Antiepileptic Drugs and Pharmacology

Synchronized firing of neuron groups can create a seizure pattern.

Barbiturate and benzodiazepine usage is typically NOT a cause of epilepsy; these are often used as treatments.

Tetanus toxin is NOT a GABA A receptor antagonist, but a neurotoxin affecting motor neurons.

Penicillin typically does NOT have proconvulsant effects.

Epileptic seizures can occur when excitation in the brain increases.

A balanced lifestyle is NOT a factor that causes epilepsy.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to identify structural causes of epilepsy.

Partial seizures commonly affect the temporal lobe.

The most common type of generalized epilepsy is tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures.

Absence (petit mal) seizures usually disappear during adolescence.

Myoclonic seizures are characterized by sudden, brief, or repetitive muscle contractions.

Lorazepam or diazepam are administered intravenously as the first-line treatment for status epilepticus.

Midazolam might be added as a second-line treatment for status epilepticus.

If hypoglycemia is present during status epilepticus, it must be corrected.

Fosphenytoin can be given as a third-line treatment for status epilepticus.