Pharmacology II (Liberty University-NURS
306) Test 1 Exam Questions And Answers
Latest Updated 2025 |100% Verified.
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
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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
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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
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