvulsants . Answer: 1. Alcohol or other
CNS depressants
2. Black box warning for self harm/suicide
3. Oral contraceptives (Interferes with and drugs are also teratogenic)
• Common barbiturate medications . Answer: - Phenobarbital
- Primidone (Mysoline)
• Common hydantoin medications . Answer: - Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- fosphenytoin (cerebryx)
• Phenytoin adverse effects . Answer: - gingival hyperplasia
- pinkish/brown urine (expected side effect)
- drowsiness/sedation
- inhibit insulin/hyperglycemia
- SJS
, • Patients that have low albumin may not metabolize phenytoin well
because..... . Answer: Phenytoin is highly protein bound and
malnourished patients may not have enough protein for the drug to bind
to
• The potential for leukopenia causes risk for ________________ in
patients taking antipsychotics . Answer: Infection
• Pharmacological tx for status epilepticus . Answer: Benzodiazepines:
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- diazepam (Valium)
anticonvulsants
- phenobarbitol
- phenytoin
- fosphenytoin
• Patient teaching anticonvulsants . Answer: - proper oral hygiene
- discolored urine is normal/expected
- get up slowly, drowsiness/sedation can cause falls
- report any rash to HCP immediately
- diet/nutrition and exercise education d/t med induced hyperglycemia
• small differences in drug dose or blood concentration can be toxic/fatal
. Answer: Narrow therapeutic index
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
COMPLETE SOLVED QUESTIONS 2026
• Abnormal electrical activity in the brain/misfiring of neurons . Answer:
Seizure
• Seizures are caused by.... . Answer: 1. Sodium influx into neuron
2. Calcium influx into neuron
3. Lack of GABA
• Involuntary muscle contractions . Answer: Convulsions
• Chronic reoccurring seizures without known cause . Answer: Epilepsy
• Mechanism of action of anticonvulsants . Answer: 1. Suppress sodium
influx (suppresses transmission of nerve impulses)
2. Suppress calcium influx (makes it more difficult for nerve to become
excited
0
3. Enhance GABA (stops the spread of the nerve impulse)
• Goals of anticonvulsant therapy . Answer: 1. Stop or prevent seizures
,2. Balance and maintain quality of life
3. Avoid toxicity
• Indications for anticonvulsant drugs . Answer: 1. Long term
maintenance
2. Controlling active seizure (acute)
• Drug interactions with anticonvulsants . Answer: 1. Alcohol or other
CNS depressants
2. Black box warning for self harm/suicide
3. Oral contraceptives (Interferes with and drugs are also teratogenic)
• Common barbiturate medications . Answer: - Phenobarbital
- Primidone (Mysoline)
• Common hydantoin medications . Answer: - Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- fosphenytoin (cerebryx)
• Phenytoin adverse effects . Answer: - gingival hyperplasia
- pinkish/brown urine (expected side effect)
- drowsiness/sedation
- inhibit insulin/hyperglycemia
- SJS
, • Patients that have low albumin may not metabolize phenytoin well
because..... . Answer: Phenytoin is highly protein bound and
malnourished patients may not have enough protein for the drug to bind
to
• The potential for leukopenia causes risk for ________________ in
patients taking antipsychotics . Answer: Infection
• Pharmacological tx for status epilepticus . Answer: Benzodiazepines:
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- diazepam (Valium)
anticonvulsants
- phenobarbitol
- phenytoin
- fosphenytoin
• Patient teaching anticonvulsants . Answer: - proper oral hygiene
- discolored urine is normal/expected
- get up slowly, drowsiness/sedation can cause falls
- report any rash to HCP immediately
- diet/nutrition and exercise education d/t med induced hyperglycemia
• small differences in drug dose or blood concentration can be toxic/fatal
. Answer: Narrow therapeutic index
