EMT Basic - Drug Review Flashcards
Brand name of the medication
Select one:
A. Medical name
B. Generic name
C. Trade name
D. Chemical name
C. Trade name
A. Incorrect - Medical name
Drugs do not have medical names. They have Generic, Trade, and Chemical names
B. Incorrect - Generic name
Since the 1960s, the United States Adopted Names Program has been assigning generic (nonproprietary) names to all active drug ingredients sold in the United States.
D. Incorrect - Chemical name
Describes the atomic or molecular structure of the drug
Drug that helps to constrict the blood vessels and relax airway passages; it may be used to counter a severe allergic reaction.
Select one:
A. Epinephrine
B. Nitroglycerin
C. Oxygen
D. Oral glucose
A. Epinephrine
Explanation - Conteracts allergic reactions (bronchoconstriction (spasm), hypotension secondary to vasodilation)
Epinephrine is an adrenergic receptor agonist for:
- Alpha (α) Receptor - Constricts arteries in the body, with the exception of skeletal muscle blood vessels.
- Beta-1 (β 1) Receptor - Increases the heart rate and the heart’s strength of contraction or contractility.
- Beta-2 (β 2) Receptor - located in the bronchioles of the lungs and the arteries of the skeletal muscles. These dilate both bronchioles and skeletal muscle arteries.
B. Incorrect - Nitroglycerin
Vasodilator (opens) blood vessels. Used to treat Angina Pectoralis.
C. Incorrect - Oxygen
Gas that aids in reversing the effects of hypoxia.
D. Incorrect - Oral glucose
Gel that aids in the reverse of hypoglycemic emergencies
Solid form of a drug; compressed powder.
Select one:
A. Capsule
B. Gel
C. Tablet
D. Suspension
C. Tablet
A. Incorrect - Capsule
Gelatinous shell filled with powder or liquid (pg 459)
B. Incorrect - Gel
Semiliquid substance, which has the consistency of paste or cream (pg 460)
D. Incorrect - Suspension
Mixture of ground particles that are distributed evenly throughout a liquid but do not dissolve (pg 460)
Powder, usually pre-mixed with water, that will attach some poisons and help prevent them from being absorbed by the body.
Select one:
A. Activated Charcoal
B. Antiarrhythmic
C. Anticonvulsant
D. Anticholinergic
A. Activated Charcoal
Explanation
An adsorbent is a material that will allow a liquid, gas, or dissolved solid to adhere to its surface. (ex: activated charcoal)
This is different than an absorbent which actually involves taking in the liquid or gas and not just adhering it to the surface. (ex: digestion, sponge)
Activated charcoal can adhere to the surface of certain substances, and make it more difficult to be absorbed through the digestive tract.
B. Incorrect - Antiarrhythmic
Antiarrhythmic agents are a group of pharmaceuticals that are used to suppress abnormal rhythms of the heart (cardiac arrhythmias), such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation.
C. Incorrect - Anticonvulsant
Anticonvulsants are a diverse group of pharmacological agents used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also increasingly being used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder since many seem to act as mood stabilizers and for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
D. Incorrect - Anticholinergic
Anticholinergics are a group of substances that inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system by selectively blocking the binding of acetylcholine (ACh) to its receptor in nerve cells. (Hot as a hare, blind as a bat, dry as a bone, red as a beet, mad as a hatter.)
This gas, in its pure form, is used as a drug to treat any patient whose medical or traumatic condition causes them to be hypoxic.
Select one:
A. Carbon dioxide
B. Hydrogen
C. Nitric oxide
D. Oxygen
D. Oxygen
Activated charcoal is given to a patient because it:
Select one:
A. Can be used in a patient without a gag reflex
B. Prevents the toxic effects of some poisons by absorbing the substance
C. Will bind to the surface of some poisons
D. Will induce vomiting
C. Will bind to the surface of some poisons
Explanation
An adsorbent is a material that will allow a liquid, gas, or dissolved solid to adhere to its surface. (ex: activated charcoal)
This is different than an absorbent which actually involves taking in the liquid or gas and not just adhering it to the surface. (ex: digestion, sponge)
Activated charcoal can adhere to the surface of certain substances, and make it more difficult to be absorbed through the digestive tract.
A. Incorrect - Can be used in a patient without a gag reflex
Contraindication for any oral treatment is an intact gag reflex to protect the airwar
B. Incorrect - Prevents the toxic effects of some poisons by absorbing the substance
Activated charcoal does not absorb poisons (takes the substance inside itself). It adsorbs, or adheres, to the surface.
D. Incorrect - Will induce vomiting
Nausea and emesis are possibilities with activated charcoal due to its gritty feeling, but not the reason it is administered.
Poorly managed diabetes can cause:
Select one:
A. Absorption of poisons
B. Hypoxia
C. Dilation of coronary arteries
D. Altered mental status
D. Altered mental status
Explanation
Altered Mental Status is a sign of both hyperglycemia & hypoglycemia
- Hyper - Altered Mental Status (Drowsiness, Lethargy)
- Hypo - Altered Mental Status (Aggressive, Confused, Lethargic, Unusual Behavior)
- A. Incorrect - Absorption of poisons*
Diabetes does not create a circumstance that protects from poisons
B. Incorrect - Hypoxia
Although a severe diabetic crisis can evolve into abnormal breathing which in turn creates a situation of hypoxia, diabetes itself does not create the hypoxic situation.
C. Incorrect - Dilation of coronary arteries
This is possible as hypotension develops in the pathology with both hyperglycemia & hypoglycemia but it was wide vasodilation and not just the coronary arteries.
