ATI RN
Pharmacology CNS Drugs Classification Questions
Question 1 of 5
An 8-year-old boy presents to the emergency department after seizure-like activity. During class, the teacher noted that the boy stare off for about 45 s. He has done this three times in the past. He would not respond to her during the episode and was confused for about 1 min following it. What is the most appropriate first-line therapy for this child?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 2 of 5
A 9-year-old boy is sent for neurologic evaluation because of episodes of apparent confusion. Over the past year, the child has experienced episodes during which he develops a blank look on his face and fails to respond to questions. Moreover, it appears to take several minutes before the boy recovers from the episodes. Which one of the following best describes this patient's seizures?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 3 of 5
Effects of morphine on CNS include all of the following EXCEPT:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Morphine, a mu-opioid receptor agonist, exerts profound CNS effects. Miosis (pinpoint pupils) results from parasympathetic stimulation via the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. Respiratory depression, a life-threatening effect, occurs due to reduced sensitivity of brainstem respiratory centers to CO2, a hallmark of opioid overdose. Depression of the cough reflex is mediated by medullary suppression, making morphine an antitussive. However, morphine lacks an anticonvulsant effect (choice C); it can lower the seizure threshold in overdose, potentially inducing convulsions, unlike drugs like benzodiazepines. This exception highlights morphine's CNS depressant profile, lacking the GABAergic enhancement needed for seizure control. Understanding these effects is vital for safe use, monitoring for overdose, and distinguishing morphine from anticonvulsant therapies.
Question 4 of 5
Aspirin could be used prophylactically for which one of the following conditions:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aspirin's antiplatelet effect, via COX-1 inhibition and reduced thromboxane A2, prevents clot formation, making it prophylactic for thrombo-embolic diseases (choice B), like myocardial infarction or stroke. Bronchial asthma (choice A) may worsen with aspirin due to prostaglandin shifts. Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (choice C) involves rate control, not aspirin's domain. Peptic ulcer (choice D) is a contraindication due to GI irritation. Thrombo-embolic prophylaxis is a key clinical use, reflecting aspirin's cardiovascular role.
Question 5 of 5
Phenytoin is used in treatment of all of the following EXCEPT:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Phenytoin treats status epilepticus (choice B), partial seizures (choice C), and digitalis-induced arrhythmias (choice D) by stabilizing sodium channels, reducing neuronal excitability or ectopic beats. Petit mal epilepsy (choice A), or absence seizures, responds better to ethosuximide or valproate, not phenytoin, which is ineffective against generalized absence seizures. This exception guides seizure-type-specific therapy.