Seizure Medications
This seizure medication class commonly ends in “-azepam” or “-azolam” and is first-line for acute seizures.
✅ What are benzodiazepines?
🔹 This oral side effect of phenytoin requires meticulous dental care.
What is gingival hyperplasia?
This medication is the drug of choice for anaphylaxis.
✅ What is epinephrine?
This class of medications takes several weeks to achieve therapeutic effect.
What are SSRIs (antidepressants)?
🔹 This mood stabilizer is considered first-line treatment for bipolar disorder.
✅ What is lithium?
the most common cause of status epilepticus in adolescents is this
✅ What is noncompliance with antiseizure medications?
🔹 The therapeutic blood level range for phenytoin is this.
What is 10–20 mcg/mL?
🔹 The priority assessment after epinephrine administration is this.
✅ What is heart rate?
This life-threatening condition presents with fever, diarrhea, tachycardia, and altered mental status.
What is serotonin syndrome?
This lab value must be monitored regularly in clients taking lithium.
Extra point if you give the therapeutic value...
✅ What is the lithium blood level?
what is 0.6-1.2 mEq
This vitamin is often prescribed with phenytoin because the drug inhibits its absorption.
What is folic acid (vitamin B9)?
🔹 This serious skin reaction can occur with phenytoin and requires immediate discontinuation.
What is Stevens-Johnson syndrome?
🔹 Epinephrine causes pupil changes described as this.
✅ What is dilation (mydriasis)?
This electrolyte imbalance is commonly associated with SSRIs due to increased ADH.
What is hyponatremia?
Early signs of lithium toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and this neurologic finding.
✅ What is tremor?
This instruction is critical for patients taking seizure medications long-term.
What is “Do not stop taking the medication even if seizure-free”?
A phenytoin level of 32 mcg/mL would prompt the nurse to assess this first.
What is pupillary response (or signs of toxicity such as nystagmus/ataxia)?
This effect of epinephrine helps relieve bronchospasm.
✅ What is bronchodilation?
Clients should never do this when stopping SSRIs.
What is abruptly discontinue (must taper)?
This electrolyte imbalance increases the risk for lithium toxicity.
What is hyponatremia (low sodium)?
This seizure medication is also prescribed for neuropathic pain and requires nursing monitoring for sedation and safety risks.
✅ What is gabapentin?
This IV solution is NOT compatible with IV phenytoin.
What is dextrose (D5W)?
This route is NOT appropriate for epinephrine in emergencies.
✅ What is oral administration?
This SSRI side effect requires close monitoring, especially early in therapy.
✅ What is increased suicide risk?
🔹 A client on lithium who develops vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion should receive this nursing action first.
What is hold the medication and notify the provider?