Assessment of Seizures: Pathology review: Video, Anatomy & Definition | Osmosis

Question

A 23-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department by ambulance because her body started shaking violently 10 minutes ago at a nearby bus stop. She was waiting for a bus with her partner when she suddenly fell down and started having stiffening and jerking movements involving all four extremities. Past medical history is significant for epilepsy, for which the patient takes lamotrigine. The partner notes the patient recently started taking a combined oral contraceptive pill. Her temperature is 37.5&#176;C (99.5&#176;F), pulse is 112/min and regular, respirations are 22/min and blood pressure is 108/68 mmHg. The patient is unable to respond to vocal commands. Physical examination shows ongoing symmetric rhythmic jerking of the limbs. After appropriate supportive treatment, the patient is given a drug intramuscularly, after which the jerking subsides. Which of the following best describes the mechanism of action of the drug administered? &#160;

Accepted Answer

Increase in the frequency of chloride channel opening

Answer

Thalamic T-type Ca+2 channel blocker

Answer

Synaptic vesicle protein (SV2A) receptor blocker

Answer

Inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) breakdown

Answer

Sodium channel blocker at excitatory neuron

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Seizures: Pathology review

Pathology

Nervous system