NSG 222 Focused on Neurological
disorders & medications Exam Questions
with Approved Answers 2024/2025
Myoclonic seizure (special syndrome) - correct answer -larege jerking movements of
major muscle group, such as an arm
-falling from a sitting position or dropping what is held in hand
Status epilepticus (special syndrome) - correct answer -considered a medical
emergency
-repeated tonic-clonic seizures with no rest in between
-can lead to coma and death
Abcs and safety - correct answer first nursing interventions to focus on in the event a
patient has a seizure
Antiseizure - correct answer when a patient is on an _____________ med they cannot
abruptly stop taking these medications, must be done very slowly in about 6-12 weeks
with the help of a provider
*patient can experience status epilepticus if meds stopped abruptly
Mechanisms of action for antiseizure drugs - correct answer -suppress neuronal
activity just enough to prevent abnormal or repetitive firing
-stimulate the neurotransmitter gaba (an inhibatory neuron)
-delay an influx of sodium and calcium to slow down the electrical activity moving down
the axon
Gaba - correct answer an inhibatory neurtransmitter that is stimulated by antiseizure
meds
,Antiseizure - correct answer alot of __________ meds are dangerous and can easily
become toxic and have very yucky side effects
*start low and go slow with these meds
Barbiturates - correct answer drug with a low safety margin (extremely dangerous)
-takes several weeks to reach therapeutic levels (make sure patient remains compliant)
-intensify the effect of gaba (to slow down the electrical activity)
-generally depress the firing of cns neurons
-effective against all major seizure types except absence seizures
Seizure drugs - correct answer ___________ talk to the cns/depresses the cns
Prototype drug: phenobarbital (luminal)
Therapeutic class: antiseizure drug; sedative - correct answer pharmacologic class:
barbiturate; gabaa receptor agonist
Actions & uses:
-used to manage most seizures except for absent seizures
Nursing considerations
-controlled substance schedule iv
-pregnancy category d
*watch serum levels very closely to avoid overdose
Prototype drug: phenobarbital (luminal)
Therapeutic class: antiseizure drug; sedative - correct answer pharmacologic class:
barbiturate; gabaa receptor agonist
Adverse effects
Dependence! (schedule 4)
Drowsiness, laryngospasms (due to slowling of the cns)
, Overdose: severe respiratory depression; cns depression; coma; death
Contraindications
Allergies, pre-existing cns depression, severe respiratory disease with dyspnea or
obstruction, glaucoma
Interactions
Alcohol; other cns depressants
Phenobarbital - correct answer ____________ is a barbituate and never stops talking
gabba gabba
-mechanism: enhances gaba (sounds like gab—gabbing—talking a lot)
-this is barb. (short for barbara)
Barb is always gabbaing away.
Benzodiazepines - correct answer -very common drug used for seizures and
depression
-intensify the effect of gaba which slows down activity
(directly to gaba receptor)
-suppress abnormal firing of neurons
-tolerance may develop after only a few months
-generally adjunctive
-indicated for absence seizures and myoclonic seizures
- correct answer pharmacologic class: benzodiazepine; gabaa receptor agonist
Actions & uses:
-not a day to day treatment, used more as a short term drug due to tolerance
-finds gabba receptors and enhances their effects which slows down the electrical
activity
-calms without strong sedation
*treatment of overdose: flumazenil
disorders & medications Exam Questions
with Approved Answers 2024/2025
Myoclonic seizure (special syndrome) - correct answer -larege jerking movements of
major muscle group, such as an arm
-falling from a sitting position or dropping what is held in hand
Status epilepticus (special syndrome) - correct answer -considered a medical
emergency
-repeated tonic-clonic seizures with no rest in between
-can lead to coma and death
Abcs and safety - correct answer first nursing interventions to focus on in the event a
patient has a seizure
Antiseizure - correct answer when a patient is on an _____________ med they cannot
abruptly stop taking these medications, must be done very slowly in about 6-12 weeks
with the help of a provider
*patient can experience status epilepticus if meds stopped abruptly
Mechanisms of action for antiseizure drugs - correct answer -suppress neuronal
activity just enough to prevent abnormal or repetitive firing
-stimulate the neurotransmitter gaba (an inhibatory neuron)
-delay an influx of sodium and calcium to slow down the electrical activity moving down
the axon
Gaba - correct answer an inhibatory neurtransmitter that is stimulated by antiseizure
meds
,Antiseizure - correct answer alot of __________ meds are dangerous and can easily
become toxic and have very yucky side effects
*start low and go slow with these meds
Barbiturates - correct answer drug with a low safety margin (extremely dangerous)
-takes several weeks to reach therapeutic levels (make sure patient remains compliant)
-intensify the effect of gaba (to slow down the electrical activity)
-generally depress the firing of cns neurons
-effective against all major seizure types except absence seizures
Seizure drugs - correct answer ___________ talk to the cns/depresses the cns
Prototype drug: phenobarbital (luminal)
Therapeutic class: antiseizure drug; sedative - correct answer pharmacologic class:
barbiturate; gabaa receptor agonist
Actions & uses:
-used to manage most seizures except for absent seizures
Nursing considerations
-controlled substance schedule iv
-pregnancy category d
*watch serum levels very closely to avoid overdose
Prototype drug: phenobarbital (luminal)
Therapeutic class: antiseizure drug; sedative - correct answer pharmacologic class:
barbiturate; gabaa receptor agonist
Adverse effects
Dependence! (schedule 4)
Drowsiness, laryngospasms (due to slowling of the cns)
, Overdose: severe respiratory depression; cns depression; coma; death
Contraindications
Allergies, pre-existing cns depression, severe respiratory disease with dyspnea or
obstruction, glaucoma
Interactions
Alcohol; other cns depressants
Phenobarbital - correct answer ____________ is a barbituate and never stops talking
gabba gabba
-mechanism: enhances gaba (sounds like gab—gabbing—talking a lot)
-this is barb. (short for barbara)
Barb is always gabbaing away.
Benzodiazepines - correct answer -very common drug used for seizures and
depression
-intensify the effect of gaba which slows down activity
(directly to gaba receptor)
-suppress abnormal firing of neurons
-tolerance may develop after only a few months
-generally adjunctive
-indicated for absence seizures and myoclonic seizures
- correct answer pharmacologic class: benzodiazepine; gabaa receptor agonist
Actions & uses:
-not a day to day treatment, used more as a short term drug due to tolerance
-finds gabba receptors and enhances their effects which slows down the electrical
activity
-calms without strong sedation
*treatment of overdose: flumazenil
