The respiratory therapist is asked to recommend a medication to reduce afterload for a patient with cardiogenic pulmonary edema. The therapist could recommend all of the following EXCEPT:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Afterload reducers include the following:
• captopril-prevents the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. It is a potent vasodilator. Afterload and cardiac output usually improve in 10 to 15 minutes.
• enalapril (Vasotec)-is a competitive ACE inhibitor and reduces angiotensin II levels.
• nitroprusside (Nitropress)-is a potent, direct smooth muscle-relaxing agent that primarily reduces afterload.
Norepinephrine (Levophed) may be used in the management of cardiogenic pulmonary edema; however, it is a positive inotropic agent, not an afterload reducer.

The Respiratory Therapist Is Asked to Recommend a Medication to Reduce