Antiepileptics: Nursing pharmacology

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ANTIEPILEPTICS, PART 1 | ||
DRUG NAME | phenytoin (Dilantin), fosphenytoin (Cerebyx), carbamazepine (Tegretol), valproic acid (Depacon), sodium valproate (Depakote), lamotrigine (Lamictal) | ethosuximide (Zarontin), levetiracetam (Keppra) |
CLASS | Sodium channel blockers | Calcium channel blockers |
MECHANISM OF ACTION | Block voltage-gated Na+ channels; inhibition of action potentials in excitatory neurons; ↓ seizure activity | Block voltage-gated Ca2+ channels; inhibition of action potentials in excitatory neurons; ↓ seizure activity |
INDICATIONS |
| |
ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION |
|
|
SIDE EFFECTS | Phenytoin, fosphenytoin
Carbamazepine
Valproate
Lamotrigine
| Ethosuximide
Levetiracetam
|
CONTRAINDICATIONS AND CAUTIONS | Phenytoin
Carbamazepine
Valproate
Lamotrigine
| Ethosuximide
Levetiracetam
|
ANTIEPILEPTICS, PART 2 | ||
DRUG NAME | vigabatrin (Sabril) | gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise) |
CLASS | GABA inhibitors | GABA analogues |
MECHANISM OF ACTION | Prevent GABA reuptake into presynaptic neurons; ↑ GABA concentration in synapse; ↓ seizure activity | Structurally similar to GABA |
INDICATIONS |
| |
ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION | vigabatrin: PO | PO |
SIDE EFFECTS | Vigabatrin
|
|
CONTRAINDICATIONS AND CAUTIONS | Vigabatrin
|
|
NURSING CONSIDERATIONS: ANTIEPILEPTICS | ||
ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING | All antiepileptics Assessment
Monitoring
| |
CLIENT EDUCATION | All antiepileptics
| |
Sodium channel blockers | GABA inhibitors | |
Phenytoin
Carbamazepine
Valproate
| Vigabatrin
|
Memory Anchors and Partner Content
Transcript
Antiepileptics, also known as anticonvulsants, are medications primarily used to treat epilepsy, as well as generalized or partial seizures. On rare occasions, these medications can be used to treat mood disorders.
Now, the most commonly used antiepileptics can be subdivided, based on their mechanism of action, into four main groups: sodium channel blockers, calcium channel blockers, GABA inhibitors, and GABA analogues.
In addition, other medications can be used as antiepileptics, including barbiturates like phenobarbital and benzodiazepines like diazepam, which are primarily used as anxiolytics and sedative-hypnotics.
Now, let’s focus on sodium channel blockers first. These medications work by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, eventually inhibiting excitatory neurons from firing action potentials.
Decreased activity of excitatory neurons results in the reduction and alleviation of seizures. Sodium channel blockers include hydantoins, iminostilbene derivatives, valproate derivatives, and lamotrigine.
First, let’s focus on hydantoins. These medications include phenytoin, which can be administered orally or intravenously; and its prodrug, fosphenytoin, which can be administered intravenously or intramuscularly.
Common side effects of these medications include headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances, such as blurred vision, nystagmus, and diplopia, as well as gingival hyperplasia.
Sources
- "Mosby's 2021 Nursing Drug Reference (34e)" Mosby (2021)
- "Pharmacology: A Patient-Centered Nursing Process Approach (8e)" Elsevier Health Sciences (2014)
- "Focus on Nursing Pharmacology" LWW (2019)
- "Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination (8e)" Saunders (2020)
- "Lehne's Pharmacology for Nursing Care" Elsevier Health Sciences (2014)