Question

A 16-year-old child is brought to the emergency department by his mother with a complaint that the child just experienced a tonic-clonic seizure. On arrival in the emergency department no apparent seizures were occurring. The mother states that her son is taking medication for the seizure disorder. The nurse plans care, knowing that which of the following medications are used for long-term control of tonic-clonic seizures? Select all that apply

1. Diazepam (Valium)
2. Alprazolam (Xanax)
3. Gabapentin (Neurontin)
4. Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
5. Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
6. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Answer 1

For long-term control of tonic-clonic seizures in a 16-year-old, medications like Gabapentin (Neurontin) and Carbamazepine (Tegretol) are commonly used. Diazepam (Valium) is for managing active seizures, and other medications like Alprazolam (Xanax) and Methylphenidate (Ritalin) are not typically used for seizure disorders.

Step-by-step explanation:

When planning care for a 16-year-old child with a tonic-clonic seizure disorder who is taking medication for long-term control, it is important to be aware of the common anticonvulsants used for such treatment. For long-term seizure control, medications such as Gabapentin (Neurontin) and Carbamazepine (Tegretol) are often prescribed. Gabapentin works by affecting the electrical activity in the brain to prevent seizures, while Carbamazepine stabilizes the nerve activity.

Diazepam (Valium), though an anticonvulsant, is typically administered to manage active seizures rather than for long-term control, due to the risk of dependence and withdrawal associated with benzodiazepines. Similarly, Alprazolam (Xanax), another benzodiazepine, is generally used for the short-term treatment of anxiety symptoms rather than seizure disorders. Ethosuximide (Zarontin) is specifically used for absence seizures rather than tonic-clonic seizures. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a stimulant used to treat attention deficit disorder and is not used in the management of epilepsy.