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Maryville University NURS615 Pharmacology
Exam 4 2025
What are examples of inhaled Short-acting Beta
Agonists? (SABAs) - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ Albuterol and
levabuterol
What is the MOA of inhaled beta agonists? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ To relax airway smooth muscle by
increasing cyclic cAMP; dilation and opening of airway
What is the use of inhaled beta agonists? - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ Used in bronchospasm associated with: asthma,
bronchitis, and COPD
When are SABAs used (albuterol and levabuterol)? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ For relief of ACUTE asthma
attacks
Is albuterol approved in children under 4? - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ Yes.
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How do beta-2 agonists affect calcium? - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ They open large conductions in calcium
activated potassium channels = hyperpolarized airway
smooth muscle cells
1. decreased intracellular calcium
2. increased potassium concentration
3. decreased myocleynase activity = smooth muscle
relaxation and bronchodilation
What are examples of long-acting beta agonists
(LABAs)? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ salmetrol and
formoterol
What are LABAs (salmeterol and formoterol) used for? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Used for PREVENTION or long
term treatment of asthma
NOT for acute attacks; not first line treatment
CANNOT be used alone
What population should LABAs NOT be prescribed in? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ African Americans
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What is special about the beta 2 adrenergic receptor
gene? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ This gene causes LABAs to
worsen asthma control
Who is more likely to have the beta 2 adrenergic
receptor gene? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ African
Americans; this genotype is present in 1/6th of the U.S.
population
How does the beta 2 adrenergic receptor gene cause
worsening asthma control when LABAs are taken? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Asthmatics with this gene are at
risk for decreased airflow and worsening asthma control
What are adverse effects of inhaled beta agonists? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Tachycardia and tremors
What is the absorption of inhaled beta agonists? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Very little systemic absorption
What are examples of anticholinergics/antimuscarinics
in maintenance therapy of COPD? - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ ipatroprium (Atrovent) and tiotroprium (Spiriva)
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What is the MOA of anticholinergics (ipatroprium and
tiotroprium)? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ They block
muscarinic receptors decreasing the formation of cAMP
CAUSES BRONCHODILATION BY:
1. decreasing smooth muscle contraction of lungs (mainly
on M3 receptors)
2. decreases mucous secretion
What are ipatroprium and tiotroprium used for? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Maintenance of COPD
What is tiotroprium (Spiriva)? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔
LONG-ACTING bronchodilator for COPD; better
absorbed from lung than ipatroprium (Atrovent)
What is ipotroprium (Atrovent)? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔
SHORT-ACTING bronchodilator for COPD
What bronchodilator is the best choice in patients taking
propranolol? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ Ipatroprium
(Atrovent)
Maryville University NURS615 Pharmacology
Exam 4 2025
What are examples of inhaled Short-acting Beta
Agonists? (SABAs) - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ Albuterol and
levabuterol
What is the MOA of inhaled beta agonists? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ To relax airway smooth muscle by
increasing cyclic cAMP; dilation and opening of airway
What is the use of inhaled beta agonists? - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ Used in bronchospasm associated with: asthma,
bronchitis, and COPD
When are SABAs used (albuterol and levabuterol)? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ For relief of ACUTE asthma
attacks
Is albuterol approved in children under 4? - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ Yes.
,2|Page
How do beta-2 agonists affect calcium? - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ They open large conductions in calcium
activated potassium channels = hyperpolarized airway
smooth muscle cells
1. decreased intracellular calcium
2. increased potassium concentration
3. decreased myocleynase activity = smooth muscle
relaxation and bronchodilation
What are examples of long-acting beta agonists
(LABAs)? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ salmetrol and
formoterol
What are LABAs (salmeterol and formoterol) used for? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Used for PREVENTION or long
term treatment of asthma
NOT for acute attacks; not first line treatment
CANNOT be used alone
What population should LABAs NOT be prescribed in? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ African Americans
,3|Page
What is special about the beta 2 adrenergic receptor
gene? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ This gene causes LABAs to
worsen asthma control
Who is more likely to have the beta 2 adrenergic
receptor gene? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ African
Americans; this genotype is present in 1/6th of the U.S.
population
How does the beta 2 adrenergic receptor gene cause
worsening asthma control when LABAs are taken? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Asthmatics with this gene are at
risk for decreased airflow and worsening asthma control
What are adverse effects of inhaled beta agonists? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Tachycardia and tremors
What is the absorption of inhaled beta agonists? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Very little systemic absorption
What are examples of anticholinergics/antimuscarinics
in maintenance therapy of COPD? - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ ipatroprium (Atrovent) and tiotroprium (Spiriva)
, 4|Page
What is the MOA of anticholinergics (ipatroprium and
tiotroprium)? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ They block
muscarinic receptors decreasing the formation of cAMP
CAUSES BRONCHODILATION BY:
1. decreasing smooth muscle contraction of lungs (mainly
on M3 receptors)
2. decreases mucous secretion
What are ipatroprium and tiotroprium used for? -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Maintenance of COPD
What is tiotroprium (Spiriva)? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔
LONG-ACTING bronchodilator for COPD; better
absorbed from lung than ipatroprium (Atrovent)
What is ipotroprium (Atrovent)? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔
SHORT-ACTING bronchodilator for COPD
What bronchodilator is the best choice in patients taking
propranolol? - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ Ipatroprium
(Atrovent)
