Nokea
When teaching a patient about taking a newly prescribed antiepileptic drug (AED) at home, the nurse will include which instruction?
- A. Driving is allowed after 2 weeks of therapy.
- B. If seizures recur, take a double dose of the medication.
- C. Antacids can be taken with the AED to reduce gastrointestinal adverse effects.
- D. Take the drug at the same time every day.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Consistent dosing, taken regularly at the same time of day, at the recommended dose, and with meals to reduce the common gastrointestinal adverse effects, is the key to successful management of seizures when taking AEDs. The other options are not correct statements.
You may also like to solve these questions
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning for users of antiepileptic drugs. Based on this report, the nurse will monitor for which potential problems with this class of drugs?
- A. Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- B. Signs of bone marrow depression
- C. Indications of drug addiction and dependency
- D. Increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as strokes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required black box warnings on all antiepileptic drugs regarding the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Patients being treated with antiepileptic drugs for any indication need to be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior. The other options are incorrect.
A 9-year-old child will be receiving carbamazepine suspension, 200 mg twice daily. The medication is available in a strength of 100 mg/5 mL. Identify how many milliliters the nurse will give to the patient for each dose.
Correct Answer: 10 mL
Rationale: 100 mg : 5 mL :: 200 mg : x mL; (100 * x) = (5 * 200); 100x = 1000; x = 10 mL/dose.
Phenytoin has a narrow therapeutic index. The nurse recognizes that this characteristic indicates which of these?
- A. The safe and the toxic plasma levels of the drug are very close to each other.
- B. The phenytoin has a low chance of being effective.
- C. There is no difference between safe and toxic plasma levels.
- D. A very small dosage can result in the desired therapeutic effect.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Having a narrow therapeutic index means that there is a small difference between safe and toxic drug levels. These drugs require monitoring of therapeutic plasma levels. The other options are incorrect.
The nurse is reviewing antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. Which statements about AED therapy are accurate?
- A. AED therapy can be stopped when seizures are stopped.
- B. AED therapy is usually lifelong.
- C. Consistent dosing is the key to controlling seizures.
- D. A dose may be skipped if the patient is experiencing adverse effects.
- E. Abruptly stopping AEDs may cause rebound seizure activity.
Correct Answer: B,C,E
Rationale: Patients need to know that AED therapy is usually lifelong, and compliance (with consistent dosing) is important for effective seizure control. Abruptly stopping AED therapy may cause withdrawal (or rebound) seizure activity.
During a routine appointment, a patient with a history of seizures is found to have a phenytoin level of 18 mg/mL. What concern will the nurse have, if any?
- A. The patient is at risk for seizures because the drug level is not at a therapeutic level.
- B. The patient's seizures should be under control because this is a therapeutic drug level.
- C. The patient's seizures should be under control if she is also taking a second antiepileptic drug.
- D. The drug level is at a toxic level, and the dosage needs to be reduced.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic drug levels for phenytoin are usually 10 to 20 mg/mL. The other options are incorrect.