1what does AVPU stand for ?
Alert - spontaneously aware of surroundings
Verbal- repsonds to voice
Painful- responds only ot painful stimulus
Unresponsive - no responce
2Break down the Glasgow coma scale (GCS)?
Eye opening (1-4):
4. spontaneous
3. speech/sound
2.pain
1. nothing
Verbal responce (1-5):
5. Orientated
4. confused
3. inapropriate words
2. imcomprehensible sounds
1. nothing
Motor responce (1-5):
6. Obeys commands
5. localizes to pain
4. withdraws from pain
3. Flexion (decorticate)
2. Extension (decerebrate)
1. no response
3what GCS is considered "sedate"?
≤8
4What two hormones regulate blood glucose, where are they produced and what do they do?
-Pancrease
Insulin: lowers by driving sugar into cells
Glucagon: raises by triggering liver to release stored glycogen
5What does the brain run on?
glucose
6what are common causes of hypoglycemia?
too much insulin/oral hypoglycemic
missed meals
alcohol use
exercise
sepsis
7what are the 3 main signs of hypoglycemia?
agitation
diaphoresis
LOA altered
8what are the 3 main sungs of hyperglycemia?
polyuria
polyphasia
tachycardia/tachypnea
9What is the pathway from transduction, transmission, perception and modulation AKA (creating pain signals)
Transduction- noxious stimulus ( mechanical, thermal, chemical) is converted into electrical signal by nocirepcepters (free nerve enedings throughout body)
Transmission- signal travels along peripheral nerves, up to spinal cord then brain
Perception- brain interprets signal as pain where mood, experiences, anxiety modulate severity
Modulation - body own descending pathways + analgesia dampen signal at multiple points
10where it vomiting cordinated by?
vomiting center in the medulla
11what are the neurological symptoms of hypolgycemia?
altered LOA
combativeness
seizure-like
confusion
12What is the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and why is its location significant?
sits outside the blood-brain barrier, allowing it to directly sample circulating toxins, drugs, and metabolic byproducts in the blood
- major trigger pathway for nausea
13What are the other non-CTZ inputs that can trigger the vomiting center?
The vestibular system (motion sickness)
The GI tract itself (irritation, distension)
Higher cortical centers (sight, smell, anxiety, pain)
14If Zophran is unsecsessfull at relieving nausea after 30 min, can another drug be given?
yes- gravol
15what does ondansetron work best on?
chemically induced, like alchohol or chemo
16what does gravol work best on?
anything to do with movement
17What is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and how does it work in a healthy person?
- bodys central stress responce system
Hypothalamus: signals stress
Pituitary gland: releases ACTH
Adrenal cortex: stimulated by ACTH
Cortisol: released into bloodstream
18What role does cortisol play in a healthy person during physical stress?
The surge of cortisol helps maintain blood pressure, blood glucose, and overall stress tolerance.
19What is Addison's disease, and what happens when a patient experiences significant physical stress?
- Primary adrenal failure, pt cannot produce a cortisol surge on their own.
Effect of stress: Under physical stress (illness, injury, infection), they can rapidly decompensate into an adrenal crisis: hypotension, hypoglycemia, and shock.
20Why does the directive require administering the patient's OWN hydrocortisone during an adrenal crisis?
Because you are replacing a hormone their body cannot produce in a crisis, rather than treating a new problem from scratch.
21what are Mu receptors responsible for and what are there most dangerous side effect?
- opioids analgesic effects
side effect: respiratory depression
22What is the specific physiological mechanism that causes death in an opioid overdose?
excess mu-receptor stimulation blunts the brainstem's response to rising Co2, pt stops breathing adequatly ( not from heart stopping but drive to breath dissapearing)
23How does Naloxone (antagonist) reverse an opioid overdose?
competitively displaces opiods from Mu receotors without activating itself, rapidly reversing respiratory depression
24How does Buprenorphine work as a partial agonist?
tightly binds to Mu receptors, while only partially activating them
- enought to relive withdrawl symptpms without producing sam overdose risk as full agonist
25When might a patient receive oral glucose or other simple carbohydrates in relation to dextrose or glucagon?
If the patient responds to dextrose or glucagon, they may receive oral glucose or other simple carbohydrate
26What is the treatment protocol if a patient exhibits only mild signs or symptoms of hypoglycemia?
The patient may receive oral glucose or other simple carbohydrates instead of dextrose or glucagon.
27What documentation and clinical steps are required if a patient initiates an informed refusal of transport?
A final set of vital signs including blood glucometry must be attempted and documented.
28How should IV dextrose be titrated?
gradually toward a level of awareness where the patient can safely consume carbohydrates on their own.
29what are IV dextroses risks?
-Overcorrecting risks rebound hyperglycemia
- dextrose is irritating to peripheral veins
30What is the dose, reassessment interval, and indication for oral glucose?
Dose & Reassessment: 15 g and every 15 min
Indications: Appropriate alternative if the patient is alert with only mild symptoms, or responds to dextroselucagon.
31Why does IM glucagon take longer to work than IV dextrose, and when might a patient not respond to it?
has to trigger liver to break down lgycogen stores first ( not instant fix)
- pt with depleted glycogen storage ( chornic alchol use, malnourishiment)
32When is a hypoglycemic patient disqualified from the treat and discharge ?
teo doses of the SAME medication (two dex or two glucagon)
33what is dextroses (D10w/D50w) onset, peak and duration?
onset: 1-2 min (IV)
peak: 3-5 min
duration: varible (depends on card intake)
34What is dextrose and how does it work in the body?
