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antiepileptic medications

Topic: Pathology

Created on Saturday, September 2 2006 by

Last modified on Saturday, September 2 2006.

Which of the following is most accurate regarding antiepileptic medications?

 
        A) Phenytoin has no known significant drug interactions.
 
        B) Zonisamide is associated with an increased risk of spina bifida if taken during pregnancy.
 
        C) Ethosuximide is indicated for treatment of myoclonic seizures.
 
        D) Gabapentin is indicated for treatment of partial seizures.
 
        E) Oxcarbazepine works via an unknown mechanism.
 

 


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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




A) Phenytoin has no known significant drug interactions.

This answer is incorrect.


The statement, "Phenytoin has no known significant drug interactions." is false.
Phenytoin causes reduction of sodium currents, causes increase of GABA-mediated currents, is a glutamate receptor antagonist, works via an unknown mechanism, is indicated for treatement of complex partial seizures, is indicated for treatment of partial seizures, is indicated for tonic-clonic, is metabolized primarily in the liver, induces hepatic enzymes, is excreted in breast milk, can be given as a loading dose, has been shown in comparative studies to be one of the two safest of the older AEDs, and is a drug for which the AAN recommends patients stick to one manufacturer's preparation, as evidence exists that there are differences between generic and brand name preparations.  (See References)

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B) Zonisamide is associated with an increased risk of spina bifida if taken during pregnancy.

This answer is incorrect.


The statement, "Zonisamide is associated with an increased risk of spina bifida if taken during pregnancy." is false.
Zonisamide causes reduction of sodium currents, causes reduction of T-Calcium currents, is indicated for treatment of partial seizures, is metabolized primarily in the liver, is approved as adjunct therapy only, and is a known teratogen, or evidence for its teratogenicity exists.  (See References)

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C) Ethosuximide is indicated for treatment of myoclonic seizures.

This answer is incorrect.


The statement, "Ethosuximide is indicated for treatment of myoclonic seizures." is false.
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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D) Gabapentin is indicated for treatment of partial seizures.

This answer is correct.


The statement, "Gabapentin is indicated for treatment of partial seizures." 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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E) Oxcarbazepine works via an unknown mechanism.

This answer is incorrect.


The statement, "Oxcarbazepine works via an unknown mechanism." is false.
Oxcarbazepine causes reduction of sodium currents, is indicated for treatement of complex partial seizures, is indicated for treatment of partial seizures, is indicated for treatment of partial seizures with secondary generalization, is metabolized primarily in the liver, is approved as adjunct therapy only, induces hepatic enzymes, 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
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