LcReady Pharmacology Emergency Med Questions With
Complete Solutions
For acetaminophen/oxycodone hydrochloride (Endocet), give:
Class, Action, Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose.
Correct Answer Class: Antipyretic/opioid analgesic
Action: Semisynthetic pure opioid agonist whose principal
therapeutic action is analgesia
Uses: Moderate to moderately-severe pain; fever reducer
Side Effects: Lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, N/V,
sedation, respiratory depression, apnea, respiratory arrest,
circulatory depression, hypotension, shock
Interactions: Additive effects with other CNS depressants
Dose: 5-10mg every 3 to 4 hours
For albuterol sulfate (Proair HFA), give: Class, Action, Uses,
Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Beta 2 agonist
Action: Activates beta 2 adrenergic receptors on airway smooth
muscle, resulting in relaxation of smooth muscle of all airways,
from the trachea to terminal bronchioles
Uses: Treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in patients with
reversible obstructive airway disease; prevention of exercise-
induced bronchospasm
Side Effects: Pharyngitis, headache, rhinitis, dizziness, pain,
tachycardia
Interactions: Caution with additional adrenergic drugs
administered by any route; use cardioselective beta blockers
with caution; extreme caution with MAOIs, TCAs; ECG
changes and/or hypokalemia caused by diuretics may be
worsened
,Dose: 1-2 inhalations every 4-6 hours
For alendronate sodium (Fosamax), give: Class, Action, Uses,
Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Bisphosphonate
Action: Specifically inhibits the osteoclast-mediated bone
actions
Uses: Treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in
postmenopausal women
Side Effects: Nausea, abdominal pain, musculoskeletal pain
(bone/muscle/joint), acid regurgitation, flatulence, constipation,
diarrhea
Interactions: Calcium supplements, antacids will interfere with
absorption; reduced bioavailability with concomitant use of
coffee/orange juice
Dose: 5-10mg/day
For allupurinol (Zyloprim), give: Class, Action, Uses, Side
Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Xanthine oxidase inhibitor
Action: Reduces production of uric acid by inhibiting
biochemical reactions immediately preceding its formation
Uses: Management of gout
Side Effects: Rash, diarrhea, nausea
Interactions: Few in prehospital setting
Dose: 100-800mg/day
For alprazolam (Xanax), give: Class, Action, Uses, Side Effects,
Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class: Benzodiazepine
Action: Mechanism unknown, presumed to bind at stereo-
specific receptors at several sites within the CNS
,Uses: Management of anxiety disorders or short-term relief of
anxiety symptoms; treatment of panic disorder, with or without
agoraphobia (fear of being in places where it is hard to escape,
or where help might not be available)
Side Effects: Drowsiness, lightheadedness, headache, confusion,
dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, N/V, tachycardia/palpitations,
blurred vision
Interactions: Additive CNS depressant effects with
psychotropics, anticonvulsants, antihistamines, and ethanol;
smoking may decrease levels; caution with grapefruit juice;
seizures reported with dose reduction or abrupt discontinuation
Dose: 1-10mg/day
For amitriptyline hydrochloride (Elavil), give: Class, Action,
Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer
Class: Tricyclic antidepressant
Action: Inhibits the membrane pump mechanism responsible for
uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in adrenergic neurons
Uses: Depression
Side Effects: MI, stroke, seizure, urinary retention, constipation,
blurred vision, hyperpyrexia, rash, testicular swelling, breast
enlargement (female), hair loss, edema, bradycardia, QT
prolongation, cardiac arrest
Interactions: May enhance response to alcohol and the effects of
barbiturates and other CNS depressants Dose: 50-150mg/day
For amlodipine besylate (Norvasc), give: Class, Action, Uses,
Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Calcium channel blocker
Actions: Inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into
vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle; acts directly on
, vascular smooth muscle to cause a reduction in peripheral
vascular resistance and reduction in BP
Uses: Treatment of HTN, coronary artery disease
Side Effects: Edema, palpitations, dizziness, headache, fatigue,
flushing, hypotension, tachy/bradycardia
Interactions: Diltiazem increases hypertensive effects in elderly
patients
Dose: 5-10mg/day
For amoxicillin (Amoxil), give: Class, Action, Uses, Side
Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Semisynthetic ampicillin derivative
Actions: Has broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against
susceptible organisms during active multiplication; acts through
inhibition of biosynthesis of cell wall proteins
Uses: Treatment of infections of the ear, nose, throat,
genitourinary tract, skin, lower airways, and acute,
uncomplicated gonorrhea
Side Effects: N/V, diarrhea, black hairy tongue, hypersensitivity
reactions, hepatic dysfunction, tooth discoloration
Interactions: May reduce efficacy of combined oral
estrogen/progesterone contraceptives
Dose:
Mild/Moderate S/S - 500mg every 12 hours or 250mg every 8
hours Severe S/S - 875mg every 12 hours or 500mg every 8
hours Medication is continued for a minimum of 48-72 hrs
beyond the time that the patient becomes asymptomatic
For amphetamine aspartate (Adderall), give: Class, Action,
Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer
Class: Sympathomimetic
Complete Solutions
For acetaminophen/oxycodone hydrochloride (Endocet), give:
Class, Action, Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose.
