A patient is admitted to the emergency department in shock. Isoproterenol (Isuprel) is admitted. What would the nurse expect the effect of this drug would be?
Decreased blood pressure
Decreased heart rate
Increased body temperature
Increased blood pressure
The Correct Answer is D
A) Decreased blood pressure:
Isoproterenol (Isuprel) is a non-selective beta-adrenergic agonist that primarily stimulates beta-1 and beta-2 receptors. It causes vasodilation through beta-2 stimulation, but its predominant effect is increasing heart rate and cardiac output via beta-1 stimulation. This tends to result in an increase in blood pressure
B) Decreased heart rate:
Isoproterenol generally leads to an increase in heart rate because of its beta-1 adrenergic activity, which stimulates the heart's pacemaker cells. It is commonly used to treat bradycardia (slow heart rate).
C) Increased body temperature:
Although isoproterenol can lead to increased heart rate and blood flow, it does not directly cause a significant increase in body temperature. Temperature changes are more commonly seen with drugs affecting metabolism or those that induce fever.
D) Increased blood pressure:
Isoproterenol stimulates beta-1 receptors in the heart, leading to increased heart rate and cardiac output, which typically results in an increase in blood pressure. However, due to its beta-2 effects, there can be some vasodilation, which may counteract this effect slightly. Despite this, the overall effect of isoproterenol is typically an increase in blood pressure, especially in a shock setting, where improving circulation is critical.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A) A 41-year-old man with kidney stones:
Kidney stones primarily affect the urinary system, and while the kidneys play a role in drug excretion, kidney stones themselves do not directly interfere with drug metabolism. Drug metabolism occurs mainly in the liver, so alterations due to kidney stones would be less likely. The liver is where most drug metabolism takes place, so drug metabolism in this case would likely be unaffected by kidney stones.
B) A 62-year-old woman with acute renal failure:
Acute renal failure impacts the kidneys' ability to filter and excrete drugs, but it doesn't directly affect the liver's ability to metabolize drugs. Renal failure can lead to drug accumulation due to decreased clearance, but metabolism (primarily liver function) is not usually altered unless the patient also has hepatic dysfunction.
C) A 35-year-old woman with cervical cancer:
Cervical cancer itself does not directly affect drug metabolism. While cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy can affect liver and kidney function (which could impact drug metabolism), cervical cancer itself does not typically alter the metabolic pathways that drugs undergo in the body.
D) A 50-year-old man with cirrhosis of the liver:
Cirrhosis of the liver significantly impacts the liver's ability to metabolize drugs. The liver is the primary organ responsible for drug metabolism, and cirrhosis can lead to a decreased ability to break down medications, potentially resulting in drug toxicity or suboptimal therapeutic effects.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) Beta 1: Beta-1 adrenergic receptors are primarily located in the heart and are responsible for increasing heart rate (chronotropy), the force of contraction (inotropy), and the conduction speed of electrical impulses within the heart (dromotropy). When a drug is given to increase heart rate and myocardial activity, it is stimulating the beta-1 receptors, which enhance the heart's performance..
B) Beta 2: Beta-2 receptors are predominantly found in smooth muscles, such as those
in the bronchi, blood vessels, and uterus. Stimulation of beta-2 receptors leads to relaxation of these muscles, including bronchodilation and vasodilation, which would not have a direct effect on increasing heart rate or myocardial activity.
C) Alpha 2: Alpha-2 receptors are primarily located in the central nervous system (CNS) and act to inhibit the release of norepinephrine, leading to a reduction in sympathetic nervous system activity. They have the opposite effect of what is desired in this case, as stimulation of alpha-2 receptors would actually lower heart rate and decrease myocardial activity, not increase it.
D) Alpha 1: Alpha-1 receptors are found in the smooth muscle of blood vessels and when stimulated, cause vasoconstriction, which increases blood pressure. While alpha-1 receptors do affect the cardiovascular system, they do not directly influence heart rate or myocardial contractility.
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