Update of Antiepileptic Drug Dosing and Administration

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Since the American Epilepsy Society guidelines were published in 2016, new studies of dosing and administration of antiepileptic drugs for managing status epilepticus (SE) have been published. To prevent poor neurological 0utcomes, healthcare providers must recognize, treat, and attempt to terminate seizures when they occur. It is vital to choose an optimal agent and administer the agent as safely and quickly as possible. Common antiepileptics used in SE can be safely administered via intravenous push (IVP). Other agents, such as fosphenytoin and valproic acid, can be safely administered faster than the package insert recommendations but may require multiple doses to be prepared at the bedside or 1 dose to be sent from the pharmacy. In this article we propose an algorithm for administration of recommended antiepileptic drugs with dosing, special storage requirements, and other considerations for the treatment of SE in inpatient adults.

Objectives

Summarize the first-line treatment recommendations for the management of status epilepticus.
Identify the anti-epileptic medications used as second-line treatment options in managing status epilepticus.
Describe alternative dosing and administration techniques of second-line anti-epileptics based on recently published literature.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must attend/view/read the entire activity and complete the associated evaluation to be awarded the contact hours or CERP. No partial credit will be awarded.

Disclosure

This activity has been reviewed by the Nurse Planner. It has been determined that the material presented here shows no bias. No conflicts of interest have been identified for any individual with the ability to influence the content of this activity. Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN or ANCC approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC's) Commission on Accreditation, ANCC Provider Number 0012. AACN has been approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the California State Board of Nursing (CBRN), California Provider number CEP 1036. This activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours.

AACN programming meets the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education contact hours for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting CE to fulfill continuing education requirements.

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