CNS drugs and antiepileptics: absence with generalised seizures: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · CNS drugs and antiepileptics: absence with generalised seizures

Sample item

A 9-year-old boy has frequent staring spells with 3 Hz spike-and-wave discharges and has now begun to have generalised tonic-clonic seizures. Which single drug covers both seizure types?

APhenytoinBEthosuximideCSodium valproateDCarbamazepine

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Sodium valproate

Ethosuximide is effective for absence seizures alone and does not protect against tonic-clonic seizures. Valproate covers absence and generalised tonic-clonic seizures. Carbamazepine and phenytoin can worsen absence seizures.

Option by option

A. Phenytoin
Phenytoin does not control absence seizures and may worsen them.
B. Ethosuximide
Ethosuximide controls absence but leaves tonic-clonic seizures uncovered.
C. Sodium valproate (correct)
Correct. It treats both absence and generalised tonic-clonic seizures.
D. Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine may aggravate absence seizures.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, Sodium valproate. Ethosuximide is effective for absence seizures alone and does not protect against tonic-clonic seizures.

Why is "Phenytoin" not the answer?

Phenytoin does not control absence seizures and may worsen them.

Why is "Ethosuximide" not the answer?

Ethosuximide controls absence but leaves tonic-clonic seizures uncovered.

Why is "Carbamazepine" not the answer?

Carbamazepine may aggravate absence seizures.

What concept does this question test?

It tests CNS drugs and antiepileptics: absence with generalised seizures in Pharmacology. Valproate covers absence and generalised tonic-clonic seizures. Carbamazepine and phenytoin can worsen absence seizures.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study CNS drugs and antiepileptics: absence with generalised seizures?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.