Oral glucose is given between the patient’s cheek and gum because:
Select one:
A. This area will cause the patient to regurgitate the stomach’s contents
B. It will assist in dilating the coronary vessels as much as possible
C. This area contains blood vessels that allow easy absorption into the bloodstream
D. It will not be aspirated if the patient suddenly becomes unconscious
C. This area contains blood vessels that allow easy absorption into the bloodstream
A. Incorrect - This area will cause the patient to regurgitate the stomach’s contents
This has a low probability of activating the gag reflex in an alert patient.
B. Incorrect - It will assist in dilating the coronary vessels as much as possible
In a hypoglycemic patient, this will aid in the system correcting, which may include vasoconstriction to correct foe the hypotension.
D. Incorrect - It will not be aspirated if the patient suddenly becomes unconscious
As this is an oral medication, it can have a high index of aspiration in a patient that becomes unconscious.
Examples of medications a patient may have in his possession that the EMT-B may assist the patient in taking under the appropriate circumstances are:
Select one:
A. Epinephrine auto-injector, a prescribed inhaler, and nitroglycerin
B. Insulin, antihypertensives, and anticonvulsants
C. Activated charcoal, glucose injections, and anticonvulsants
D. Home oxygen, antihypertensives, and anti-inflammatories
A. Epinephrine auto-injector, a prescribed inhaler, and nitroglycerin (pg 466-466)
B. Insulin, antihypertensives, and anticonvulsants
These are not in the scope of an EMT-Basic
C. Activated charcoal, glucose injections, and anticonvulsants
Glucose Injections & Anticonvulsants are outside the scope of EMT-Basic
D. Home oxygen, antihypertensives, and anti-inflammatories
Antihypertensives are outside the scope of EMT-Basic. Some NSAID’s are in the scope but not all anti-inflammatories.
Patients who have a medical history of asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis may carry
Select one:
A. An epinephrine auto-injector
B. A bronchoconstrictor
C. Nitroglycerin
D. A bronchodilator
D. A bronchodilator
Explanation
A bronchodilator can treat or prevent bronchospasm.
A. An epinephrine auto-injector
This is carried for anaphylaxis
B. A bronchoconstrictor
This would increase the severity of asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis
C. Nitroglycerin
This is for cardiac chest pain
The drug nitroglycerin is used to _______ vessels.
Select one:
A. Constrict the peripheral
B. Dilate the peripheral
C. Constrict the coronary
D. Dilate the coronary
D. Dilate the coronary
Explanation
Vasodilation of the coronary arteries will cause increased blood flow to the heart, increasing perfusion. In outpatient use, it is prescribed to take as prophylaxis for anginal chest pain.
A. Constrict the peripheral
Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator, not a vasoconstrictor.
B. Dilate the peripheral
Even though dilating the venous preload leads to a decreased demand on the cardiac muscle, nitroglycerin is mainly prescribed for angina pectoris secondary to coronary artery disease. Relaxing the coronary artery allows may allow for an obstacle to move and restore perfusion.
C. Constrict the coronary
Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator, not a vasoconstrictor.
The government publication listing all drugs in the United States is called:
Select one:
A. U.S. Hazmat Protocols
B. U.S. Pharmacopeia
C. Physician’s Desk Reference
D. National Medicine Guidebook
B. U.S. Pharmacopeia
A. Incorrect - U.S. Hazmat Protocols
Not a single publication that contains drugs
C. Incorrect - Physician’s Desk Reference
Reference book compiled by drug manufacturers (not a government publication) and includes information on all drugs that are approved for use by the FDA.
D. Incorrect - National Medicine Guidebook
Not a publication
A circumstance in which a drug should not be used because it may cause harm to the patient or offer no effect in improving the patient’s condition or illness is called a(n):
Select one:
A. Adverse Reaction
B. Contraindication
C. Side Effect
D. Indication
B. Contraindication (pg 481)
A. Incorrect - Adverse Reaction
Marketing term, not medical
C. Incorrect - Side Effect
Any action taken by medication other than the desired ones. There are two types: Unintended Effects and Untoward Effects (pgs 481-482)
D. Incorrect - Indication
The therapeutic uses for a specific medication (pg 482)
An action of a drug that is other than the desired action is called.
Select one:
A. Adverse Reaction
B. Contraindication
C. Side Effect
D. Overdose
C. Side Effect (pg 482)
A. Incorrect - Adverse Reaction
Marketing Term, not medical
B. Incorrect - Contraindication
A circumstance in which a drug should not be used because it may cause harm to the patient or offer no effect in improving the patient’s condition or illness (pg 821)
D. Incorrect - Overdose
An excessive quantity of a drug that, when taken or administered, can have toxic or lethal consequences.
Prior to administering a medication to a patient, you must know all of the following EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. The route of administration
B. The proper dose
C. The actions the medication will take
D. The right generic & chemical names
D. The right generic & chemical names
Explanation
The “six rights” (pg 462) The above is not one of them.
- Right Patient
- Right Medication
- Right Dose
- Right Route
- Right Time
- Right Documentation
Drugs prescribed to relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes are called:
Select one:
A. Vasodilators
B. Bronchodilators
C. Bronchoconstrictors
D. Vasoconstrictors
B. Bronchodilators
A. Incorrect - Vasodilators
Relax the blood vessels
C. Incorrect - Bronchoconstrictors
Constrict the bronchial tubes
D. Incorrect - Vasoconstrictors
Constrict the blood vessels