NSG222 Exam Study Guide on Neurological
Disorder and Drugs Questions with Approved
Answers 2024/2025
Phenobarbital contraindications - correct answer allergies, pre-existing CNS
depression, severe respiratory disease with dyspnea or obstruction, glaucoma
Phenobarbital interactions - correct answer alcohol, other CNS depressants
Phenobarbital nursing considerations - correct answer controlled substance schedule
IV, pregnancy category D, talking directly to CNS, slows down the nervous system
which can cause drowsiness
Benzodiazepines - correct answer intensify the effect of GABA by binding directly to
GABA, suppress abnormal firing of neurons, tolerance may develop after only a few
months, generally adjunctive, indicated for absence seizures and myoclonic seizures
Diazepam therapeutic and pharmacological class - correct answer therapeutic:
antiseizure drug
Pharmacological: benzodiazepine, GABAA receptor agonist
Diazepam actions and uses - correct answer binds to GABA receptor-chloride
channels, suppresses abnormal neuronal faci that may cause seizures, calms without
strong sedation
Diazepam adverse effects - correct answer tolerance and dependence, hypotension,
muscle weakness, tachycardia, respiratory distress
Diazepam contraindications - correct answer shock, coma, depressed, acute narrow-
angle glaucoma, within 14 days of MAOI therapy
,Diazepam interactions - correct answer alcohol and other CNS depressants
Diazepam nursing considerations - correct answer pregnancy category D
Diazepam treatment of overdose - correct answer flumazenil
Hydantoins and phenytoin related drugs - correct answer desensitize sodium channels
(lets less sodium in which delays depolarization and suppresses seizure activity), result
in delayed depolarization, suppressed neuronal activity, indicated for all types of
seizures except absence seizures, VERY NARROW MARGIN OF SAFETY
Phenytoin therapeutic and pharmacological class - correct answer therapeutic: anti
seizure drug
Pharmacological: hydantoin, sodium influx suppressing drug
Phenytoin actions and uses - correct answer desensitizes sodium channels, prevents
spread of disruptive electrical charges that produce seizures, effective against most
seizures but absence seizures
Phenytoin adverse effects - correct answer dysrhythmias, hypotension, headache,
confusion, slurred speech, twitching, insomnia, peripheral neuropathy, blood dyscrasias,
aplastic anemia, stevens-johnson syndrome, gingival hyperplasia
Phenytoin contraindications - correct answer rashes, seizures r/t hypoglycemia, sinus
bradycardia, heart block
Phenytoin interactions - correct answer oral anticoagulants, glucocorticoids, H2
antagonists, antituberculin drugs, food supplements, digoxin, doxycycline, furosemide,
estrogen, oral contraceptives, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants
Phenytoin nursing considerations - correct answer only mix IV with NS, monitor CBC
and platelets, avoid hand ivs to prevent serious local vasoconstriction, pregnancy
category D
, Valproic acid therapeutic and pharmacological class - correct answer therapeutic:
antiseizure drug
Pharmacological class: valproate
Valproic acid actions and uses - correct answer treatment of petit mal, grand mal, and
akinetic-myoclonic seizures, same action as phenytoin, dessenitizes sodium channels
Valproic acid adverse effects - correct answer sedation, drowsiness, upset GI,
prolonged bleeding time, bone marrow suppression, rash, photosensitivity, fatal
hepatotoxicity,
Valproic acid contraindications - correct answer liver disease, bleeding dysfunction,
pancreatitis, metabolic disorders
Valproic acid interactions - correct answer many, use a drug guide and thorough drug
history
Valproic acid nursing considerations - correct answer GI irritant, mouth sores,
pregnancy category D, monitor liver function tests, monitor CBC and platelets, monitor
ability to make blood cells
Carbamazepine therapeutic and pharmacological class - correct answer therapeutic:
antiseizure drug
Pharmacological: iminostilbenes
Carbamazepine actions and uses - correct answer treatment of simple partial, complex
partial, and tonic-clonic seizures, blocks sodium channels
Carbamazepine adverse effects - correct answer nystagumus, double vision, vertigo,
headache, blood dyscrasias, fluid overload, stevens-johnson syndrome
