Week 2 : Drugs Used in the Management of Specific
Neurodegenerative Disorders Pharm 315 Questions With
Complete Solutions
Anticonvulsant Therapy:
-Antiseizure drugs are classified as central nervous system
(CNS) depressants.
-Phenytoin and other hydantoins reduce seizures by inhibiting
sodium influx, thereby stabilizing cell membranes and reducing
repetitive neuronal firing. -Oral (PO) phenytoin is most
commonly prescribed as a sustained-release (SR) capsule.
-Phenytoin is teratogenic and should only be used as a last resort
for seizure control during pregnancy Correct Answer
General Teaching:
1. Inform patients that rivastigmine may improve symptoms but
will not stop the disease progression.
2. Take the medication with meals. Swallow whole; do not
chew.
3. Ensure patients or care providers are aware of when
medication is due and when the dose should be increased.
4. Explain safety techniques (keeping paths clear to avoid injury
when a patient may wander).
5. Inform family members that there are support groups
available to them, such as the Alzheimer's Disease and Related
Disorders Association.
6. Notify family members about specific foods to prepare that
may help with consumption and tolerance during this therapy.
Side Effects:
-Explain to patients and caregivers the expected side effects and
those that require immediate medical attention.
,-Common: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, abdominal
pain, and weight loss
-Report immediately: Severe nausea/vomiting, increased
salivation, diap Correct Answer
Parkinsonism (Parkinson's disease) is a progressive neurologic
disorder that affects movement. It is the result of an imbalance
of dopamine and acetylcholine. Parkinsonism results when the
brain stops producing the neurotransmitter called dopamine
because of the deterioration of neurons in the substantia nigra.
Carbidopa and levodopa are dopaminergics, which are combined
to create a more effective parkinsonism therapy. Carbidopa
enhances the effects of levodopa by preventing levodopa
decarboxylation, resulting in an increased availability of
levodopa for transport to the brain. This means that more
levodopa can cross the blood-brain barrier and be converted into
dopamine.
Rivastigmine and other AChE inhibitors stop the breakdown of
acetylcholine, allowing more to be available to the neuron
receptors.
Rivastigmine is prescribed to patients with mild to moderate
Alzheimer's disease. As an AChE inhibitor, rivastigmine i
Correct Answer
Patient Teaching for Phenytoin:
1. Older adult male patient sitting on examination table with
nurse standing next to him holding medical equipment
2. When caring for a patient on anticonvulsant therapy, provide
the following teaching points:
3. Reinforce the importance of taking the medication as directed;
stopping the medication abruptly can cause rebound seizures.
,4. Tell patients that urine may be a harmless pinkish red or
reddish brown.
5. Advise patients to maintain good oral hygiene and to use a
soft toothbrush to prevent gum irritation and bleeding.
6. Teach patients to report symptoms of sore throat, fever,
bruising, and nosebleeds, which may indicate a blood dyscrasia.
7. Encourage patients to inform the health care provider of
adverse reactions, such as gingivitis, nystagmus, slurred speech,
rash, and dizziness. (Stevens-Johnson syndrome begins with a
rash.)
8. Advise patients with diabetes to monitor serum Correct
Answer
Question 1 of 16
A patient with complex partial seizures is prescribed phenytoin
to control recurrent seizures, but the patient reports being
reluctant to take the drug long term because of its side effects.
Which information would the nurse provide this patient?
"Tolerance to most phenytoin side effects will develop over
time."
"Ask your health care provider about reducing your phenytoin
dosage to minimize side effects."
"Ask your health care provider about stopping your phenytoin if
the side effects become troublesome."
"Ask your health care provider about the possibility of using a
different class of antiseizure medication." Correct Answer
"Ask your health care provider about the possibility of using a
different class of antiseizure medication."
Because phenytoin side effects may decrease adherence to the
drug regimen, another drug class may be considered to improve
the chances that the patient will continue to take the drug.
, Question 1 of 19
Which phrase describes a correct therapeutic goal for treatment
of Parkinson's disease?
Cure Parkinson's disease
Delay the progression of Parkinson's disease
Improve the patient's ability to carry out activities of daily living
Return the patient's ability to carry out activities of daily living
to baseline Correct Answer Improve the patient's ability to
carry out activities of daily living
A goal for all medication treatment plans used with Parkinson's
disease is to improve the patient's ability to carry out activities
of daily living.
Question 1 of 3
Through which mechanism of action do antiseizure drugs work?
They decrease the inhibitory neurotransmitter system in the
brain called the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system.
They increase calcium influx in the brain, causing a decrease in
electrical current flow.
They stabilize nerve cell membranes and suppress the abnormal
electrical impulses in the cerebral cortex.
They bind to opioid receptors, and molecular signaling activates
the receptors to mediate certain actions. Correct Answer They
stabilize nerve cell membranes and suppress the abnormal
electrical impulses in the cerebral cortex.
Antiseizure medications stabilize nerve cell membranes through
suppression of sodium influx and calcium influx or by
increasing the action of GABA to decrease neurotransmitter
activity in the brain.
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