Correct Answer Class: Antipyretic/opioid analgesic
Action: Semisynthetic pure opioid agonist whose principal
therapeutic action is analgesia
Uses: Moderate to moderately-severe pain; fever reducer
Side Effects: Lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, N/V,
sedation, respiratory depression, apnea, respiratory arrest,
circulatory depression, hypotension, shock
Interactions: Additive effects with other CNS depressants
Dose: 5-10mg every 3 to 4 hours
For albuterol sulfate (Proair HFA), give: Class, Action, Uses,
Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Beta 2 agonist
Action: Activates beta 2 adrenergic receptors on airway smooth
muscle, resulting in relaxation of smooth muscle of all airways,
from the trachea to terminal bronchioles
Uses: Treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in patients with
reversible obstructive airway disease; prevention of exercise-
induced bronchospasm
Side Effects: Pharyngitis, headache, rhinitis, dizziness, pain,
tachycardia
Interactions: Caution with additional adrenergic drugs
administered by any route; use cardioselective beta blockers
with caution; extreme caution with MAOIs, TCAs; ECG
changes and/or hypokalemia caused by diuretics may be
worsened
,Dose: 1-2 inhalations every 4-6 hours
For alendronate sodium (Fosamax), give: Class, Action, Uses,
Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Bisphosphonate
Action: Specifically inhibits the osteoclast-mediated bone
actions
Uses: Treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in
postmenopausal women
Side Effects: Nausea, abdominal pain, musculoskeletal pain
(bone/muscle/joint), acid regurgitation, flatulence, constipation,
diarrhea
Interactions: Calcium supplements, antacids will interfere with
absorption; reduced bioavailability with concomitant use of
coffee/orange juice
Dose: 5-10mg/day
For allupurinol (Zyloprim), give: Class, Action, Uses, Side
Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Xanthine oxidase inhibitor
Action: Reduces production of uric acid by inhibiting
biochemical reactions immediately preceding its formation
Uses: Management of gout
Side Effects: Rash, diarrhea, nausea
Interactions: Few in prehospital setting
Dose: 100-800mg/day
For alprazolam (Xanax), give: Class, Action, Uses, Side Effects,
Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class: Benzodiazepine
Action: Mechanism unknown, presumed to bind at stereo-
specific receptors at several sites within the CNS
,Uses: Management of anxiety disorders or short-term relief of
anxiety symptoms; treatment of panic disorder, with or without
agoraphobia (fear of being in places where it is hard to escape,
or where help might not be available)
Side Effects: Drowsiness, lightheadedness, headache, confusion,
dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, N/V, tachycardia/palpitations,
blurred vision
Interactions: Additive CNS depressant effects with
psychotropics, anticonvulsants, antihistamines, and ethanol;
smoking may decrease levels; caution with grapefruit juice;
seizures reported with dose reduction or abrupt discontinuation
Dose: 1-10mg/day
For amitriptyline hydrochloride (Elavil), give: Class, Action,
Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer
Class: Tricyclic antidepressant
Action: Inhibits the membrane pump mechanism responsible for
uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in adrenergic neurons
Uses: Depression
Side Effects: MI, stroke, seizure, urinary retention, constipation,
blurred vision, hyperpyrexia, rash, testicular swelling, breast
enlargement (female), hair loss, edema, bradycardia, QT
prolongation, cardiac arrest
Interactions: May enhance response to alcohol and the effects of
barbiturates and other CNS depressants Dose: 50-150mg/day
For amlodipine besylate (Norvasc), give: Class, Action, Uses,
Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Calcium channel blocker
Actions: Inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into
vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle; acts directly on
, vascular smooth muscle to cause a reduction in peripheral
vascular resistance and reduction in BP
Uses: Treatment of HTN, coronary artery disease
Side Effects: Edema, palpitations, dizziness, headache, fatigue,
flushing, hypotension, tachy/bradycardia
Interactions: Diltiazem increases hypertensive effects in elderly
patients
Dose: 5-10mg/day
For amoxicillin (Amoxil), give: Class, Action, Uses, Side
Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer Class:
Semisynthetic ampicillin derivative
Actions: Has broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against
susceptible organisms during active multiplication; acts through
inhibition of biosynthesis of cell wall proteins
Uses: Treatment of infections of the ear, nose, throat,
genitourinary tract, skin, lower airways, and acute,
uncomplicated gonorrhea
Side Effects: N/V, diarrhea, black hairy tongue, hypersensitivity
reactions, hepatic dysfunction, tooth discoloration
Interactions: May reduce efficacy of combined oral
estrogen/progesterone contraceptives
Dose:
Mild/Moderate S/S - 500mg every 12 hours or 250mg every 8
hours Severe S/S - 875mg every 12 hours or 500mg every 8
hours Medication is continued for a minimum of 48-72 hrs
beyond the time that the patient becomes asymptomatic
For amphetamine aspartate (Adderall), give: Class, Action,
Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, and Dose. Correct Answer
Class: Sympathomimetic
