Cholinergic/Adrenergic drugs — MCQs

A 9-year-old girl is brought to the emergency room by her parents with severe shortness of breath, cough, and wheezing after playing with her friends in the garden. She has a history of bronchial asthma. Her vital signs are as follows: respiratory rate 39/min, pulse 121/min, blood pressure 129/67 mm Hg, and temperature 37.2°C (99°F). On physical exam, she looks confused and has bilateral diffuse wheezes on chest auscultation. Which of the following is the most appropriate drug to rapidly reverse her respiratory distress?

Which of the following correctly pairs a neurotransmitter with its location of synthesis?

A 49-year-old man presents to his primary care provider complaining of weakness and fatigue. He reports that he has started moving slower than normal and has noticed difficulty buttoning up his pants or tying his tie. He is accompanied by his wife who reports that he has started to move more slowly over the past 2 years. He has also become increasingly irritable and has had trouble sleeping. His past medical history is notable for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. He takes enalapril and metformin. His family history is notable for multiple strokes in his mother and father. His temperature is 99°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg, pulse is 90/min, and respirations are 17/min. On exam, strength is 4+/5 bilaterally in his upper extremities and 4/5 in his lower extremities. Some muscle atrophy is noted in his legs and feet. Patellar reflexes are 3+ bilaterally. He has a tremor in his right hand that diminishes when he is instructed to hold a pen in his hand. He is oriented to person, place and time. He states that he feels depressed but denies suicidal ideation. His physician prescribes multiple medications including a drug that is also indicated in the treatment of prolactinomas. Which of the following is the mechanism of action of this medication?

A 21-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 4-month history of fatigue. She admits to binge eating several times per month, after which she usually induces vomiting for compensation. She exercises daily in an effort to lose weight. She is 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) tall and weighs 60 kg (132 lb); BMI is 21.3 kg/m2. Physical examination shows calluses on the knuckles and bilateral parotid gland enlargement. Oropharyngeal examination shows eroded dental enamel and decalcified teeth. Which of the following is the most appropriate pharmacotherapy for this patient's condition?

A 40-year-old woman comes to the physician for a preoperative examination before undergoing a planned elective cholecystectomy. She has a history of myasthenia gravis, for which she takes oral pyridostigmine. She has had occasional episodes of muscle weakness, blurred vision, and slurred speech recently. Physical examination shows mild ptosis bilaterally. The pupils are normal in size and reactive bilaterally. Muscle strength is 3/5 at the hips and shoulders. Sensory examination shows no abnormalities. After the administration of 10 mg of edrophonium, her ptosis resolves, and her proximal muscle strength improves to 5/5. This patient is most likely to benefit from which of the following interventions?

A 12-year-old girl is brought to the pediatrician by her father who is concerned about the child’s ability to sit in a moving vehicle. She frequently develops nausea and dizziness when riding in a car for more than 10 minutes. The child has vomited twice over the past month while riding in the car. Her symptoms are significantly impairing her ability to make it to school on time without having to stop and get out of the car. The child does well in school and has several close friends. On examination, the child is well-appearing and appropriately interactive. Dix-Hallpike maneuver is negative. Her gait is normal. Strength and range of motion are full and symmetric bilaterally in the upper and lower extremities. The father would like to know if there is anything his daughter can take to be able to sit in a moving vehicle without feeling ill. A medication with which of the following mechanisms of action is indicated to manage this patient’s symptoms?

A 67-year-old farmer presents to the emergency department with a chief complaint of unusual behavior. His wife states that since this morning he has experienced dryness and flushing of his skin while working outside. As the day went on, the patient found it exceedingly difficult to urinate and had to create significant abdominal pressure for a weak stream of urine to be produced. Currently, the patient seems confused and responds incoherently. The patient has a past medical history of Parkinson's disease, alcohol abuse, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, constipation and a suicide attempt when he was 23 years old. He is currently taking lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, metformin, insulin, benztropine, levodopa/carbidopa, and vitamin C. The only other notable symptoms this patient has experienced are recent severe seasonal allergies. On physical exam you note dry, flushed skin, and a confused gentleman. His temperature is 99.5°F (37.5°C), pulse is 112/min, blood pressure is 130/90 mmHg, respirations are 18/min, and oxygen saturation is 96% on room air. Lab values are ordered. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's presentation?

A 70-year-old woman is brought to her physician by her daughter who reports that the patient has been increasingly confused and forgetful over the past year. The daughter reports that the patient has difficulty finding words, remembering names, and maintaining a conversation. She has gotten lost twice while driving. Her past medical history is known for obesity, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation. She takes metformin, glyburide, and warfarin. She drinks socially and has a 30 pack-year smoking history. Her family history is notable for Parkinson’s disease in her father and stroke in her mother. A head CT demonstrates sulcal widening and narrowing of the gyri. The physician decides to start the patient on a medication known to inhibit a cell surface glutamate receptor. Which of the following is a downstream effect of this medication?

A healthy mother gives birth to a child at 40 weeks of gestation. On examination, the child has ambiguous genitalia. A karyotype analysis reveals the presence of a Y chromosome. Additional workup reveals the presence of testes and a normal level of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s condition?

A 55-year-old college professor with a long-standing history of neuropathic pain presents to a medical clinic with weight loss and early morning awakening for the past several months. She feels as if she has no energy to go about her work. She complains that she is not as focused at work or home as she used to be and finds both her life and work unfulfilling. She has had these symptoms for the past 2 months. She was started on antidepressants in the past, but the antidepressants did not provide any significant improvement. She eventually improved and has been in remission for almost 1 year now. She would really like a simple treatment option to address both her neuropathic pain and her depression, and she is started on a tricyclic antidepressant. What safety advice is most important for this patient’s treatment plan?