Paramedics Exam Pharmacology and Medication Administration 3

Question 1

A 70-kg patient requires a dopamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min. The solution is 400 mg in 250 mL D5W. What is the correct infusion rate in mL/hr?

Accepted Answer

13.1 mL/hr

Answer

Concentration = 1,600 mcg/mL; dose = 350 mcg/min; rate = 350/1,600 = 0.219 mL/min × 60 = 13.1 mL/hr.

Question 2

Naloxone reverses opioid toxicity by acting as a:

Accepted Answer

Competitive antagonist at opioid receptors

Answer

Naloxone is a competitive antagonist that displaces opioids from mu, kappa, and delta receptors to reverse toxicity.

Question 3

Which condition is an absolute contraindication to nitroglycerin administration?

Accepted Answer

Inferior MI with right ventricular involvement

Answer

RV infarction relies on preload; nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation can cause profound hypotension in these patients.

Question 4

A patient with suspected organophosphate poisoning is salivating, has bronchospasm, and bradycardia. Which drug is the antidote?

Accepted Answer

Atropine

Answer

Atropine competitively blocks muscarinic receptors, reversing the excessive cholinergic stimulation caused by organophosphates.

Question 5

What is the half-life significance in pharmacology?

Accepted Answer

Time for plasma drug concentration to decrease by 50%

Answer

Half-life is the time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to be reduced by one-half.

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