Neurology Lecture Notes Flashcards

50 vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on Parkinson's disease, seizure disorders, and related medications.

Parkinson's Disease

A progressive neurologic disorder characterized by low dopamine levels and increased acetylcholine in the CNS, leading to tremors, muscle rigidity, and abnormal movements.

Dopamine (in Parkinson's)

Neurotransmitter present in low levels in the brain in Parkinson's disease, causing slow movement and poor motor function control.

Acetylcholine (in Parkinson's)

A neurotransmitter present in high levels in Parkinson's disease, causing muscle rigidity and stiffness.

Tremors (Parkinson's)

Uncontrolled shaking, often affecting hands and feet, prominent at rest and improving somewhat during action.

Rigidity (Parkinson's)

Stiffness and inflexibility of muscles, making movement difficult, often experienced upon waking.

Shuffling Gait

A characteristic slow, short-stepped walking pattern in Parkinson's patients, resulting from slow movement and rigid muscles.

Dopaminergic Medication

A class of medications used to treat Parkinson's disease by increasing dopamine levels in the brain.

Anticholinergic Medications (Parkinson's)

A class of medications used to treat Parkinson's disease by decreasing acetylcholine to reduce muscle rigidity and stiffness.

Levodopa Carbidopa

A combination medication for Parkinson's disease where levodopa converts to dopamine in the brain, and carbidopa prevents levodopa from being broken down prematurely.

Dyskinesia (Parkinson's goal)

Abnormal, uncontrolled movements or slow movement (bradykinesia), resting tremors, and rigidity that Parkinson's treatment aims to relieve.

Wearing off phenomenon

A period when the effect of a Parkinson's medication (e.g., levodopa carbidopa) diminishes or ceases before the next dose, leading to a return or worsening of symptoms.

High protein meals (with levodopa carbidopa)

Meals that should be avoided when taking levodopa carbidopa, as they can decrease the effectiveness of the medication.

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) (with levodopa carbidopa)

A vitamin that should be avoided in foods when taking levodopa carbidopa, as it can reduce the medication's effect.

Hypotension (Levodopa Carbidopa side effect)

Low blood pressure, a common cardiovascular side effect of levodopa carbidopa, requiring patients to change positions slowly.

Gait changes (Parkinson's symptom)

Alterations in how a person walks, characterized by a slow and shuffling pattern in Parkinson's disease.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) (for Parkinson's)

Medications that inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO), which normally breaks down dopamine, thereby increasing dopamine levels in the brain.

Selegiline

An example of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Insomnia (Selegiline side effect)

Difficulty falling or staying asleep, a potential side effect of selegiline, thus advised to be given early in the day.

Tyramine containing foods

Foods such as aged cheeses, cured meats, beer, wine, and chocolate that must be avoided when taking MAOIs to prevent a hypertensive crisis.

Hypertensive Crisis (MAOIs)

A severe and rapid increase in blood pressure caused by the interaction of MAOIs with tyramine-rich foods.

Dopamine Agonist

A class of dopaminergic medications (like pramipexole or ropinirole) that directly stimulate dopamine receptors in the brain.

Amantadine

An anti-Parkinsonian medication that works by promoting the release of dopamine from stored neurons and preventing its reuptake, thus increasing dopamine levels.

Anticholinergic Side Effects

A cluster of 'dry' side effects that include decreased salivation, blurry vision, dry mouth, dry eyes, urinary retention, constipation, and decreased sweating.

Benztropine

An anticholinergic medication used in Parkinson's disease to lower acetylcholine levels, helping to restore balance with dopamine and reduce tremors and rigidity.

CNS Depression (general medication effect)

A state where brain function is slowed, often resulting in confusion, dizziness, depression, disorientation, memory issues, or nervousness.

Contraindications (Benztropine)

Conditions or diseases where benztropine should not be administered, such as GU obstruction, glaucoma, prostate enlargement, or myasthenia gravis.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Everyday basic self-care tasks such as walking, bathing, and feeding oneself; a primary goal of Parkinson's treatment is to improve a patient's ability to perform these.

Seizures

Episodes of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain caused by abnormal and excessive firing of neurons.

Tonic-Clonic Seizure

A type of seizure characterized by generalized body shaking, historically known as 'grand mal' seizures.

Absence Seizure

A type of seizure where the patient appears to 'blank out' or stare for a few seconds without any movement, indicating unresponsiveness.

Epilepsy

A neurological condition diagnosed when an individual experiences two or more unprovoked seizures, often occurring one after another.

Antiseizure Medication (Mechanism)

Drugs that work by stabilizing nerve membranes and lowering neuronal excitability, often by modulating calcium or sodium channels, to prevent excessive electrical activity that causes seizures.

Sedation (Antiseizure meds side effect)

A common side effect of antiseizure medications, characterized by drowsiness or reduced level of consciousness, due to their action in the brain.

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

An anticonvulsant medication (hydantoin class) that reduces seizure activity by stabilizing nerve membranes and decreasing sodium influx.

Therapeutic Level (Phenytoin)

The desired concentration of phenytoin in the blood, which is 10-20 mcg/mL, necessary for effective treatment without toxicity.

Phenytoin Toxicity

A condition occurring when phenytoin blood levels exceed 20 mcg/mL, leading to symptoms like ataxia, confusion, slurred speech, and nystagmus.

Nystagmus (Phenytoin side effect)

Involuntary, repetitive movements of the eyes, often side-to-side, which can be a CNS side effect of phenytoin.

Gingival Hyperplasia (Phenytoin side effect)

An abnormal overgrowth and enlargement of the gum tissue, a significant side effect associated with phenytoin use, requiring good oral hygiene.

Abrupt Cessation (Antiseizure Meds)

The sudden discontinuation of antiseizure medications, which is strongly discouraged as it can lead to a worsening of seizure symptoms or status epilepticus.

Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

An anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer medication that decreases neuron excitability and seizure activity, also used for nerve pain and bipolar disorder.

Leukopenia (Carbamazepine side effect)

A decrease in the number of white blood cells caused by carbamazepine, increasing the patient's risk for infection.

Anemia (Carbamazepine side effect)

A reduction in red blood cell count caused by carbamazepine, leading to symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath.

Thrombocytopenia (Carbamazepine side effect)

A decrease in platelet count caused by carbamazepine, which increases the patient's risk of bleeding.

Valproic Acid (Depakene)

An antiseizure medication that reduces electrical activity in the brain and affects neurotransmitters; also used for absence seizures and bipolar disorders.

Hepatotoxicity (Valproic Acid side effect)

Liver toxicity, a major adverse effect of valproic acid, requiring regular monitoring of liver function tests.

Pancreatitis (Valproic Acid side effect)

Inflammation of the pancreas, a potential severe side effect associated with valproic acid use.

Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

An antiseizure medication and mood stabilizer that works by inhibiting the release of glutamate and blocking sodium channels to stabilize neurons.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (Lamotrigine side effect)

A rare but severe and potentially life-threatening skin reaction characterized by a rash, which can be caused by lamotrigine.

Levetiracetam (Keppra)

An antiseizure medication that binds to a specific protein (SV2A) in the brain to reduce severe electrical activity and prevent seizures.

Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Medication primarily used for neuropathic pain and also for seizure disorders, believed to work with GABA to decrease neuronal excitability and pain levels.