antiepileptic medications

Topic: Pathology

Created on Saturday, September 2 2006 by

Last modified on Saturday, September 2 2006.

 
        A) Ethosuximide is the drug of first choice for patients with absence seizures only.
 
        B) Gabapentin is approved as adjunct therapy only.
 
        C) Phenobarbital works via an unknown mechanism.
 
        D) Diazepam is metabolized primarily in the liver.
 
        E) Valproic acid has no known significant drug interactions.
 

 

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This question was created on September 02, 2006 by .
This question was last modified on September 02, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

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A) Ethosuximide is the drug of first choice for patients with absence seizures only.

This answer is incorrect.

The statement, "Ethosuximide is the drug of first choice for patients with absence seizures only." is true.
Ethosuximide causes reduction of T-Calcium currents, is indicated for treatment of absence seizures, is metabolized primarily in the liver, induces hepatic enzymes, has leukopenia as a relatively common side effect, has no known significant drug interactions, has no known significant interactions with other AEDs, and is the drug of first choice for patients with absence seizures only.  (See References)

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B) Gabapentin is approved as adjunct therapy only.

This answer is incorrect.

The statement, "Gabapentin is approved as adjunct therapy only." is true.
Gabapentin causes increase of GABA-mediated currents, is a glutamate receptor antagonist, is indicated for treatment of partial seizures, is indicated for tonic-clonic, is metabolized primarily by the kidney, is approved as adjunct therapy only, is excreted in breast milk, and has no known significant interactions with other AEDs.  (See References)

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C) Phenobarbital works via an unknown mechanism.

This answer is incorrect.

The statement, "Phenobarbital works via an unknown mechanism." is true.
Phenobarbital causes reduction of sodium currents, causes increase of GABA-mediated currents, is a glutamate receptor antagonist, works via an unknown mechanism, is indicated for treatment of partial seizures, is indicated for tonic-clonic, is metabolized primarily in the liver, induces hepatic enzymes, is a known teratogen, or evidence for its teratogenicity exists, is excreted in breast milk, and can be given as a loading dose.  (See References)

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D) Diazepam is metabolized primarily in the liver.

This answer is incorrect.

The statement, "Diazepam is metabolized primarily in the liver." is true.
Diazepam causes reduction of sodium currents, causes increase of GABA-mediated currents, is metabolized primarily in the liver, is approved as adjunct therapy only, is a known teratogen, or evidence for its teratogenicity exists, and is excreted in breast milk.  (See References)

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E) Valproic acid has no known significant drug interactions.

This answer is correct.

The statement, "Valproic acid has no known significant drug interactions." is false.
Valproic acid causes reduction of sodium currents, causes increase of GABA-mediated currents, is indicated for treatement of complex partial seizures, is indicated for tonic-clonic, is indicated for treatment of absence seizures, is indicated for treatment of myoclonic seizures, is metabolized primarily in the liver, is a known teratogen, or evidence for its teratogenicity exists, is associated with an increased risk of spina bifida if taken during pregnancy, and is excreted in breast milk.  (See References)

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References:

1. Browne, T.R., & Holmes, G.L. (2004). Handbook of Epilepsy, 3rd Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia., Leppik, I.E. (2001). Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of the Patient with Epilepsy, 5th Edition. Handbooks in Health Care, Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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pathology
antiepileptic medications
Question ID: 540025025
Question written by . (C) FrontalCortex.com 2006-2009, all rights reserved. Created: 09/02/2006
Modified: 09/02/2006
Estimated Permutations: 0