Drugs treating seizure disorders

• Antiepileptic drugs work by inhibiting infl ux of sodium ions through sodium channels into the cell, inhibiting calcium ion infl ux into special calcium channels, or altering the effectiveness of GABA. • All antiepileptic drugs carry risks for teratogenicity. Stopping drug therapy also carries the risk for inducing seizures, which is risky to the mother and the fetus. Most babies born to epileptic mothers on drug therapy are normal. • Status epilepticus is a medical emergency and requires IV drug therapy. The fi rst line of treatment is a benzodiazepine, either diazepam or lorazepam. Phenytoin is used next. Phenobarbital is a third-line drug used if neither the benzodiazepine nor the phenytoin is effective. • Antiepileptic drug therapy can be successfully discontinued in about 70% of people once they are seizure-free for 2 years. • Nursing management procedures for the antiepileptic drugs are similar in many respects. Patients need to understand the disease process, how the disease and drug therapy may affect their lives, and possible adverse effects of drug therapy.