A 19-year-old man with a significant seizure history has various seizures including partial onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, and, occasionally, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. His physician prescribed levetiracetam. This agent likely works on which of the following structures?

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Question 1 of 5

A 19-year-old man with a significant seizure history has various seizures including partial onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, and, occasionally, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. His physician prescribed levetiracetam. This agent likely works on which of the following structures?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic drug commonly used to treat various types of seizures. The correct answer is C) Synaptic vesicle protein. Levetiracetam exerts its antiepileptic effects by binding to synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A), which is involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release. By binding to SV2A, levetiracetam modulates neurotransmitter release, thus reducing abnormal neuronal activity and preventing seizures. Option A) Calcium channel modulation is incorrect because levetiracetam does not directly affect calcium channels. Option B) Collapsing response mediator protein-2 is incorrect as this protein is not targeted by levetiracetam for its antiepileptic effects. Option D) Sodium channels is also incorrect as levetiracetam does not primarily act on sodium channels like other antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine or phenytoin. In an educational context, understanding the mechanism of action of antiepileptic drugs like levetiracetam is crucial for healthcare professionals to make informed decisions when treating patients with seizure disorders. Knowledge of how different drugs target specific molecular pathways can help optimize treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.

Question 2 of 5

Regarding differences between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in a healthy 29-year-old graduate student athlete, which of the following is a feature of the sympathetic nervous system?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Question 3 of 5

Which of the following changes occur at the neurotransmitter/synaptic space when an excitatory postsynaptic potential is generated?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Question 4 of 5

A 19-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after being found by his roommate to have snorted cocaine several times in the past few days, the last time being 10 h previously. He was given a drug that sedated him, and he fell asleep. The drug that was used to counter this patient's apparent cocaine withdrawal was very likely which of the following?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D) Lorazepam. In this scenario, the patient is likely experiencing cocaine withdrawal symptoms, such as agitation, anxiety, and insomnia. Lorazepam, a benzodiazepine, is commonly used to manage these symptoms by providing sedation and calming effects on the central nervous system. It helps alleviate the hyperarousal and agitation associated with cocaine withdrawal. Option A) Cocaine would not be used to counter cocaine withdrawal symptoms as it would exacerbate the issue by further stimulating the central nervous system. Option B) Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used primarily for depression and anxiety disorders, not acute cocaine withdrawal symptoms. Option C) Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine with sedative properties, but it is not the first-line treatment for cocaine withdrawal symptoms, especially when rapid sedation is required. Educationally, this question highlights the importance of recognizing and managing acute drug withdrawal symptoms effectively in emergency settings. Understanding the pharmacological principles behind drug actions and withdrawal symptoms is crucial for healthcare providers to provide safe and appropriate care to patients with substance use disorders.

Question 5 of 5

A 62-year-old woman with symptoms of feeling blue, sad, and without feelings presents to her primary care physician for treatment. She has a prior medical history of narrow-angle glaucoma. Which of the following treatments should be avoided in this patient?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

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