Seizures & Epilepsy
Sudden disturbances in brain activity caused by abnormal electrical discharges.
What is a seizure?
This drug stabilizes neuronal membranes and requires serum level monitoring.
What is phenytoin?
A recurring headache often associated with visual changes and lasting hours to days.
What is a migraine?
An increase in pressure within the skull.
What is intracranial hypertension?
When a patient is having a seizure, the nurse should never place this in their mouth.
What is an object or tongue depressor?
A chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures.
What is epilepsy?
This barbiturate is a CNS depressant with high addiction risk.
What is phenobarbital?
Name two common migraine triggers.
What are stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, foods, caffeine withdrawal, odors, etc.?
One osmotic diuretic used to draw water from brain tissue to reduce cerebral edema.
What is mannitol?
One nursing intervention to reduce ICP.
What is elevate HOB 30°, keep neck neutral, or monitor vitals?
This type of seizure involves brief staring spells, common in children.
What is an absence seizure?
The drug of choice for absence seizures.
What is ethosuximide?
This class of drugs, such as sumatriptan, works by serotonin agonism and cranial vasoconstriction.
What are triptans?
Symptoms like headache, nausea, blurred vision, and papilledema suggest this condition.
What is increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
Nurses should teach patients on phenytoin to maintain good oral hygiene to prevent this side effect.
What is gingival hyperplasia?
Name two potential causes of epilepsy.
What are brain injury, genetics, stroke, or brain abnormalities?
These fast-acting drugs enhance GABA and are used for status epilepticus.
What are benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam, diazepam)?
This newer drug class blocks CGRP receptors to reduce inflammation in migraines.
What are CGRP receptor antagonists?
This carbonic anhydrase inhibitor reduces cerebrospinal fluid production.
What is acetazolamide?
For migraine patients, nurses should encourage the use of this type of environment to reduce triggers.
What is a calm, dark, quiet environment?
The neurotransmitter imbalance in epilepsy is usually between these two.
What are glutamate (excitatory) and GABA (inhibitory)?
This broad-spectrum drug treats many seizure types but may cause hepatotoxicity.
What is valproic acid?
This migraine drug class is contraindicated in patients with cardiovascular disease due to vasoconstriction.
What are triptans or ergot alkaloids?
The most dangerous complication of untreated increased ICP.
What is brain herniation?
When administering mannitol, nurses must monitor this closely to prevent complications.
What are electrolytes, intake/output, and fluid balance?