A nurse is teaching a nursing student about the two classes of adrenergic agonist drugs. Which statement by the nursing student indicates understanding of the teaching?
A) "Catecholamines may be given orally."
B) "Catecholamines often require continuous infusion to be effective."
C) "Noncatecholamines do not cross the blood-brain barrier."
D) "Noncatecholamines undergo rapid degradation by monoamine oxidase."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Catecholamines undergo rapid degradation by monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Consequently, they have a brief duration of action, and continuous infusion often is required to maintain the drug's effects. Catecholamines cannot be used orally. Catecholamines do not cross the blood-brain barrier; noncatecholamines do. Noncatecholamines are not degraded by MAO.

A Nurse Is Teaching a Nursing Student About the Two