Paramedic Pharmacology Final Exam
Questions with Verified Answers
What does half-life mean? - ANSWERSThe time the body takes to clear half of a dose
of medication
what does therapeutic level mean? - ANSWERSthe margin between the minimum
effective dose and a lethal dose. Therapeutic indexes closer to 1 mean a more precise
dose is needed.
what does duration of action mean? - ANSWERSlength of time a drug remains at or
above it's minimum effective level
what drugs replace posterior pituitary hormones? - ANSWERSPitocin
what receptors cause vasoconstriction when sympathetically stimulated? -
ANSWERSAlpha1
what receptor(s) cause vasodilation when stimulated? - ANSWERSBeta2 &
Dopaminergic
what disease is characterized by hypersecretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone? -
ANSWERSCushing's disease
What chronotropic, inotropic, and dromotropic effects do beta blockers have? -
ANSWERSnegative to all
(decreases heart rate, decreases contractility, decreases conduction speed)
The Vaughn-Williams classification system has to do with what class of drugs? -
ANSWERSAntiarrhythmics
Name the 5 classifications of antiarrhythmics - ANSWERSSodium channel blockers
Potassium channel blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Beta blockers
Miscellaneous agents
4 Sodium channel blocking drugs - ANSWERSLidocaine, Procainamide, Phenytoin,
Quinidine
physiology of sympathetic vs parasympathetic - ANSWERSsympathetic: fight or flight
- what you'd need to run from a bear (or when you're on cocaine)
parasympathetic: rest and digest
, - increased digestion, SLUDGE, &secretions
Medication classifcations for ears - ANSWERSAntibiotics/antifungals: Chloromycetin
Otic, Garamycin
Anti-earwax: Carbaminide Peroxide (& Glycerin)
Anti-irritants/inflammatory: isopropyl alcohol (& boric acid)
the reason we give meds IV - ANSWERSRapid absorption and precision administration
control
Describe the process of how drugs turn into metabolites (chemicals the body can use) -
ANSWERSBiotransformation:
Phase I:Enzymes in the liver either oxidize or hydrolyze the drug
Phase II: combine drug with a naturally occurring substance (more polar and easier to
secrete)
What 2 concerns are there about giving a beta blocker to a diabetic? - ANSWERSBeta
blockers can hide the effects of hypoglycemia
Beta blockers decrease the release of glucagon (patient's hypoglycemia may be worse
than normal)
Decreasing afterload has what 3 effects on the heart? - ANSWERSLowers blood
pressure
Lowers cardiac workload
Increases O2 supply
6 Side effects of loop diuretics - ANSWERS-hyponatremia
-hypokalemia
-hypovolemia (decreased preload --> orthostatic hypotension)
-dehydration
-reflex tachycardia (baroreceptors believe that hypertension is normal and raises HR to
reach a higher BP)
-ototoxicity
2 properties of nitroglycerin - ANSWERS-vascular smooth muscle relaxant, mostly for
veins
(decreases preload and cardiac workload)
-very lipid soluble
Blocking nicotinic receptors will have what effect - ANSWERSparalysis (neuromuscular
blocked)
4 side effects of oral contraceptives - ANSWERSunintended pregnancy
abnormal uterine bleeding
hypertension
thromboembolism
Questions with Verified Answers
What does half-life mean? - ANSWERSThe time the body takes to clear half of a dose
of medication
what does therapeutic level mean? - ANSWERSthe margin between the minimum
effective dose and a lethal dose. Therapeutic indexes closer to 1 mean a more precise
dose is needed.
what does duration of action mean? - ANSWERSlength of time a drug remains at or
above it's minimum effective level
what drugs replace posterior pituitary hormones? - ANSWERSPitocin
what receptors cause vasoconstriction when sympathetically stimulated? -
ANSWERSAlpha1
what receptor(s) cause vasodilation when stimulated? - ANSWERSBeta2 &
Dopaminergic
what disease is characterized by hypersecretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone? -
ANSWERSCushing's disease
What chronotropic, inotropic, and dromotropic effects do beta blockers have? -
ANSWERSnegative to all
(decreases heart rate, decreases contractility, decreases conduction speed)
The Vaughn-Williams classification system has to do with what class of drugs? -
ANSWERSAntiarrhythmics
Name the 5 classifications of antiarrhythmics - ANSWERSSodium channel blockers
Potassium channel blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Beta blockers
Miscellaneous agents
4 Sodium channel blocking drugs - ANSWERSLidocaine, Procainamide, Phenytoin,
Quinidine
physiology of sympathetic vs parasympathetic - ANSWERSsympathetic: fight or flight
- what you'd need to run from a bear (or when you're on cocaine)
parasympathetic: rest and digest
, - increased digestion, SLUDGE, &secretions
Medication classifcations for ears - ANSWERSAntibiotics/antifungals: Chloromycetin
Otic, Garamycin
Anti-earwax: Carbaminide Peroxide (& Glycerin)
Anti-irritants/inflammatory: isopropyl alcohol (& boric acid)
the reason we give meds IV - ANSWERSRapid absorption and precision administration
control
Describe the process of how drugs turn into metabolites (chemicals the body can use) -
ANSWERSBiotransformation:
Phase I:Enzymes in the liver either oxidize or hydrolyze the drug
Phase II: combine drug with a naturally occurring substance (more polar and easier to
secrete)
What 2 concerns are there about giving a beta blocker to a diabetic? - ANSWERSBeta
blockers can hide the effects of hypoglycemia
Beta blockers decrease the release of glucagon (patient's hypoglycemia may be worse
than normal)
Decreasing afterload has what 3 effects on the heart? - ANSWERSLowers blood
pressure
Lowers cardiac workload
Increases O2 supply
6 Side effects of loop diuretics - ANSWERS-hyponatremia
-hypokalemia
-hypovolemia (decreased preload --> orthostatic hypotension)
-dehydration
-reflex tachycardia (baroreceptors believe that hypertension is normal and raises HR to
reach a higher BP)
-ototoxicity
2 properties of nitroglycerin - ANSWERS-vascular smooth muscle relaxant, mostly for
veins
(decreases preload and cardiac workload)
-very lipid soluble
Blocking nicotinic receptors will have what effect - ANSWERSparalysis (neuromuscular
blocked)
4 side effects of oral contraceptives - ANSWERSunintended pregnancy
abnormal uterine bleeding
hypertension
thromboembolism
