What is the therapeutic use of Albuterol?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Albuterol is a medication commonly used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions. It works by relaxing the muscles in the airways, allowing the air passages to widen and making it easier to breathe. This bronchodilation effect helps to relieve symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Albuterol is classified as a short-acting beta-agonist, and its therapeutic use lies in its ability to provide quick relief during acute asthma attacks or to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Drug tolerance occurs when a person needs more of a drug to achieve the same effect they initially experienced with a lower dose. In this scenario, the client mentioning that they do not get the same relief with the pain medication suggests that their body has built up a tolerance to the medication. This is different from drug addiction, which involves a psychological and physical reliance on a drug, and physical dependence, which is the body's adaptation to a drug leading to withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped. Psychological dependence involves a perceived need for a drug due to psychological reasons rather than physical necessity. In this case, the client's statement points to drug tolerance as the likely reason for experiencing decreased effectiveness of the pain medication.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The half-life is the time required for the concentration of a drug in the blood to decrease by 50%. It serves as an indication of the time required for a dosing regimen to achieve a steady state concentration of the drug in the blood. Understanding the half-life of a drug is crucial for determining the dosing interval needed to maintain therapeutic levels. Long half-lives require less frequent dosing to reach steady state, while short half-lives demand more frequent dosing to achieve the desired drug concentration in the blood over time.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Naloxone is a medication used to treat opioid overdose by rapidly reversing the effects of opioids on the central nervous system. It works by binding to the same receptors in the brain that opioids target, effectively displacing the opioids and reversing their effects. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing in individuals who have overdosed on opioids, potentially saving their lives. It is commonly administered in emergency situations, such as in hospitals, ambulances, and by first responders. Naloxone is an essential tool in treating opioid overdose and is considered a life-saving medication in such cases.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct instruction for the patient taking clopidogrel (Plavix) and aspirin prior to orthopedic surgery is to continue taking aspirin and stop taking clopidogrel 2 weeks before the surgery. This recommendation is based on the pharmacokinetics of clopidogrel, which has a longer duration of action and requires a longer timeframe for platelet function to return to baseline after discontinuation. Aspirin, on the other hand, has a shorter duration of action, and its antiplatelet effects diminish more rapidly once it is stopped. By continuing aspirin and stopping clopidogrel 2 weeks before surgery, the patient can minimize the risk of excessive bleeding during the surgical procedure while still maintaining some level of antiplatelet effect to prevent thrombotic events.