Seizures are defined as “paroxysmal, uncontrolled electrical discharge of neurons in the brain that interrupts normal function” (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Butcher, & Camera, 20011). Seizures can be caused by various things from head trauma to a disease process. There are several types of seizures. These include absence partial and generalized seizures. They can also vary in intensity ranging from mild to full blown. Seizures can cause severe complications and should be treated or the cause of the seizures corrected. (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Butcher, & Camera, 20011).
Phenobarbital is classified as an anticonvulsant. This classification of drugs is used to “decrease the incidence and severity of seizures” (Deglin et al, 2011). The drug acts by depressing the central nervous system and preventing it from reaching a level where seizures would occur. This drug can be given several different ways. It can be given by mouth, intramuscular, subcutaneously, and as an IV medication. After it is absorbed into the body it is metabolized by the liver. The drug is used by the body and then is excreted via the kidneys. A patient should not be given this drug if they have a high sensitivity to the drugs, problems with their liver of kidneys, is experiencing uncontrolled pain, or has any respiratory diseases. The patient should not take if breastfeeding and should take with caution if pregnant. (Deglin et al, 2011)
The dosage of Phenobarbital varies greatly according to what the drug is given to treat. If it is given to manage seizures the dosage given is “1–3 mg/kg/day as a single dose or 2 divided doses” (Deglin et al, 2011). It can also be given as an IV med for status epilepticus. The dosage for this is “15–18 mg/kg in a single or div...
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Works Cited
Deglin, J. H., Dallerand, A. H., & Sanoski, C. A. (2011). Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses, 12th
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Nimaga, K, D. Desplats, O. Doumbo and G. Farnarier. "Treatment with phenobarbital and monitoring of epileptic patients in rural Mali. (Research)." Bulletin of the World Health Organization 80.7 (July 2002): 532(6). Nursing Resource Center. Gale. South Florida Community College, CCLA. 6 Mar. 2012 .
Lewis, S. L., Dirksen, S. R., Heitkemper, M. M., Butcher, L., & Camera, I. M. (20011). Medical Surgical Nursing (8th ed.). (J. Horn, & K. Green, Eds.) St. Louis, Missouri: Wiley Blackwell Publishing.
This paper will outline the background of Zolpidem; going through the history of the drug. The drugs path of movement through the body or the pharmacokinetics will also be explained. The process of absorption, distribution, and inactivation will be covered in the pharmacokinetics. Pharmacodynamics of the drug will be covered; explaining the sites of action and the areas of the brain that are affected by the drug. The potential for tolerance and dependence to be developed will also be examined. The level of toxicity of Zolpidem along with the potential side effects. The drug’s effectiveness as a form of psychotherapy will also be analyzed.
Paroxysmal rehabilitation was initiated in the early 1930’s in Europe by Ladislaus von Meduna as management for catatonic schizophrenia. Ladislaus generated seizures by the injection of camphor in oil but almost immediately interchanged camphor with metrazol because of its solubility and rapid onset of action. Also in 1934, Bini and Cerletti forged the use of electricity to persuade seizures. Electrical-induced convulsions were more prudent, inexpensive, and reliable than the camphor-induced convulsion.
Ignatavicius, D. D., & Workman, M. L. (2013). Care of Intraoperative Patients. Medical-surgical nursing: patient-centered collaborative care (7th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier.
Hochadel, M. (2014). Mosby's Drug Reference for Health Care Professionals (fourth edition ed.). : Elsevier.
The dosage indicated on the product leaflet matches the recommended dose. However, there are mismatches between the dosing intervals. It can be seen that the doses are spaced too far apart (8 hourly) in comparison with the recommended dose spacing intervals (4-6 hourly). A recommended dosing interval would be 6 hourly. Upon rectifying, the new dose would be 10 mL Actifed Expectorant syrup 4 times a day, or most specifically, every 6 hours. This not only bears a closer resemblance to the literature dosage, it still falls within the maximum daily dose:
Epilepsy, also known as “seizure disorder,” or “seizure attack,” is the fourth most common neurological disorder known to mankind, affecting an estimated 2.3 million adults and 467,711 children in the United States. Unfortunately this disorder is becoming far more common and widespread worldwide. This staggering number of cases of people suffering from Epilepsy also involves an average growth rate of 150,000 new cases each year in the United States alone. Generally, many of the people who develop who are a part of the new are mainly either young children or older adults. Your brain communicates through chemical and electrical signals that are all specialized for specific tasks. However, through the process of communication, chemical messengers, also known as neurotransmitters can suddenly fail, resulting in what is known as a seizure attack. Epilepsy occurs when a few too many brain cells become excited, or activated simultaneously, so that the brain cannot function properly and to it’s highest potential. Epilepsy is characterized when there is an abnormal imbalance in the chemical activity of the brain, leading to a disruption in the electrical activity of the brain. This disruption specifically occurs in the central nervous system (CNS), which is the part of the nervous system that contains the brain and spinal cord. This causes an interruption in communication between presynaptic neurons and postsynaptic neurons; between the axon of one neuron, the message sender and the dendrite of another neuron, the message recipient. Consequently, the effects that epileptic seizures may induce may range anywhere from mild to severe, life-threatening ramifications and complications. There are many different types of seizures associa...
