The client with bipolar disorder, who is on Divalproex, asks the nurse why the psychiatrist ordered an anticonvulsant when the client has no history of seizures
1. Clients with bipolar disorder are at increased risk of having seizures and are treated to prevent them.
2. Divalproex is not an anticonvulsant; it is an antipsychotic medication.
3. The client must be on another medication that lowers the seizure threshold and the Divalproex is protective.
4. Several anticonvulsant medications, including Divalproex, are used as mood stabilizers.
4
Rationale: A number of anticonvulsant medications are mood stabilizers. Clients with bipolar disorder are not at increased risk of having seizures; however, abrupt withdrawal of anticonvulsant medications may trigger seizures. Divalproex is an anticonvulsant. There is no data to support that the client is on another medication; Divalproex is used as a mood stabilizer for this client, not as an anticonvulsant.
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