Medical Pharmacology: Epilepsy Practice Questions

Drug of first choice for absence seizures
1. primidone
2. ethosuximide
3. phenytoin
4. i.v. diazepam
Rapid termination of status epilepticus
1. i.v. diazepam
2. i.v. thiopental
3. both
4. neither
Effective in treating partial seizures:
1. phenytoin
2. carbamazepine
3. valproate
4. all of the above
Drugs in order of preference for managing absence seizures:
1. phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital
2. ethosuximide, valproate, trimethadione
3. carbamazepine, ethosuximide, valproate
4. valproate, carbamazepine, trimethadione
Antiepileptic drug: causes neutropenia (7%), sedation, nausea; a drug of choice in treating absence seizures.
1. trimethadione
2. pentazocine
3. ethosuximide
4. triazolam
a ten year old patient, being treated with ethosuximide for absence seizures, develops tonic-clonic seizures eight months later; choose LEAST appropriate drug for management of the new disorder.
1. phenytoin
2. valproate
3. carbamazepine
4. A & C
Reason for short duration of action of i.v. diazepam;
1. pharmacodynamic tolerance
2. rapid metabolism
3. drug redistribution
4. A & B