NGR 6172 Ch. 12: Principles of Pharmacology Exam
Questions With Complete Solutions
A: Correct Answers -Controlled studies in women fail to
demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester (and there is
no evidence of a risk in later trimesters), and the possibility of
fetal harm appears remote.
Allergic Reactions: Correct Answers -The most common
unpredictable response encountered in the prehospital setting is
an allergic reaction.
-An allergy develops when a person has previously been
exposed to a particular antigen and develops antibodies against
that substance (sensitization).
-After a person has become sensitized, subsequent exposure to
that same substance results in hypersensitivity.
-Because the patient is hypersensitive, the medication activates
the immune system.
-Allergic reactions are unpredictable—unless the patient has had
an allergic reaction to the same medication in the past—and may
result in life-threatening anaphylaxis.
-Anaphylaxis is an acute systemic reaction that is usually life
threatening.
-An allergic reaction may be immediate or delayed.
-Before administering any medication, if possible, question the
patient carefully about any known medication allergies.
-Remain alert for an allergic reaction after administering any
medication.
Alpha 1 response: Correct Answers -peripheral vasoconstriction
,Alpha 2 respose: Correct Answers -peripheral vasodilation
-little or no bronchoconstriction
Animal Studies: Correct Answers -Animal studies are designed
to learn more about the properties of a drug and to identify
tissues and organs that are sensitive to the actions of the drug.
-Testing in at least two animal species is required by law.
-After successful completion of animal studies, an
investigational new drug may enter clinical trials in humans.
Antianxiety, sedative, and hypnotic drugs: Correct Answers -
Drugs that produce sedation are used to help a patient sleep
through a medical procedure.
-Drugs that create sedation and hypnosis include the following:
>Benzodiazepines are the sedatives most commonly used to
prepare patients for invasive procedures. Although their exact
mechanism of action is not fully understood, these drugs are
believed to affect the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric
acid (GABA) in the brain. Benzodiazepine molecules bind to a
receptor near GABA binding sites, which is thought to enhance
their affinity for GABA. This increased affinity causes brain
activity to slow.
>Barbiturates are believed to work similarly to benzodiazepines
by increasing the affinity between receptor sites and the
neurotransmitter GABA.
>Opioid agonists
>Nonbarbiturate hypnotics have almost identical properties to
benzodiazepines and barbiturates in how they affect GABA
receptors. The difference is that nonbarbiturate hypnotics tend to
have comparatively fewer side effects, particularly regarding
cardiovascular compromise.
,-There are currently no drugs in these categories that are within
the scope of practice of the AEMT.
Anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and blood components: Correct
Answers -Platelets repair damage in the blood vessels.
Abnormal thrombi (clots) can cause a life-threatening crisis such
as acute coronary syndrome or stroke.
-A variety of medications are used to prevent or minimize the
detrimental effects of thrombi:
>Antiplatelet agents interfere with the aggregation, or collection,
of platelets. They do not break down aggregated platelets but
simply prevent further buildup of these blood cells.
>Notably, salicylic acid (aspirin) has substantial antiplatelet
properties and has proved important in the prehospital setting
because of its ability to minimize the damage to the myocardium
in acute coronary syndrome.
>Anticoagulant drugs work against coagulation, preventing
thrombi from forming.
>Some patients can be prescribed anticoagulants on a long-term
basis as a preventive measure. You need to be aware of
anticoagulant use, particularly when patients have sustained a
traumatic injury. Just as anticoagulants prevent blood
coagulation in the vascular system, they can also prevent the
life-saving coagulation needed to prevent blood loss.
-After a blood clot has formed, a fibrinolytic agent may be
administered to dissolve the thrombus and prevent it from
breaking off and entering the bloodstream, where it might do
further damage.
-Fibrinolytic agents promote the digestion of fibrin (the protein
involved in forming a blood clot).
, -The use of fibrinolytic medications in the prehospital setting
remains controversial, and, in some circumstances, other forms
of reperfusion therapy may be indicated.
Anticonvulsnts: Correct Answers -A seizure is a state of
neurologic hyperactivity. Active seizures generally require
treatment in the prehospital setting because of the complications
associated with them.
-Although the exact mechanism behind anticonvulsant
medications is not completely clear, these drugs are believed to
work by inhibiting the influx of sodium into cells.
-This halt of sodium transport decreases the cells' ability to
depolarize and propagate the seizures.
-Several other types of drugs are used as anticonvulsants,
including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, hydantoins, and
valproic acids.
Antidysrhythmics: Correct Answers -Antidysrhythmic
medications have long been used in the prehospital setting to
treat and prevent cardiac rhythm disorders.
-These medications can have direct and indirect effects on
cardiac tissue.
-Antidysrhythmics are further classified into the following four
groups according to their fundamental mode of action on the
heart:
>Sodium channel blockers slow the conduction through the
heart; in other words, they have a negative dromotropic effect.
>Beta blockers reduce the adrenergic stimulation of the beta
receptors.
