Pharmacology 6

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  • Created by: evepoag
  • Created on: 20-10-22 13:16
What is epilepsy?
a serious, potentially life-shortening neurological disorder that caused seizures
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What can epilepsy be clinically characterised by?
Repeated, spontaneous seizures in the brain which are often accompanied by sensory disturbances and loss of consciousness
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What can epilepsy be physiologically characterised by?
occasional, sudden, excessive, rapid and local discharges of grey matter, which affects the brain
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What is a seizure?
Excessive electrical discharge from the brain resulting in sudden behaviour disturbances, emotional and sensory function, that may or may not affect consciousness
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What is the difference between generalised and focal seizures?
Generalised - all of the brain is affected and the person in unconscious

Focal - one area of the brain is affected, person may be unconscious or fully awake
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What can the cause of epilepsy usually be described as, around 70% of the time?
Idiopathic
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What other some other factors that may cause epilepsy?
Genetics
Infection, eg: meningitis
Head trauma
Stroke
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What triggers the onset of tonic-clonic seizures?
Unknown onset
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Focal seizures can have what features?
Motor
Autonomic
Responsiveness/awareness
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Are absent seizures generalised or focal?
Generalised
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What is SUDEP?
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilsepy
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What does a diagnosis of epilepsy heavily rely on?
Eye witness accounts
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What is the goal of epilepsy care?
To optimise quality of life by controlling seizures
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What are the 2 types of epilepsy therapy?
1. Monotherapy
2. Polypharmacy
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Which is the preferred therapy choice?
Monotherapy
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When would polypharmacy be used?
When a person responds poorly on a single anti-epileptic drug
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What are some epilepsy triggers?
- lack of sleep
- pyrexia/illness
- hormones
- diet/alcohol
- stress/anxiety
- photosensitivity
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What is the immediate nursing care during a seizure?
Cushion person's head from injury
Ensure a safe environment
Loosen tight clothing around the neck
Call for help
Time, observe and record
Recovery position
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What is status epilepticus?
Any seizure greater than 5 minutes which can last up to 30 minutes or more

Or a series of seizures that occur with no recovery inbetween
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What should you NEVER do during a seizure?
Restrain them and put anything in their mouth
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What are AEDs?
Anti-epileptic drugs
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Name 4 types of seizures
Primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures
Secondary generalised tonic-clonic seizures
Absent seizures
Myclonic seizures
Atonic
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What are primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures?
It is a type of seizure that has a tonic phase, following by a clonic phase
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Describe the tonic phase and clonic phase
Tonic - muscle stiffening, arched back
Clonic - muscle contractions with jerking
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What are absent seizures?
When you lose awareness of your surroundings for a short time
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What are myoclonic seizures?
Brief, jerking of muscles
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What are atonic seizures?
Muscles and body becomes limp, with a loss of muscle strength
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Seizures are caused by a sudden burst of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. Why does this occur?
Neurones become excessively active
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How do anti-epileptic drugs work?
They alter electrical activity in the neurones by blocking ion channels in the cell membrane, such as sodium and calcium channels.

They may also alter chemical messaging between neurone by inhibiting neurotransmitter transmission, eg: GABA
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What other types of drugs can treat status epilepticus?
Benzodiazepines
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How do benzodiazepines work?
GABA neurotransmitters inhibit activity of nerves that initiate seizures

Benzos enhance GABA activity, by
binding to it which opens the chloride channel, thereby enhancing anticonvulsant activity
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What is buccal administration?
route of administration into the cheek
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When drugs are absorbed in the oral cavity, what happens?
They go directly into systemic circulation, avoiding first-pass metabolism
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What can epilepsy be clinically characterised by?

Back

Repeated, spontaneous seizures in the brain which are often accompanied by sensory disturbances and loss of consciousness

Card 3

Front

What can epilepsy be physiologically characterised by?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is a seizure?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the difference between generalised and focal seizures?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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