Pharmacology and Actions

Question 1

activated charcoal

Answer 1

Absorbs ingested toxic substances from the GI tract, thereby preventing systemic absorption

Question 2

acetaminophen

Answer 2

May work peripherally to block pain impuse generation and inhibit prostaglandin synthesis in the CNS. Analgesic and antipyretic effects

Question 3

adenosine

Answer 3

Short-acting drug that slows conduction through the AV node. Restores sinus rhythm in SVT. Terminates regular tachycardias caused by reentrant AV nodal pathways.

Question 4

albuterol

Answer 4

Selective beta-2 adrenergic agonist that causes bronchial smooth muscle relaxation and inhibits mediator release from mast cells

Question 5

amiodorone

Answer 5

Blocks sodium, potassium and calcium channels. Prolongs the
action potential’s duration. Delays repolarization. Decreases AV conduction and SA node
function.

Question 6

aspirin

Answer 6

Prevents thromboxane A2 formation (thromboxane A2 causes platelets to aggregate and form plugs). Has antipyretic and analgesic properties

Question 7

atropine sulfate

Answer 7

Inhibits acetylcholine at postganglionic parasympathetic
neuroeffector sites. Increases heart rate in cardiac origin symptomatic bradycardia. Reverses muscarinic effects of cholinergic poisoning

Question 8

calcium chloride

Answer 8

Mineral component of bones and teeth. Cofactor in enzymatic
reactions. Essential for neurotransmission, blood clotting, and contraction of cardiac, smooth and
skeletal muscles. Affects secretory activity of endocrine and exocrine glands.

Question 9

calcium gluconate

Answer 9

Mineral component of bones and teeth. Cofactor in enzymatic
reactions. Essential for neurotransmission, blood clotting, and contraction of cardiac, smooth and skeletal muscles. Affects secretory activity of endocrine and exocrine glands

Question 10

dexamethasone

Answer 10

Suppresses acute and chronic inflammation and has immunosuppressive effects

Question 11

dextrose

Answer 11

Rapidly increases serum glucose levels. Short-term osmotic diuresis

Question 12

diazepam

Answer 12

Appears to act on part of the limbic system, as well on the thalamus and hypothalamus. Inhibits GABA receptors in the CNS, reducing neuron excitability and raises the seizure threshold. Induces amnesia and sedation

Question 13

diltiazem

Answer 13

Inhibits extracellular calcium ion influx across membranes of
myocardial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Inhibition of vascular and cardiac smooth
muscle contraction results in dilating the main coronary and systemic arteries. There is no effect on serum calcium concentrations. Substantial inhibitory effects on the cardiac conduction system.
Acts primarily on the AV node with some effects on the SA node.

Question 14

diphenhydramine hydrochloride

Answer 14

Blocks H1 receptors in the respiratory tract, blood vessels, and GI smooth muscle. Reverses extrapyramidal reactions

Question 15

dopamine hydrochloride

Answer 15

Immediate metabolic precursor to norepinephrine with mixed
alpha- and beta-adrenergic effects. Response is dose-dependent:
★ 1-2 mcg/kg/min stimulates dopamine receptors, causing vasodilation in the renal,
mesenteric, coronary and intracerebral vascular beds.
★ 2-10 mcg/kg/min stimulates beta-1 receptors, increasing myocardial contractility
and enhancing cardiac impulse conduction.
★ 10-20 mcg/kg/min stimulates alpha receptors, increasing systemic vascular
resistance.
★ >20mcg/kg/min alpha stimulation dominates, and may compromise peripheral
circulation

Question 16

epinephrine

Answer 16

Catecholamine with strong alpha-1 effects, strong beta-1 effects, and moderate beta-2 effects. Increases heart rate (chronotrope), myocardial contractility (inotrope), and electrical conduction speed (dromotrope). Secondary relaxation effect on the
smooth muscle of stomach, intestine, uterus and bladder

Question 17

etomidate

Answer 17

Ultra-short-acting hypnotic that produces rapid sedation with
minimal cardiovascular or respiratory depression

Question 18

fentanyl citrate

Answer 18

Binds to opioid receptors, producing respiratory depression, analgesia, euphoria and sedation.

Question 19

flumazenil

Answer 19

Antagonizes benzodiazepine receptors in the CNS

Question 20

furosemide

Answer 20

Blocks the absorption of sodium and chloride at the distal and
proximal tubules, and the loop of Henle, causing increased urine output

Question 21

glucagon

Answer 21

Increases blood glucose level by stimulating the breakdown of
glycogen into glucose. Stabilizes cardiac rhythm in beta-blocker overdose. Minimal positive
inotropic and chronotropic responses. Decreases GI motility and secretions

Question 22

glucose, oral

Answer 22

Increases blood glucose

Question 23

haloperidol

Answer 23

Antagonizes dopamine-1 and dopamine-2 receptors in the brain.
Depresses the reticular activating system and inhibits release of hypothalamic and hypophyseal
hormones.

Question 24

hydromorphone

Answer 24

Opioid agonist. Inhibits ascending pain pathways. Increases the
pain threshold. Produces analgesic effects, respiratory depression and sedation

Question 25

hydroxycobalamin

Answer 25

A synthetic, injectable form of Vitamin B12 that binds with cyanide to form nontoxic cyanocobalamin. Preferred agent in cyanide poisoning

Question 26

ibuprofen

Answer 26

Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, thereby reducing fever, pain and swelling

Question 27

ipratropium bromide

Answer 27

Antagonizes the action of acetylcholine on bronchial smooth muscle. Bronchodilator.

