Deck 19: Adrenergic-Blocking Drugs

Question 1

MATCHING
For each condition listed below,indicate which of the following is the appropriate medication.

Migraine headaches

A)An α-blocker drug
B)A β-blocker drug
C)Both an α-blocker drug and a β-blocker drug

Answer 1

Both an α-blocker drug and a β-blocker drug

Question 2

Which β-blocker is indicated for the treatment of heart failure?

A)atenolol (Tenormin)
B)carvedilol
C)acebutolol (Rhotral)
D)esmolol (Brevibloc)

Answer 2

carvedilol

Question 3

The nurse is teaching a patient about self-monitoring while taking a β-blocker at home.The nurse should teach the patient to take his apical pulse daily for 1 minute;if the pulse rate decreases to less than 60 beats per minute,the nurse instructs the patient to do which of the following?

A)Contact his physician for instructions
B)Reduce the dose of his β-blocker by half
C)Continue the medication because this is an expected effect
D)Skip the medication dose that day and check his pulse again the next day

Answer 3

Contact his physician for instructions

Question 4

A patient has received a prescription for prazosin (Minipress)to reduce urinary obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).What important information should the nurse tell this patient about the medication?

A)Fluids should be restricted while on this medication.
B)Take the medication with breakfast to promote maximum effects of the drug.
C)Until a tolerance is built up, lightheadedness may occur when standing up after sitting or lying down.
D)Blood pressure should be monitored because the medication may cause hypertension due to vasoconstriction.

Question 5

A female patient has been admitted to the emergency department after an accidental overdose of ergotamine tartrate (Ergostat).Her daughter states that her mother developed a severe migraine headache and called to tell her that she had taken two double doses that morning because the headache "just would not go away." She is now dizzy,nauseated,and very weak.Which of the following actions should the nurse take immediately?

A)Administer activated charcoal
B)Force intravenous and oral fluids
C)Empty the stomach by gastric lavage
D)Administer a cathartic such as sorbitol

Question 6

A patient is going home with a new prescription for the β-blocker atenolol (Tenormin).What important information should the nurse tell the patient about this drug?

A)Never abruptly stop taking this medication.
B)The medication should be stopped once symptoms subside.
C)Change positions slowly to prevent or reduce postural hypotension.
D)Report any weight gain of more than 0.91 kg (2 lb)in a week or any problem with fluid buildup.

Question 7

Which of the following drugs is used to help establish the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma?

A)prazosin (Minipress)
B)phentolamine (Rogitine)
C)carvedilol
D)ergotamine tartrate (Ergostat)

Question 8

MATCHING
For each condition listed below,indicate which of the following is the appropriate medication.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

A)An α-blocker drug
B)A β-blocker drug
C)Both an α-blocker drug and a β-blocker drug

Question 9

A 49-year-old male patient is in the clinic for a follow-up visit 6 months after starting a β-blocker for treatment of hypertension.During this visit,his blood pressure is 169/98 mmHg,and he eventually confesses that he stopped taking this medicine 2 months ago because of an "embarrassing problem." What problem did he most likely experience with this medication that caused him to stop taking it?

A)Urge incontinence
B)Dizziness when standing up
C)Excessive flatus
D)Impotence

Question 10

A 58-year-old male has had a myocardial infarction (MI).He has begun rehabilitation and is ready for discharge.When he is given a prescription for metoprolol (Lopressor),he becomes upset,stating "I don't have high blood pressure! Why did my doctor give me this medicine?" Which of the following statements is the nurse's best explanation to the patient?

A)This medication prevents emboli that may lead to another MI.
B)β-blockers are routinely prescribed for all post-MI patients.
C)It is being prescribed to prevent hypertension that often occurs post-MI.
D)Studies have shown that this medication has greatly increased survival in patients after an MI.

Question 11

MATCHING
For each condition listed below,indicate which of the following is the appropriate medication.

Glaucoma

A)An α-blocker drug
B)A β-blocker drug
C)Both an α-blocker drug and a β-blocker drug

Question 12

A patient has been on a dopamine drip,and the nurse notices that the infusion has extravasated into the tissue of the forearm.After stopping the infusion,the nurse immediately injects phentolamine subcutaneously in a circular fashion around the extravasation site.What is the effect of this action?

A)It causes vasoconstriction and rapid uptake of the extravasated dopamine.
B)It causes arterial vasoconstriction and reduced pain and swelling at the site.
C)It increases peripheral vascular resistance and reduces arterial pressure at the site.
D)It increases blood flow to the ischemic site by vasodilation and prevents permanent tissue damage.