Depressants also called downers are a drug which slow down the central nervous system.Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Alcohol, Heroin, and Marijuna. Depressants cna be smoked, swallowed, and injected. Short term effects are slurred speech, drowsiness, low blood pressure, ect. Long term effects are addiction, sleep problems, death. Withdrawal symptoms are insomnia nausea and weekness. Tolerance can develop very quickly and then addiction.
Epilepsy, also called seizure disorder, chronic brain disorder that briefly interrupts the normal electrical activity of the brain to cause seizures, characterized by a variety of symptoms including uncontrolled movements of the body, disorientation or confusion, sudden fear, or loss of consciousness. Epilepsy may result from a head injury, stroke, brain tumor, lead poisoning, genetic conditions, or severe infections like meningitis or encephalitis. In over 70 percent of cases no cause for epilepsy were identified. About 1 percent of the world population, or over 2 million people, are diagnosed with epilepsy.
Refer to your doctor or pharmacist for guidelines on dosage. Do not exceed what they
Epilepsy is characterized by uncontrolled excessive activity of either a part of, or all of the central nervous system. A person who is predisposed to epilepsy has attacks when the basal level of excitability of the nervous system rises above a certain critical threshold. As long as the degree of excitability is held below this threshold, no attack occurs. Basically, epilepsy can be classified into three major types: grand mal, petit mal, and focal or partial epilepsy.
There are specific benzodiazepine receptors in the nervous system that mostly surrounds the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and limbic system. Barbiturates have their own binding sites and modulate the chloride channel. They increase the duration of this channel, while benzodiazepines increase the frequency. Also barbiturates are less selective than benzodiazepines on the CNS. Barbiturates are positive allosteric modulation of GABAA receptors. These drugs bind to this receptor at the beta end, which are distinct from GABA and benzodiazepine binding sites as well as block the AMPA receptor. Benzodiazepines increase the efficiency of GABA, which reduces neurons excitability, allowing functions in the brain to go in a calming effect due to less communication between neurons. Conduction of chloride ions across the cell membrane increases when the benzodiazepines bind to the GABA receptor. Benzodiazepines have many advantages over barbiturates making it favored in the pharmaceutical industry for hypnotics. The drugs have a much higher therapeutic index than barbiturates, making it a much safer drug to use due to a greater safety margin. Rem-type sleep is crucial for feeling rested after a sleep. Barbiturates suppress this greatly while Benzodiazepines doesn’t nearly as much. Both of these drugs assist with relaxation and tranquility but may also impair motor function. A possible side effect with patients who use barbiturate at a moderate dose is becoming hostile as well as being in a state of pleasurable intoxication. The danger of taking a high dose of barbiturates is severe as i...
Davenport, Joan M., Stacy Estridge, and Dolores M. Zygmont. Medical-surgical nursing. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008, 66-88.
Brunner, L.S. & Suddarth, D. S Textbook of Medical- Surgical Nursing, 1988 6th ed. J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia
Although students were not allowed in the recovery unit, I was able to talk to one of the recovery nurses. I learned that a nurse’s duty of care includes monitoring the patient’s vital signs and level of consciousness, and maintaining airway patency. Assessing pain and the effectiveness of pain management is also necessary. Once patients are transferred to the surgical ward, the goal is to assist in the recovery process, as well as providing referral details and education on care required when the patient returns home (Hamlin, 2010).
Firstly, nurses are expected to practice evidence-based health care hence a mastery of information about the essential and safe dose of drugs for a patient is very important for a nurse. Consequently, it could be the determinant between the life and the death of the patient. Pharmacology is a discipline which is mandatory for the nurse to excel in to be efficient in discharging his/her duties. Understanding which drug to use, the right dosage, the expected side effects which may occur and the contra-indications of the various drugs are key in the preservation of