Anticonvulsant Medications
Anticonvulsant Medications
Description
• Anticonvulsant medications are used to depress abnormal neuronal discharges and prevent the spread of seizures to adjacent neurons.
• Anticonvulsant medications should be used with caution in clients taking anticoagulants, aspirin, sulfonamides, cimetidine (Tagamet), and antipsychotic drugs.
• Absorption is decreasedwith the use of antacids, calcium preparations, and antineoplastic medications.
Medication Therapeutic Serum Range
Amobarbital (Amytal) 1-5 mcg/mL
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) 3-14 mcg/mL
Clonazepam (Klonopin) 20-80 ng/mL
Ethosuximide (Zarontin) 40-100 mcg/mL
Ethotoin (Peganone) 10-50 mcg/mL
Lorazepam (Ativan) 50-240 ng/mL
Mephobarbital (Mebaral) 15-40 mcg/mL
Phenobarbital (Luminal) 15-40 mcg/mL
Phenytoin (Dilantin) 10-20 mcg/mL