title: Anticonvulsants: pharmacotherapeutic issues in the critically ill patient.
abstract: Critically ill patients often have or develop conditions that make them susceptible to seizures and epilepsy. Treatment frequently involves the use of anti-convulsants. In order to use these effectively, the critical care nurse must be aware of the indications and controversies surrounding their use, the patho-physiologic conditions that impact on the disposition, and appropriate dosing and monitoring of these agents in the critical care setting.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dupuis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miranda-Massari
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012640:Seizures / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002220:Carbamazepine; D010672:Phenytoin; D010424:Pentobarbital; D010634:Phenobarbital