Meds (Generic & Brand Names)

Question 1

lorazepam

Answer 1

*brand name: Ativan
*drug class: benzodiazepine
*first-line tx for seizures
*other indications: anxiety, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasm, night terrors, sleepwalking

Question 2

midazolam

Answer 2

*brand name: Versed
*drug class: benzodiazepine

Question 3

leviteracetam

Answer 3

*brand name: Keppra
*drug class: anticonvulsant
*used to control seizures

Question 4

atropine

Answer 4

*MOA: competitive INHIBITOR of acetylcholine at the muscarinic receptor (anticholinergic)
*indications: first-line tx of organophosphate poisoning/cholinergic toxicity; first-line tx of bradycardia (ACLS algorithm)

Question 5

adenosine

Answer 5

*MOA: slows conduction through the AV node, interrupting the re-entrant pathway that causes SVT
*indications: first-line pharmacologic agent used for SVT (supraventricular tachycardia: narrow QRS, no P waves), AFTER vagal maneuvers are attempted, IF the patient is hemodynamically STABLE

note - if pt is unstable, synchronized electrical cardioversion

Question 6

pralidoxime

Answer 6

*MOA: cholinesterase-reactivating agent; both nicotinic and muscarinic activity
*indications: use AFTER atropine (second-line) in cholinergic toxicity/organophosphate poisoning to treat the neuromuscular dysfunction

Question 7

physostigmine

Answer 7

*MOA: acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (increases cholinergic activity)
*indications: sometimes used for the treatment of ANTICHOLINERGIC toxicity (not first-line) (mad as a hatter, blind as a bat, dry as a bone, full as a flask, etc)

Question 8

calcium gluconate (if peripheral access) / calcium chloride (if central access) - indications

Answer 8

*administer as the initial treatment for HYPERkalemia (K+ > 6.5 mEq/L or peak T waves on EKG)
*EKG changes of hyperkalemia:
-peak T waves
-dropped P waves
-widened QRS complex
-sine wave
*stabilizes the cardiac cell membrane

Question 9

sodium bicarbonate - indications

Answer 9

*administer in TCA overdose IF QRS > 100 msec or ventricular arrhythmia is present
*increases serum pH and increases extracellular sodium, making TCA less available to bind sodium channels and cause cardiac toxicity

Question 10

rivaroxaban

Answer 10

*brand name: Xarelto
*MOA: oral anticoagulant, inhibits factor Xa

Question 11

apixaban

Answer 11

*brand name: Eliquis
*MOA: direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), inhibits factor Xa