What is the therapeutic use of metformin?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Metformin is commonly used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It works by helping to control blood sugar levels by decreasing glucose production in the liver and improving insulin sensitivity in the muscles. Therefore, the therapeutic use of metformin is in the maintenance of a person's blood glucose levels. While metformin can sometimes be associated with minor effects like gastrointestinal disturbances, it is not used to increase heart rate or decrease gastrointestinal secretions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Phenytoin is an anticonvulsant medication commonly used in the treatment of seizures, including tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures, complex partial seizures, and seizures occurring during neurosurgery. It works by stabilizing the excitable cell membranes in the brain, thereby reducing abnormal electrical activity that can lead to seizures. Phenytoin is not used as an antidiabetic, mood stabilizer, or antianxiety agent.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When administering the anticoagulant drug Warfarin, one of the two lab tests you should monitor to distinguish the effectiveness of the drug is the International Normalized Ratio (INR). INR measures the time it takes for blood to clot and is used to monitor the effects of Warfarin therapy. The target INR range for patients on Warfarin therapy varies depending on the indication for treatment, but in general, a higher INR indicates that the blood is taking longer to clot, which means the Warfarin is working effectively to prevent blood clots. Regular monitoring of the INR levels is essential to ensure that patients are receiving an appropriate dose of Warfarin to prevent both clotting and bleeding complications.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Atropine sulfate is an anticholinergic drug that antagonizes the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors. By blocking the parasympathetic nervous system, atropine produces various effects including decreased salivation, increased heart rate, bronchodilation, and mydriasis (pupillary dilation). These properties make atropine useful in treating conditions such as bradycardia, poisoning with certain toxins, and for dilation of the pupil during eye exams.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The volume of distribution (Vd) is a pharmacokinetic parameter that describes the relationship of the blood concentration attained with initial dosing and the dose of drug given. It is a theoretical volume that indicates the extent of drug distribution in the body relative to its concentration in the bloodstream. A high volume of distribution suggests that the drug is extensively distributed throughout the tissues of the body, while a low volume of distribution indicates that the drug is largely confined to the bloodstream. Therefore, Vd is the correct answer in this scenario.