Chapter 33  Anticholinergic Agents

Chapter 33  Anticholinergic Agents

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1. A student asks the pharmacology instructor to explain the action of anticholinergic agents. What would
be the instructor’s best response?

A) They block nicotinic receptors.

B) They compete with serotonin for muscarinic acetylcholine receptor sites.

C) They act to block the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system.

D) They increase norepinephrine at the neuromuscular junction.

Ans: C

Feedback:

Drugs that are used to block the effects of acetylcholine are called anticholinergic drugs. Because this
action lyses, or blocks, the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system, they are also called
parasympatholytic agents. The drug works by blocking only the muscarinic effectors in the
parasympathetic nervous system. They compete with acetylcholine for the muscarinic acetylcholine
receptor sites. They do not block the nicotinic receptors and have little or no effect at the
neuromuscular junction.

2. A patient calls the clinic and talks to the nurse. The patient tells the nurse he or she is going on a cruise
and is concerned about motion sickness. The patient says that a friend has recommended that he or she
see his or her primary care physician to get a prescription for scopolamine. What adverse effect would
the nurse inform the patient that using scopolamine may result in?

A) Pupil constriction

B) Tachycardia

C) Diarrhea

D) Urinary incontinence

Ans: B

Feedback:

Scopolamine blocks the parasympathetic nervous system, which may result in dilated pupils and
increased heart rate (i.e., tachycardia). Blocking the parasympathetic system also results in decreased
GI activity and urinary bladder tone causing constipation and urinary retention.

Test Bank – Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (7th Edition by Amy Karch) 537

3. A 29-year-old man is going on a company-sponsored deep-sea fishing trip in 2 weeks. He comes to the
clinic requesting a scopolamine patch because he is afraid that he will get seasick. The medication is
prescribed for him and the nurse’s instructions concerning use of the patch will include what?

A) ​Shave the area before applying the patch.

B) ​The patch’s effectiveness will last about 72 hours.

C) ​When replacing the patch, apply the new patch in the same area.

D) ​Do not clean the application area before applying the patch.

Ans: B

Feedback:

The scopolamine patch is replaced every 3 days (i.e., 72 hours). The scopolamine patch should be
applied to a clean, dry, intact, and hairless area of the body. The area should not be shaved because
abrasion of the skin could occur and lead to increased absorption. Patches should be placed at new sites
each time to avoid skin irritation. The old patch should be removed and the area cleaned.

4. The nurse is taking a health history on a new patient who has been prescribed propantheline(generic) as
adjunctive therapy for peptic ulcers. While collecting the health history, what will the nurse specifically
assess for?

A) Diabetes mellitus

B) Obsessive-compulsive disorder

C) Insomnia

D) Glaucoma

Ans: D

Feedback:

Propantheline is contraindicated for a patient with glaucoma because the drug could result in increased
intraocular pressure due to pupil dilation. Diabetes mellitus, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and
insomnia are not recognized as being adversely affected by this drug.

5. A nurse is admitting a patient for outpatient eye surgery. The nurse routinely administers preoperative
medications for eye surgery and is aware that an increased dosage of a mydriatic is likely when given to
a member of what ethnic group?

Test Bank – Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (7th Edition by Amy Karch) 538

A) African Americans

B) German Americans

C) Irish Americans

D) Scandinavian Americans

Ans: A

Feedback:

African Americans with dark eyes usually require an increased dosage and may have a prolonged time
to peak effect. The need for an increased dose appears to be related to the amount of pigment in the
person’s eyes because people with darker-pigmented eyes require a higher dose. German, Irish, and
Scandinavian Americans generally have less pigmentation in their eyes and are therefore less likely to
need a greater dose.