1Which two opposing pancreatic hormones regulate blood glucose, and what are their mechanisms?
Insulin: Lowers blood glucose by driving it into cells.
Glucagon: Raises blood glucose by triggering the liver to release stored glycogen.
2Why does hypoglycemia cause rapid neurological symptoms?
The brain relies almost exclusively on glucose and has essentially no fuel reserve of its own.
3What are the common neurological symptoms of hypoglycemia?
Altered level of awareness (LOA)
Confusion
Seizure-like activity
Combativeness
4What are common causes of hypoglycemia?
Too much insulin/oral hypoglycemic relative to food intake
Missed meals
Alcohol use
Exercise
Sepsis
5What are two PCP treatments for hypoglycemia, and how do they work?
Dextrose and Glucagon. They work by directly or indirectly restoring blood glucose so the brain has fuel again.
6What is transduction in nociception
The process where a noxious stimulus (mechanical, thermal, or chemical) is converted into an electrical signal by nociceptors (free nerve endings throughout the body)
7What is Transmission in nociception?
The pathway where the electrical signal travels along peripheral nerves, up the spinal cord, and to the brain.
8What is Perception in nociception, and what factors modulate it?
The step where the brain interprets the signal as pain.
Mood, prior experience, and anxiety all influence how severe the pain actually feels.
9What is Modulation in nociception?
The process where the body's descending pathways and administered analgesics dampen the pain signal at multiple points along the pathway (with different drug classes acting at different steps).
10Where is the vomiting center located, and what does it do?
Vomiting is coordinated by the vomiting center in the medulla, which receives input from several different sources.
11What is the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and why is its location significant?
The CTZ sits outside the blood-brain barrier, allowing it to directly sample circulating toxins, drugs, and metabolic byproducts in the blood as a major trigger pathway for nausea
12What 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)
13What are the two PCP antiemetics, and why might one work when the other fails?
Ondansetron and dimenhydrinate. They block different receptors along these pathways, which is why one may work when the other hasn't.
14what does Ondansetron work best on
on everything that is chemically induced, like alchohol or chemo
15whta does dimenhydrinate work best on
anything to do with movement
16What pathway forms the HPA axis, and what is its step-by-step pathway during a stress response?
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the body's central stress-response system.
Pathway: Hypothalamus: Receives a stress signal.
Pituitary Gland: Releases ACTH.
Adrenal Cortex: Stimulated by ACTH.
Cortisol: Released into the bloodstream
17What 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.
18What is Addison's disease, and what happens when a patient experience significant physical stress?
Definition: Primary adrenal failure where the patient 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.
19Why 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.
20What is the main function of mu receptors, and what is their most dangerous side effect?
They are responsible for most of an opioid's analgesic effect and also for its most dangerous side effect: respiratory depression.
21What is the specific physiological mechanism that causes death in an opioid overdose?
Excess mu-receptor stimulation blunts the brainstem's response to rising CO2, causing the patient to stop breathing adequately due to loss of respiratory drive (rather than the heart stopping first).
22How does Naloxone reverse an opioid overdose?
It acts as an antagonist that competitively displaces opioids from the mu receptor without activating it itself, rapidly reversing respiratory depression.
23How does Buprenorphine work as a partial agonist?
It binds mu receptors very tightly but only partially activates them—enough to relieve withdrawal symptoms without producing the same overdose risk as a full opioid agonist.
24indications for the hypoglyceima directive
suspected hypoglycemia
25condiotns for dextrose
>2years old
altered
hypoglycemia
26conditions for glucagon
altered
hypoglycemia
27contraindicarins for dextrose
allergy or sensitivity
28glucagon contraindications
allergy or sensitivity
pheochromocytoma
29When 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 carbohydrates.
30What 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.
31What 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.
32How should IV dextrose be titrated, and what are the risks/age requirements?
itration goal: Titrate gradually toward a level of awareness where the patient can safely consume carbohydrates on their own.
Risks: Overcorrecting risks rebound hyperglycemia, and dextrose is genuinely irritating to peripheral veins.
Age requirement: IV dextrose requires age 2 years or older
33What 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.
34Why does IM glucagon take longer to work than IV dextrose, and when might a patient not respond to it?
It must trigger the liver to break down glycogen stores first.
Patients with depleted glycogen stores (e.g., chronic alcohol use, malnourishment) may not respond well
35onset of dextrose
1-2 min (IV)
36peak effect of dextrose
3-5min
37duration of dextrose
variable - depnds on ongoing carbohydrate intake
38What is dextrose, and how does it act in the body?
Dextrose is glucose in an injectable form that is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and immediately available as fuel for glucose-dependent tissue, most critically the brain
39onset of glucagon
10-20 min (IM/IV)
40Peak effect of glucagon
20-30 mins
41duration of glucagon
60-90 mins
42What is glucagon and how does it act on liver cells?
Glucagon is a naturally occurring pancreatic hormone that acts on liver cells to trigger glycogenolysis—the breakdown of stored glycogen into glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream.
43Why 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.