Question 28

ketamine

Answer 28

Blocks pain receptors and minimizes spinal cord activity, affecting the brain’s association between the thalamus and the limbic system

Question 29

ketorolac tromethamine

Answer 29

Potent analgesic that inhibits prostaglandin synthesis. Does not have sedative or anxiolytic properties

Question 30

labetalol

Answer 30

Reduces peripheral vascular resistance without significant effect on cardiac output, thereby providing BP reduction without reflex tachycardia

Question 31

lidocaine hydrochloride

Answer 31

Alternative to amiodarone in cardiac arrest. Inhibits recovery after repolarization. Decreases myocardial excitability and conduction velocity. Local anesthetic. May decrease ICP response during laryngoscopy

Question 32

lorazepam

Answer 32

Inhibits GABA receptors in the CNS, thereby reducing neuron
excitability. Suppresses propagation of seizure activity produced by foci in the cortex, thalamus and limbic areas. Anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and sedative effects

Question 33

magnesium sulfate

Answer 33

Depresses the CNS, blocks peripheral neuromuscular transmission, and produces anticonvulsant effects. Decreases the amount of acetylcholine released at the
endplate by motor nerve impulses. Slows the rate of SA node impulse formation in the
myocardium, and prolongs conduction time. Promotes calcium, potassium and sodium movement in and out of cells, and stabilizes excitable membranes. Induces uterine relaxation. Can cause bronchodilation after beta agonists and anticholinergics have been administered

Question 34

mannitol

Answer 34

Promotes the movement of fluids from intracellular to extracellular space. Decreases cerebral edema and ICP. Promote urinary excretion of toxins

Question 35

methylprednisolone sodium succinate

Answer 35

Highly potent synthetic glucocorticoid that suppresses
inflammation. Potentiates the action of beta-adrenergic agonists on vascular smooth muscle.

Question 36

midazolam hydrochloride

Answer 36

Inhibits GABA receptors in the CNS, thereby reducing neuron
excitability. Causes sedative, anxiolytic, amnesic and hypnotic effect.

Question 37

morphine sulfate

Answer 37

Alleviates pain through CNS action. Suppresses fear and anxiety centers in the brain. Depresses brainstem respiratory centers. Increases peripheral venous capacitance and decreases venous return. Decreases preload, afterload and myocardial oxygen demand

Question 38

naloxone hydrochloride

Answer 38

Competitive inhibition at opioid receptor sites. Reverses
opioid-induced respiratory depression and sedation

Question 39

nitroglycerin

Answer 39

Reduces peripheral vascular resistance, preload, afterload, cardiac workload and myocardial oxygen demand. Smooth muscle relaxant which acts on smooth muscle of uterus, intestine, bronchial tree and blood vessels. Dilates peripheral arterioles and veins

Question 40

norepinephrine bitartrate

Answer 40

Acts primarily on alpha-adrenergic receptors to produce
constriction of resistance and capacitance vessels, thereby increasing systemic BP and coronary blood flow. Also acts on beta-1 receptors. Lower doses see a predominately cardiac-stimulant effect. Larger doses see a predominately vasoconstrictive effect.

Question 41

ondansetron hydrochloride

Answer 41

Blocks the action of serotonin. Does not affect dopamine receptors therefore does not cause extrapyramidal symptoms

Question 42

oxygen

Answer 42

Reverses hypoxemia

Question 43

oxytocin

Answer 43

Binds to oxytocin receptor sites on the surface of uterine smooth
muscle, increasing the force and frequency of uterine contractions. Causes dilation of vascular smooth muscle, thereby increasing renal, coronary and cerebral blood flow.

Question 44

phenylephrine

Answer 44

Stimulates alpha adrenergic receptors in the arterioles of the nasal mucosa to produce vasoconstriction

Question 45

pralidoxime

Answer 45

Binds to organophosphates and breaks their alkyl phosphate-cholinesterase bonds. Restores activity of acetylcholinesterase

Question 46

procainamide hydrochloride

Answer 46

Inhibits recovery after repolarization, resulting in decreased conduction velocity and decreased myocardial excitability. Prolongs the refractory period, decreases automaticity, and reduces the repolarization abnormalities

Question 47

promethazine hydrochloride

Answer 47

H1 receptor antagonist. Blocks the action of histamine. Possesses sedative, antimotion, antiemetic, and anticholinergic activity. Potentiates the effects of opioids to induce analgesia

Question 48

rocuronium bromide

Answer 48

Antagonizes acetylcholine at the motor endplate, producing skeletal muscle paralysis

Question 49

sodium bicarbonate

Answer 49

Reacts with hydrogen ions to form water and carbon dioxide,
thereby correcting metabolic acidosis. Increases pH of blood and urine by releasing a bicarbonate ion, which in turn neutralizes hydrogen ion concentrations

Question 50

succinylcholine chloride

Answer 50

Ultra-short-acting depolarizing skeletal muscle relaxant that mimics acetylcholine

Question 51

terbutaline sulfate

Answer 51

selective beta-2 adrenergic agonist

Question 52

thiamine hydrochloride

Answer 52

Combines with adenosine triphosphate to form thiamine
pyrophosphate, a coenzyme essential for carbohydrate metabolism. Prevents Wernicke’s
encephalopathy

Question 53

tranexamic acid

Answer 53

Inhibits the activation of plasminogen. Reduces conversion of
plasminogen to plasmin. (Plasmin breaks down fibrin, fibrinogen and plasma proteins)

Question 54

vecuronium bromide

Answer 54

Neuromuscular agent that competes with acetylcholine for
receptors at the motor endplate, resulting in neuromuscular blockade

Question 55

verapamil hydrochloride

Answer 55

Slows AV node conduction. Shortens the refractory period of
accessory pathways. Acts as a negative inotrope and vasodilator