- glucose in an injectable form
Absorbs directly into the bloodstream and immediatly availible as feul for glucose-dependent tisues ( most critically in the brain)
35what are dextroses adeverse effects?
local vein irritation
rebound hyperglycemia
extravasation causing tissue damage
36what is glucagons onset, peak and duration?
onset: 10-20 min (IM/IN)
peak: 20-30 min
duration: 60-90 min
37What is glucagon and how does it act on liver cells?
- Naturally occurring pancreatic hormone that acts on liver cells to trigger glycogenolysis
Breakdown of stored glycogen into glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream
38what are glucagons adverse effects?
nausea/vomiting
headache
injection site discomfort
39Why is glucagon's onset meaningfully slower than IV dextrose?
Because it has to work through the liver rather than delivering glucose directly into the bloodstream.
40why should you try to bag a opiod OD first
to try to blow off the large amounts of CO2 that they have so you dont send them into a huge catecholamine release
41How should IV naloxone be titrated, what is the target endpoint, and why?
2 min intervals IV
0.08
0.08
0.08
0.08
Calls for a nice smooth wake up they tend to be less angry and it gives you a lot more time to blow off the CO2
42what are the three signs of opoid overdose?
respiratory depression, GCS 3, pinpoint pupils
43what is the target resp rate after giving nalxone?
≥ 10
44why can someon who has had methadone in the past 24 hours not be given buprenorphine?
methadones long half-life and buprenorphine strong receptor affinity ( interect unpredictably)
45what is naloxones, onset, peak and duration?
onset: 2-5 min (IM, IN, SC)
peak: 5-10 min
duration: 30-90 min
46what type of drug is naloxone?
competitive opioid agonist?
47what is naloxone's MOA?
binds to Mu receptors with high afinity physically deplacing already bound opioid molecules and rapidly reversing respiratory depression
48why do opioids cause respiratory depression?
shut down respiratory center because drug stops brain from blowing off Co2 + ability to breath
49what are naloxones adverse affects?
- acute withdrwals
- combativeness
- non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema
50why can nalaxone cause non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema?
acute catecholamine surge triggered by sudden, severe opioid withdrawal leading to dry drowning
51what is buprenophine/naloxones(suboxones) onset, peak and duration?
onset: 15-30 min
peak: 1-2 hours
duration:24+ ( up to 72)
52what type of drug is buprenorphine?
partial mu-receptor agonist
53what is buprenorphine's MOA?
Binds mu receptors with high affinity but only partially activates them—providing enough stimulation to relieve withdrawal symptoms without inducing severe respiratory depression or overdose risk.
54what are the adverse effects of buprenorphine?
-precipitated withdrwals
-headache
-nausea
- injection/site irritation
55how many condition in the suspected adrnal crisis directive must patient meet to recive hydrocortizone?
only 1
56what is hydrocortisones onset, peak and duration?
onset: within 1 hour
peak: 1-2 hours
duration: 8-12 hours
57what is hydrocortisones MOA?
replaces missing hormone, restoring physiological effects, maintaining vascular tone, blood pressure and blood glucose level
58what are hydrocortisone adverse effects?
hyperglycemia
59What clinical indications make Ketorolac a first-thought medication choice?
Renal colic: Because it reduces intrarenal pressures.
Hip fracture: When the patient must remain supine and cannot tolerate PO medications due to being on their back.
60why should we co-administer ibuprofen and acetaminophen?
work through different mechanism leading to better pain relif without risk
61why should a renal colic patient be given ketorolac?
anti-inflamitory, smooth muscle relaxing effects target actual mechanism of colics pain more directly
62what is acetaminophen onset, peak and duration?
onset: 30-60 min
peak: 1-2 hours
duration: 4-6 hours
63what is acetaminophens MOA?
act within CNS, inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis in brain + spinal cord with minimal periphral anti-inflammatory effects
64what are acetaminophen adverse effects?
hepatoxicity
65what is ibuprofens onset, peak and duration?
onset: 30-60 min
peak: 1-2 hours
duration: 4-6 hours
66what is ibuprofens MOA?
non-selectively inhibts Cox 1+Cox2, reducing synthesis of prostaglandis responsible for pain, inflammation, and fever.
67what are ibuprofens adverse effects?
GI upset
increased bleeding risk
bronchospasm (asthmatics)
68what is ketorolacs onset, peak and duration?
onset: 10-30 min
peak: 1-2 hours
duration: 4-6 hours
69what is ketorolacs MOA?
non-selectively inhibts Cox 1+Cox2, reducing synthesis of prostaglandis ( more potent/quicker onset)
70what are ketorolacs adverse effects?
GI upset
bleeding risk
71what is considerd a prolonged QT?
over 450
72how must dimenhydrinate be diluted before administration?
1:9 with normal saline of D5W (IV)
73what is ondansetrons onset, peak and duration?
onset: 10-15 min
peak: 30-60 min
duration: 4-8 hours
74what are ondansetrons adverse effecst?
headache
constipation
QT prolongation
75what is ondansetrons MOA?
selectively blocks serotonin receptors both preiopherally on vagal nerve terminal in GI tract and centrally in chemoreptor trigger zone
76what is dimenhydrINATEs (gravol) onset, peak and duration?
onset: 20-30 min
peak: 1-2 hours
duration: 3-6 hours
77what is dimenhydrinates adverse effects?
sedation
drowsiness
dry mouth
agitation
78what is dimenhydrinates MOA?
blocks H1 receptors peripherally+centrally, and anticholinergic + antivertigo properties.
79Where does Dimenhydrinate exert its central antihistamine effects, and what types of nausea is it particularly effective for?
Anatomic Sites: Acts on the vestibular system and the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ).
Clinical Efficacy: Particularly effective for nausea related to motion or vestibular causes, alongside its general antiemetic effect.