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
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A common side effect of this medication is hangover. Photosensitivity is also a side effect that the patient may experience when taking this drug. They May also experience constipations or diarrhea when on taking this medication. Some other side effects are “rashes, vomiting, hypotension, delirium, depression, drowsiness, excitation, lethargy, and vertigo” (Deglin et al, 2011). Patients who are taking Phenobarbital may also experience heart complications such as myalgia. (Deglin et al, 2011)
When administering Phenobarbital to the patient, it is important to take the patients vital signs and assess for pain. Since this medication can cause respiratory complications it is important to monitor respirations and lung sounds regularly and to have the appropriate equipment available in case of an emergency. The patient should be assessed for any signs of seizures. Since these medications affect the central nervous system, the patient’s level of consciousness should be monitored before and after administering the medication.
Health teaching is very important when administering Phenobarbital. The nurse should instruct the patient to take this medication as directed and if they miss a dose to not double up on the doses. The patient should be informed that Phenobarbital may cause photosensitivity and they should be instructed to wear protective clothing such as long sleeved shirts, hats and sunglasses and to wear sunscreen when
When deciding whether or not to give a medication to a patient, many things must be taken into account. These conditions are known as indications. The indications for a medication include the most common uses of the drug in treating a specific condition (10). Another thing to be considered are contraindications, which are conditions where the drug should not be given. Contraindications are situations in which the drug should not be administered because of the potential harm that could be caused to the patient (10). The dosage is also important. The dose simply indicates how much of the drug should be given to the patient (10). The actions of the drug must always also be taken into account. The actions are the therapeutic effects the drug will have (10). Side effects of the medications must also be considered. Side effects are actions that are not desired and occur in addition to the desired therapeutic effects. Some side effects are unpredictable (10).
Seizure is an abnormal electrical activity in a person's brain, seizures can occur on a daily basis. Others have them once every couple of months and many may have them every now and then or never if treated with medication. There are many types of seizure, for some seizures a person may become very stiff leading them to pass out and their whole body shakes, full body-seizures can reduce breathing, bite their tongues causing them to bleed,
Seizure is the physical finding that occurs after abnormal electrical activities in the brain. Patients with seizures could have symptoms like changes in one’s behavior, drooling, frothing at the mouth, irregular eye movement, grunting and snorting, incontinence, extreme changes in mood, shakes, sudden falls, abnormal changes in taste buds, clenching teeth, respiratory arrest, uncontrolled muscle spasms, twitching, and brief blackout follow by period of confusion where they don’t remember anything (Seizures: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia). Seizures also have many underlying etiology such as abnormal sodium or glucose levels in the blood, brain infections, brain injuries, brain tumor,
In my opinion, the medication side effects are the most important risk to be considered. The reason for my opinion, is the direct relation between the medication side effects and the patients’ safety.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells also called neurons inside the brain signal unusually or in which case the brains neurological pattern also called the electrical pattern is disrupted. Neurons inside the brain usually generate electrochemical impulses that communicate with other neurons. In Epilepsy, the usual pattern of neurological activity becomes distorted, causing odd sensations such as behavioral and emotional, muscle spasms, sometimes convulsions and loss of consciousness can occur. Seizure disorders originate from a pathogenic process, head trauma, metabolic processes, exogenous or endogenous poisons, and a simple fever. Seizures may be a result from an exposure to many types of poisons such as lead and carbon monoxide but it can also
Epilepsy/seizure – caused by an abnormal electrical condition in the brain producing: absences, convulsions, unusual movements, temporary loss of consciousness.
Seizures are caused by a neurologic malfunction that causes abnormal electrical activity within the brain. These can be localized or cause symptoms such as numbness that stems from an explosive firing of nerves in the brain. Tumors or brain damage can cause someone to develop this disease. There is no cure for them but medications can help to reduce seizures. My dad is on two different medication that
Being forgetful, slurred speech, feeling sad or empty, relaxed and calm, loss of interest or pleasure, sleepiness or unusual drowsiness, lack of appetite, clumsiness or unsteadiness, feeling tired, trouble concentrating and less common side effects would be things like cough, dark urine, diarrhea, blurred vision, body aches or pain, shaking or shivering , nausea, seizers and the list goes on.
There are different kinds of seizures, each having different effects. There is the generalized seizures which is a kind of seizure that affects the entire brain.There is the partial seizures which affects part of the brain. There is non-epileptic seizures, which is not really related to seizures, but it is caused by things,
A seizure is a disruption of the electrical activity between neurons in the brain. The resulting chemical changes can lead to a surge of electrical activity causing a seizure. Aside from trauma to the brain due to injury, or
Phenobarbital would be my drug of choice within the barbiturate class of drugs. I would choose to target these class of drugs for epilepsy due to their potency and yet the severity of side effects. As one of the oldest epileptic drugs, there is room for improvement with phenobarbital, particularly with the side effects mentioned. Also of note, there was a study that looked at possibly combining a NKCC1 inhibitor, such as bumetanide, with phenobarbital to increase the action of the barbiturate (4) or the combination of phenobarbital and phenytonin (10). I would use these ideas as a launching point for my research.
With the growing reliance on medication therapy as the primary intervention for most illnesses, patients receiving medication interventions are exposed to potential harm as well as benefits. Medicines have proven to be very beneficial for treating illness and preventing disease. This success has resulted in a dramatic increase in medication use in recent times. Unfortunately, this increase in use and expansion of the pharmaceutical industry has also brought with it an increase in hazards, error and adverse events associated with medication use.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which individuals have recurrent seizures. Seizures can occur in children and adults of any age. There are around 50 million people in the world who has the disorder. Individuals in developing countries are at a higher risk for developing the disorder. Seizures occur due to hyper-excitability and hyper-synchronization of neurons. Action potential transmits messages and it leads to depolarization. When neurons are uncontrollably depolarizes because of hyper-excitability due to too little inhibition, it cause a seizure. Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. As spontaneously they can develop is also as fast and spontaneous they can end.
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.
Epilepsy is a condition in which a person has two or more seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. Epilepsy is one of the oldest conditions of the human race. Epilepsy Awareness is important because Epilepsy is a widely misunderstood disorder. The reason that Epilepsy has been misunderstood has been mainly due to research not being conducted until the middle of the nineteenth century. There are six main types of seizures and many treatments that can assist an epileptic patient. Many facts and myths exist about a person who has Epilepsy, which, is why it is an important disorder to understand. A person living with Epilepsy can typically have a normal life after seeking medical advice from doctors.