Autonomic/CV Drugs — MCQs

A 76-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his daughter because he has been feeling lightheaded and almost passed out during dinner. Furthermore, over the past few days he has been experiencing heart palpitations. His medical history is significant for well-controlled hypertension and diabetes. Given this presentation, an electrocardiogram is performed showing an irregularly irregular tachyarrhythmia with narrow QRS complexes. The patient is prescribed a drug that decreases the slope of phase 0 of the ventricular action potential but does not change the overall duration of the action potential. Which of the following drugs is consistent with this mechanism of action?

A 45-year-old male presents to your office with complaints of chronic insomnia. After reviewing his medical history, you decide to prescribe zolpidem. Which of the following is a valid reason to choose zolpidem over a benzodiazepine?

A 60-year-old man with a 1-year history of recurrent aspiration pneumonia is brought to the emergency department by his daughter after being found unconscious and gasping for air in his bed. Despite resuscitative efforts, the patient dies. Autopsy of the patient shows degeneration of the corticospinal tracts and anterior horn cells of the upper cervical cord. There is asymmetrical atrophy of the limb muscles, the diaphragm, and the intercostal muscles. Which of the following drugs would have most likely slowed the progression of this patient's condition?

A 38-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 1-month history of palpitations. She does not smoke or drink alcohol. Her pulse is 136/min and irregularly irregular. An ECG shows irregularly spaced QRS complexes with no distinct P waves. Treatment is started with a drug that slows atrioventricular node conduction velocity and prevents voltage-dependent calcium entry into myocytes. The patient is at greatest risk for which of the following adverse effects?

An otherwise healthy 13-year-old boy is brought to the physician because of asthma attacks that have been increasing in frequency and severity over the past 4 weeks. He was first diagnosed with asthma 6 months ago. Current medications include high-dose inhaled fluticasone and salmeterol daily, with additional albuterol as needed. He has required several courses of oral corticosteroids. A medication is added to his therapy regimen that results in downregulation of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on mast cells and basophils. Which of the following drugs was most likely added to the patient's medication regimen?

A 64-year-old man presents to his physician 6 months after experiencing a myocardial infarction. The patient currently denies any symptoms and is only in for a check up. The patient's past medical history is notable for diabetes (type II), obesity, hypertension and cyclothymia. His current medications are hydrochlorothiazide, metoprolol, metformin, insulin, fluoxetine, and fish oil. On physical exam you note a calm elderly man who is moderately obese and in no current distress. The patient's cardiovascular exam is notable for a S4 heart sound. The patients lab work is below. Serum: Na+: 140 mEq/L Cl-: 100 mEq/L K+: 4.4 mEq/L HCO3-: 23 mEq/L BUN: 20 mg/dL Glucose: 120 mg/dL Creatinine: 1.6 mg/dL Ca2+: 10.1 mg/dL AST: 11 U/L ALT: 9 U/L Cholesterol: 190 mg/dL Triglycerides: 150 mg/dL High density lipoprotein associated cholesterol: 11 mg/dL Low density lipoprotein associated cholesterol: 149 mg/dL The physician updates the patient's medication regimen after this visit. The patient returns 2 weeks later and presents his blood glucose diary to you demonstrating a mean blood glucose of 167 mg/dL. He is also complaining of flushing that occurs occasionally but otherwise is doing well. Which of the following is most likely to alleviate this patient's current symptom?

A 50-year-old man presents to the emergency department for evaluation of a pulsatile headache, palpitations, chest pain, and anxiety. The vital signs include: heart rate 90/min, blood pressure 211/161 mm Hg, and respiration rate 18/min. His fundoscopic exam is remarkable for papilledema. An urgent urinalysis reveals increased protein and red blood cells (RBCs). Further evaluation reveals elevated plasma metanephrines. What is the 1st step in the definitive treatment of this patient’s underlying disorder?

A 26-year-old woman presents to the clinic with complaints of missing her 'monthlies'. She usually has her menses around the 15th of every month and they last for about 4 days. She is not on any birth control and has recently gotten into a relationship with her boyfriend from college. She is on lithium for maintenance therapy of her bipolar disorder. She once took herself off of lithium, but she became so depressed that she had a suicide attempt shortly after. She is concerned about how lithium use might affect her fetus if she were pregnant. What is the single most appropriate recommendation?

A 68-year-old man presents to his primary care physician with complaints of intermittent dysuria, pain with ejaculation, mild lower abdominal pain, and difficulty voiding for the last four months. There is no weight loss or change in stools. He has no known family history of cancer. His past medical history is notable for irritable bowel syndrome and hypertension. On examination, he is well-appearing but mildly uncomfortable. There are no abdominal or rectal masses appreciated; the prostate is mildly tender to palpation, but with normal size, texture, and contour. Urinalysis reveals trace leukocyte esterase and negative nitrite, negative blood, and no bacteria on microscopy. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment?

A 75-year-old man with a seizure disorder is brought to the emergency department by a friend because of progressive confusion over the past two weeks. He is unable to provide any history. His vital signs are within normal limits. He appears lethargic and is only oriented to person. Oral mucosa is moist. There is no jugular venous distention. A basic metabolic panel shows a serum sodium concentration of 115 mEq/L but is otherwise normal. Serum osmolality is low and antidiuretic hormone level is elevated. X-ray of the chest shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s hyponatremia?