Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies Q 91
Patrick who is hospitalized following a myocardial infarction asks the nurse why he is taking morphine. The nurse explains that morphine:
A. Decrease anxiety and restlessness
B. Prevents shock and relieves pain
C. Dilates coronary blood vessels
D. Helps prevent fibrillation of the heart
Correct Answer: B. Prevents shock and relieves pain
Morphine is a central nervous system depressant used to relieve the pain associated with myocardial infarction, it also decreases apprehension and prevents cardiogenic shock. FDA-approved usage of morphine sulfate includes moderate to severe pain that may be acute or chronic. Most commonly used in pain management, morphine provides major relief to patients afflicted with pain.
Option A: Benzodiazepines decrease anxiety and restlessness. Indications for benzodiazepine administration include, but are not limited to, anxiety disorders, insomnia, acute status epilepticus, induction of amnesia, spastic disorders, seizure disorders, and agitation.
Option C: Calcium channel blockers, such as nitroglycerin, dilate large coronary blood vessels. The dihydropyridines, in therapeutic dosing, have a little direct effect on the myocardium, and instead, are more often peripheral vasodilators, which is why they are useful for hypertension, post-intracranial hemorrhage associated vasospasm, and migraines.
Option D: Antiplatelets and anticoagulants help prevent atrial fibrillation by preventing blood clot formation. Antiplatelet medications divide into oral and parenteral agents. Oral agents subdivide further based on the mechanism of action. Aspirin was the first antiplatelet medication and is a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.