Anticonvulsant Medications
Anticonvulsant Medications ( 6 Questions)
A nurse is administering carbamazepine to a client who has partial seizures. The client asks the nurse how this medication works. What should the nurse say?
The nurse should say: "Carbamazepine works by blocking sodium channels in your brain cells, which reduces their excitability and prevents seizures." This is the most accurate and simple explanation of the mechanism of action of carbamazepine⁴.
- **"It enhances the activity of GABA in your brain, which inhibits the transmission of nerve impulses and prevents seizures."** This is not how carbamazepine works. This is a description of the mechanism of action of some other anticonvulsants, such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates¹².
- **"It modulates the activity of NMDA receptors in your brain, which reduces the influx of calcium and prevents seizures."** This is not how carbamazepine works. This is a description of the mechanism of action of some other anticonvulsants, such as felbamate and topiramate¹².
- **"It facilitates the opening of potassium channels in your brain cells, which stabilizes their membrane potential and prevents seizures."** This is not how carbamazepine works. This is a description of the mechanism of action of some other anticonvulsants, such as ezogabine and retigabine¹².
The correct answer is choice
A. "It blocks sodium channels in your brain cells, which reduces their excitability and prevents seizures."
The nurse should say: "Carbamazepine works by blocking sodium channels in your brain cells, which reduces their excitability and prevents seizures." This is the most accurate and simple explanation of the mechanism of action of carbamazepine⁴.
The other choices are incorrect and should not be said by the nurse:
- **"It enhances the activity of GABA in your brain, which inhibits the transmission of nerve impulses and prevents seizures."** This is not how carbamazepine works. This is a description of the mechanism of action of some other anticonvulsants, such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates¹².
- **"It modulates the activity of NMDA receptors in your brain, which reduces the influx of calcium and prevents seizures."** This is not how carbamazepine works. This is a description of the mechanism of action of some other anticonvulsants, such as felbamate and topiramate¹².
- **"It facilitates the opening of potassium channels in your brain cells, which stabilizes their membrane potential and prevents seizures."** This is not how carbamazepine works. This is a description of the mechanism of action of some other anticonvulsants, such as ezogabine and retigabine¹².
