Alpha-2 agonists — MCQs

A 75 year-old gentleman presents to his general practitioner. He is currently being treated for hypertension and is on a multi-drug regimen. His current blood pressure is 180/100. The physician would like to begin treatment with minoxidil or hydralazine. Which of the following side effects is associated with administration of these drugs?

A patient presents with periods of severe headaches and flushing however every time they have come to the physician they have not experienced any symptoms. The only abnormal finding is a blood pressure of 175 mmHg/100 mmHg. It is determined that the optimal treatment for this patient is surgical. Prior to surgery which of the following noncompetitive inhibitors should be administered?

A patient with a history of hypertension and bipolar disorder is seen in your clinic for new-onset tremor, increased urination, and mild dehydration symptoms. Her bipolar disorder has been well-controlled with her current medication regimen. She recently started a new medication for better management of her hypertension. Which of the following medications did she most likely start?

A 60-year-old man presents to the office for a scheduled follow-up visit. He has had hypertension for the past 30 years and his current anti-hypertensive medications include lisinopril (40 mg/day) and hydrochlorothiazide (50 mg/day). He follows most of the lifestyle modifications recommended by his physician, but is concerned about his occasional occipital headaches in the morning. His blood pressure is 160/98 mm Hg. The physician adds another drug to his regimen that acts centrally as an α2-adrenergic agonist. Which of the following second messengers is involved in the mechanism of action of this new drug?

An investigator is studying a local anesthetic that causes increased sympathetic activity. When given intravenously, it causes euphoria and pupillary dilation. Which of the following is the most likely effect of this drug at the synaptic cleft?

A 55-year-old woman comes to the physician because of involuntary hand movements that improve with alcohol consumption. Physical examination shows bilateral hand tremors that worsen when the patient is asked to extend her arms out in front of her. The physician prescribes a medication that is associated with an increased risk of bronchospasms. This drug has which of the following immediate effects on the cardiovascular system? Stroke volume | Heart rate | Peripheral vascular resistance

A 65-year-old male with a history of CHF presents to the emergency room with shortness of breath, lower leg edema, and fatigue. He is diagnosed with acute decompensated congestive heart failure, was admitted to the CCU, and treated with a medication that targets beta-1 adrenergic receptors preferentially over beta-2 adrenergic receptors. The prescribing physician explained that this medication would only be used temporarily as its efficacy decreases within 2-3 days due to receptor downregulation. Which of the following was prescribed?

A 37-year-old male presents to general medical clinic reporting sleeping difficulties. He states that he has daytime sleepiness, having fallen asleep several times while driving his car recently. He sometimes experiences very vivid dreams just before awakening. You ask the patient's wife if she has witnessed any episodes where her husband lost all muscle tone and fell to the ground, and she confirms that he has not had this symptom. The patient notes that this condition runs in his family, and he desperately asks for treatment. You begin him on a first-line medication for this illness, which works by which mechanism of action?

A 12-year-old boy presents to the pediatrician with complaints of chronic cough for the past two years. The cough is present during the day, especially after returning from school. His school teacher says he does not cough at school. The cough is absent while he is asleep, although it increases during examinations or when he experiences boredom. His mother reports that there was a one-month period where he did not cough, but during that month, he used to shrug his shoulders frequently, especially when he was stressed or fatigued. There is no history of sneezing, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, headache, ear symptoms, or breathing difficulty. Detailed history does not suggest the presence of a mood disorder, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. There is no past history of a known neurological disorder, and there is no history of substance abuse. On physical examination, his vital signs are stable. Examination of his respiratory and cardiovascular systems is normal. However, the pediatrician notes repeated eye blinking; upon asking about eye blinking, the mother reports that he has had this habit since he was almost eight years old. Further inquiry suggests that eye blinking, coughing, and grunting disappear for a few weeks without explanation, only to reappear again. Which of the following drugs is likely to be most effective to control this patient’s symptoms?

A 67-year-old woman presents to her physician for a regular checkup. She is a community-dwelling, retired teacher without any smoking history. She has arterial hypertension and takes hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg and valsartan 80 mg daily. She was recently discharged from the hospital after admission for an ulnar fracture she received after a fall from the second step of a ladder in her garden. A year ago, she had a clavicular fracture from tripping over some large rocks in her yard. She does not report lightheadedness or fainting. Her medical history is also significant for an appendectomy 11 years ago. She is in menopause. She mostly consumes vegetables and dairy products. Her height is 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) and weight is 55 kg (123 lb). Her blood pressure is 130/80 mm Hg without orthostatic changes, heart rate is 73/min and regular, respiratory rate is 14/min, and temperature is 36.6°C (97.9°F). Her lungs are clear to auscultation. Cardiac auscultation reveals S2 accentuation over the aorta. The abdomen is mildly distended on palpation; there are no identifiable masses. The neurological examination is unremarkable. Considering the history and presentation, which of the following medications most likely will be prescribed to this patient after additional investigations?