COPR - Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators Examination Pharmacology and Medication Administration Questions and Answers Flashcards

A paramedic is treating a patient in wide-complex tachycardia who is hemodynamically stable. Which drug is typically considered first-line?

Answer: Amiodarone

Amiodarone is a first-line antiarrhythmic for stable wide-complex tachycardia due to its efficacy across multiple arrhythmia types.

What does the term 'therapeutic index' refer to in pharmacology?

Answer: The ratio between toxic and therapeutic doses

The therapeutic index is the ratio between the toxic dose and the effective therapeutic dose, indicating a drug's safety margin.

Which medication is used to treat symptomatic bradycardia in the prehospital setting?

Answer: Atropine

Atropine is the first-line drug for symptomatic bradycardia as it blocks vagal tone and increases heart rate via muscarinic receptor antagonism.

When calculating a pediatric medication dose, which formula is commonly used as a quick weight estimate for children 1–10 years?

Answer: Weight (kg) = (age × 2) + 8

The Broselow tape or the formula Weight (kg) = (age × 2) + 8 is commonly used as a quick pediatric weight estimate for dosing calculations.

A patient receiving a morphine infusion begins to show signs of respiratory depression. The FIRST action should be:

Answer: Stop the infusion and administer naloxone

Stopping the infusion and administering naloxone reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression and is the immediate priority.

Which electrolyte imbalance can be treated prehospital with calcium chloride or calcium gluconate?

Answer: Hyperkalemia

Calcium administration stabilizes cardiac membranes in hyperkalemia by raising the threshold potential, protecting against dysrhythmias.