A client with a seizure history is scheduled for an arteriogram. What should the nurse do about the anticonvulsant medication?

The rationale for selecting the option to ask the healthcare provider to prescribe an alternate route of administration for the anticonvulsant medication is grounded in the importance of ensuring that the client maintains therapeutic levels of the medication, especially considering their history of seizures.

During an arteriogram, which often requires the patient to refrain from eating or drinking (due to potential sedation or anesthesia), administering medication orally may not be possible or advisable. If the client cannot take the medication in the usual oral route due to fasting or restrictions, seeking an alternative administration route ensures that the client’s seizure control is maintained, thereby minimizing the risk of a seizure during or after the procedure.

Utilizing an alternate route, whether it be intravenous, intramuscular, or rectal, allows for continuity of care and adherence to the prescribed treatment plan, which is particularly critical for patients with a seizure disorder. Maintaining medication effectiveness is essential to avoid complications that may arise from missed doses, such as breakthrough seizures, which could have serious consequences for the patient during and after the arteriogram.