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WorksheetsFDA Warnings and Effects of Medications
Total questions: 22
Worksheet time: 14mins
Seizures may be:
Only hereditary
Always caused by trauma
Idiopathic or secondary (tumors, metabolic disorders, drugs, withdrawal)
Caused only by infections
Epilepsy is defined as:
A single isolated seizure
Seizures caused by infection
Chronic, recurrent seizures usually requiring long-term therapy
Seizures treated only with surgery
Types of seizures include:
a) Petit mal and grand mal only
b) Generalized (tonic–clonic) and partial (simple or complex)
c) Myoclonic and febrile only
d) None of the above
Status epilepticus is dangerous because it can cause:
Only temporary confusion
Hypotension, hypoxia, dysrhythmias, brain damage, death
Sleepiness and headache
Seizure freedom afterward
Phenobarbital carries an FDA warning for:
Liver toxicity
Suicidal ideation
Agranulocytosis
Pancreatitis
Diazepam carries an FDA warning because:
It may cause seizures
Benzodiazepine + opioid → CNS depression, respiratory depression, death
It leads to liver failure
It always causes rash
Vigabatrin carries an FDA warning for:
Valproate carries FDA warnings for all EXCEPT:
Pancreatitis
Teratogenicity
Bleeding/bruising risk
Agranulocytosis
Carbamazepine carries an FDA warning for:
Pancreatitis
Aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis
Teratogenicity
Pancreatic cancer
Carbamazepine also carries a warning for:
Respiratory depression
Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, especially in Asians with HLA-B*1502
Suicidal ideation
Visual field loss
Newer AEDs are often:
Less effective
Better tolerated with enhanced seizure control
Used only in children
Used only for status epilepticus
Lamotrigine carries a warning for:
Hepatic failure
Serious dermatologic reactions, especially in children <16 years
Agranulocytosis
Teratogenicity
When discontinuing AEDs, the best approach is:
Stop immediately
Switch abruptly to another AED
Taper gradually over 1–3 months
Use only non-drug therapy
Serum drug level monitoring is important because:
It prevents headaches
It helps correlate drug levels with clinical response
It eliminates all side effects
It avoids the need for clinical assessment
Muscle spasms usually result from:
CNS damage
Trauma to skeletal muscle
Infection
Seizures
Spasticity results from:
Muscle trauma
Brain or spinal cord nerve damage
Electrolyte imbalance
Fatigue
Both spasms and spasticity can cause:
Seizures
Pain and disability
Fever
Blood dyscrasias
Nonpharmacologic treatments for spasm/spasticity include:
Antibiotics
AEDs
Physical therapy and supportive care
Opioids only
Most muscle relaxants act as:
Pain relievers only
CNS depressants (except dantrolene, which acts on muscle)
Antidepressants
Dopamine agonists
Dantrolene carries an FDA warning for:
Agranulocytosis
Hepatic impairment – monitor liver function and discontinue if abnormal
Suicidal ideation
Visual field loss
Felbamate carries an FDA warning for:
Teratogenicity only
Aplastic anemia, hepatic failure, suicidal ideation
Seizures
Agranulocytosis only
Vigabatrin also carries an FDA warning for:
Suicidal ideation
Permanent bilateral visual field constriction/tunnel vision
Agranulocytosis
Pancreatitis