Questions With Complete Solutions
A: Correct Answers -Controlled studies in women fail to
demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester (and there is
no evidence of a risk in later trimesters), and the possibility of
fetal harm appears remote.
Allergic Reactions: Correct Answers -The most common
unpredictable response encountered in the prehospital setting is
an allergic reaction.
-An allergy develops when a person has previously been
exposed to a particular antigen and develops antibodies against
that substance (sensitization).
-After a person has become sensitized, subsequent exposure to
that same substance results in hypersensitivity.
-Because the patient is hypersensitive, the medication activates
the immune system.
-Allergic reactions are unpredictable—unless the patient has had
an allergic reaction to the same medication in the past—and may
result in life-threatening anaphylaxis.
-Anaphylaxis is an acute systemic reaction that is usually life
threatening.
-An allergic reaction may be immediate or delayed.
-Before administering any medication, if possible, question the
patient carefully about any known medication allergies.
-Remain alert for an allergic reaction after administering any
medication.
Alpha 1 response: Correct Answers -peripheral vasoconstriction
,Alpha 2 respose: Correct Answers -peripheral vasodilation
-little or no bronchoconstriction
Animal Studies: Correct Answers -Animal studies are designed
to learn more about the properties of a drug and to identify
tissues and organs that are sensitive to the actions of the drug.
-Testing in at least two animal species is required by law.
-After successful completion of animal studies, an
investigational new drug may enter clinical trials in humans.
Antianxiety, sedative, and hypnotic drugs: Correct Answers -
Drugs that produce sedation are used to help a patient sleep
through a medical procedure.
-Drugs that create sedation and hypnosis include the following:
>Benzodiazepines are the sedatives most commonly used to
prepare patients for invasive procedures. Although their exact
mechanism of action is not fully understood, these drugs are
believed to affect the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric
acid (GABA) in the brain. Benzodiazepine molecules bind to a
receptor near GABA binding sites, which is thought to enhance
their affinity for GABA. This increased affinity causes brain
activity to slow.
>Barbiturates are believed to work similarly to benzodiazepines
by increasing the affinity between receptor sites and the
neurotransmitter GABA.
>Opioid agonists
>Nonbarbiturate hypnotics have almost identical properties to
benzodiazepines and barbiturates in how they affect GABA
receptors. The difference is that nonbarbiturate hypnotics tend to
have comparatively fewer side effects, particularly regarding
cardiovascular compromise.
,-There are currently no drugs in these categories that are within
the scope of practice of the AEMT.
Anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and blood components: Correct
Answers -Platelets repair damage in the blood vessels.
Abnormal thrombi (clots) can cause a life-threatening crisis such
as acute coronary syndrome or stroke.
-A variety of medications are used to prevent or minimize the
detrimental effects of thrombi:
>Antiplatelet agents interfere with the aggregation, or collection,
of platelets. They do not break down aggregated platelets but
simply prevent further buildup of these blood cells.
>Notably, salicylic acid (aspirin) has substantial antiplatelet
properties and has proved important in the prehospital setting
because of its ability to minimize the damage to the myocardium
in acute coronary syndrome.
>Anticoagulant drugs work against coagulation, preventing
thrombi from forming.
>Some patients can be prescribed anticoagulants on a long-term
basis as a preventive measure. You need to be aware of
anticoagulant use, particularly when patients have sustained a
traumatic injury. Just as anticoagulants prevent blood
coagulation in the vascular system, they can also prevent the
life-saving coagulation needed to prevent blood loss.
-After a blood clot has formed, a fibrinolytic agent may be
administered to dissolve the thrombus and prevent it from
breaking off and entering the bloodstream, where it might do
further damage.
-Fibrinolytic agents promote the digestion of fibrin (the protein
involved in forming a blood clot).
, -The use of fibrinolytic medications in the prehospital setting
remains controversial, and, in some circumstances, other forms
of reperfusion therapy may be indicated.
Anticonvulsnts: Correct Answers -A seizure is a state of
neurologic hyperactivity. Active seizures generally require
treatment in the prehospital setting because of the complications
associated with them.
-Although the exact mechanism behind anticonvulsant
medications is not completely clear, these drugs are believed to
work by inhibiting the influx of sodium into cells.
-This halt of sodium transport decreases the cells' ability to
depolarize and propagate the seizures.
-Several other types of drugs are used as anticonvulsants,
including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, hydantoins, and
valproic acids.
Antidysrhythmics: Correct Answers -Antidysrhythmic
medications have long been used in the prehospital setting to
treat and prevent cardiac rhythm disorders.
-These medications can have direct and indirect effects on
cardiac tissue.
-Antidysrhythmics are further classified into the following four
groups according to their fundamental mode of action on the
heart:
>Sodium channel blockers slow the conduction through the
heart; in other words, they have a negative dromotropic effect.
>Beta blockers reduce the adrenergic stimulation of the beta
receptors.
