AEMCA - Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Pharmacology for Paramedics Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient in refractory ventricular fibrillation has received three defibrillations and an appropriate dose of epinephrine.
According to Ontario's Advanced Life Support Patient Care Standards (ALS PCS), which of the following is the correct subsequent antiarrhythmic medication and dose?

Accepted Answer

Amiodarone 300 mg IV/IO

Answer

Lidocaine 100 mg IVP

Answer

Magnesium Sulfate 2 g IV/IO

Answer

Procainamide 20 mg/min infusion

Question 2

A paramedic is treating a 60-year-old male with chest pain and a BP of 110/70 mmHg. Which of the following patient statements would represent an absolute contraindication to the administration of Nitroglycerin?

Accepted Answer

"I took a sildenafil (Viagra) pill yesterday evening."

Answer

"I took my daily Aspirin this morning."

Answer

"I have a history of a heart attack five years ago."

Answer

"I am allergic to morphine."

Question 3

An 80-year-old female is found unconscious with a blood glucose level of 1.8 mmol/L. IV access is unsuccessful. What is the primary mechanism of action of the medication that should be administered via the intramuscular route?

Accepted Answer

It stimulates the liver to break down glycogen into glucose.

Answer

It directly provides glucose to the bloodstream.

Answer

It stimulates the pancreas to release stored insulin.

Answer

It facilitates the transport of glucose from the blood into the cells.

Question 4

You are treating a patient for severe musculoskeletal pain following a traumatic injury. You choose to administer fentanyl instead of morphine. What is a key pharmacological advantage of fentanyl in a potentially hemodynamically unstable patient?

Accepted Answer

Fentanyl causes less histamine release and has greater hemodynamic stability.

Answer

Fentanyl has a longer duration of action.

Answer

Fentanyl can be administered via the intramuscular route, unlike morphine.

Answer

Fentanyl provides significant anti-inflammatory effects.

Question 5

A 70 kg adult patient is in status epilepticus. The paramedic decides to administer midazolam via the IM route. The protocol calls for a dose of 10 mg. Your vial concentration is 5 mg/mL. How many milliliters should be administered?

Accepted Answer

2.0 mL

Answer

1.0 mL

Answer

1.5 mL

Answer

0.5 mL

Question 6

Which of the following is a primary indication for the administration of dimenhydrinate according to Ontario paramedic standards?

Accepted Answer

Treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with vertigo.

Answer

Management of acute anxiety or panic attacks.

Answer

Prophylaxis against motion sickness during air transport.

Answer

Reversal of extrapyramidal symptoms caused by antipsychotics.