OSCE Pharmacology and Medication Administration Flashcards

What is the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?

Answer: Flumazenil

Flumazenil is a competitive benzodiazepine receptor antagonist used to reverse benzodiazepine-induced sedation.

A patient receiving heparin infusion develops a platelet count drop from 280,000 to 60,000 over 5 days. What condition should be suspected?

Answer: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)

A 50% or greater platelet drop occurring 5–10 days after heparin initiation is classic for HIT, an immune-mediated prothrombotic condition.

Which route of administration provides the fastest onset of drug action in emergency situations?

Answer: Intravenous

Intravenous administration delivers the drug directly into the bloodstream, providing the fastest onset of action.

A patient is prescribed metformin for type 2 diabetes. Which condition is an absolute contraindication?

Answer: eGFR of 35 mL/min/1.73m²

Metformin is contraindicated when eGFR falls below 30 mL/min/1.73m² due to risk of lactic acidosis; caution is advised at eGFR 30–45.

When administering an IM injection in the deltoid muscle, what is the maximum volume that should be injected?

Answer: 2 mL

The deltoid can safely accommodate up to 2 mL of medication; larger volumes should be given in the vastus lateralis or ventrogluteal site.

A patient on digoxin develops nausea, yellow-green vision changes, and bradycardia. What electrolyte disturbance potentiates digoxin toxicity?

Answer: Hypokalemia

Hypokalemia increases digoxin binding to the Na+/K+-ATPase pump, potentiating toxicity even at normal serum digoxin levels.

Which medication used for anaphylaxis should be administered in the anterolateral thigh for fastest absorption?

Answer: Epinephrine 1:1000

Epinephrine 1:1000 given IM into the anterolateral thigh (vastus lateralis) achieves the fastest peak serum levels in anaphylaxis treatment.