44indications for naloxone directive
suspected opiod toxcicity
45conditions for naloxone
≥ 24 hours
altered
< 10 breaths/min
inability to adequately ventilate OR persistent need to assist ventillations
46conditions for buprenorphine/naloxone
≥ 16
unaltered
received naloxone for current opioid toxicity episode AND cows score ≥ 8
47contraindications for naloxone
allergy or sensitivity
48buprenorphine/naloxone contraindications
allergy or sensitivity to buprenorphine
taken mathadone in the past 72 hours
49why 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 hufe catecholamine release
50How 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
51What is a key contraindication related to recent medication history for buprenorphine/naloxone, and why?
A patient who has taken methadone in the past 72 hours is contraindicated due to potential unpredictable interactions between methadone's long half-life and buprenorphine's strong receptor affinity.
52naloxone onset
2-5 min (IM/IN/SC)
53Naloxone peak effect
5-10 min
54naloxone duration
30-90 mins shorter than the opiod itself
55What is the MOA of Naloxone?
Binds to mu receptors with high affinity without activating them, physically displacing bound opioid molecules and rapidly reversing respiratory depression
56What is the MOA of Buprenorphine?
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.
57onset of buprenorphine/Naloxone
15-30 mins
58peak effect of buprenorphine/Naloxone
1-2 hrs
59duration of buprenorphine/Naloxone
24 hours
60Indications for susptected adreanl crisis
a pateint with primary adrenal failure who is experiencing clinical signs of an adreanl crisis
61condtions for hydrocortisone
Paramedics are presented with a vial of hydrocortisone for the identified
patient AND
Age - related hypoglycemia OR
GI symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain) OR
Syncope OR
Temperature ≥38C or suspected/history of fever OR
Altered level of awareness OR
Age - related tachycardia OR
Age - related hypotension
62What condition must the patient have for the hydrocortisone directive to apply?
The patient must have known primary adrenal failure (it is NOT for a general "looks like shock" presentation)
63Onset of hydrocortisone
withun 1 hour
64peak effect of hydrocortisone
1-2 hours
65duration of hydrocortisone
8-12 hours
66What is the MOA of Hydrocortisone in primary adrenal failure?
Mechanism: In primary adrenal failure, the adrenal cortex cannot mount a cortisol response to physical stress.
Action: Hydrocortisone directly replaces the missing cortisol hormone, restoring the physiological functions normally provided by cortisol:
- Maintaining vascular tone
- Maintaining blood pressure
- Maintaining blood glucose under stress
67analgesia indications
pain
68conditions for acetaminophen
≥ 12 years
unaltered
69conditions for ibuprofen
≥ 12 years
unaltered
70condtions for ketorloac
≥ 12 years
unaltered
71Contraindications acetaminophen
Acetaminophen use within previous 4 hours
Allergy or sensitivity to acetaminophen
Hx of liver disease
Active vomiting
Unable to tolerate oral medication
Suspected ischemic chest pain
"Always Avoid Harm: Assess Unfit Symptoms"
72contrindications of ibuprofen
NSAID use within previous 6 hours
Allergy or sensitivity to ASA or NSAIDs
Patient on anticoagulation therapy
Current active bleeding
Hx of peptic ulcer disease or GI bleed
Pregnant
If asthmatic, no prior use of ASA or other NSAIDs
CVA or TBI in the previous 24 hours
Known renal impairment
Active vomiting
Unable to tolerate oral medication
Suspected ischemic chest pain
P.I.C.K. A. N.U.S. C.A.P.H.
73contraindications of ketorolac
NSAID use within previous 6 hours
Allergy or sensitivity to ASA or NSAIDs
Patient on anticoagulation therapy
Current active bleeding
Hx of peptic ulcer disease or GI bleed
Pregnant
If asthmatic, no prior use of ASA or other NSAIDs
CVA or TBI in the previous 24 hours
Known renal impairment
Suspected ischemic chest pain
P.I.C.K. S.P.A.N. C.H.
74What 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.
75onset of acetaminophen
30-60 min
76peak effect of acetaminophen
1-2 hr
77duration of acetaminophen
4-6 hr
80ibuprofen duration
4-6 hr
81ketorolac onset
10-30 minsn
83duration of ketorolac
4-6 hr
84indications for N/V directive
Nausea OR vomiting
85conditions for ondansetron
> or = to 25 kg
unaltered
86conditions for dimenhydrinate
> or = to 25 kg
unaltered
87contraindications for ondanestron
Allergy to ondansetron
Prolonged QT syndrome (known
to patient)
Apomorphine use
88contraindications for dimenhydrinate
Allergy or sensitivity to dimenhyDRINATE or other antihistamines
Overdose on antihistamines or anticholinergics or tricyclic antidepressants
Co - administration of diphenhydrAMINE
89onset of ondansetron
10-15 min IV
90peak effect of ondansetron
30-60 min
91duration of aondansetron
4-8hr
92MOA ondansetron
Mechanism: Selectively blocks serotonin (5-HT3) receptors.
Sites of Action:Peripherally: On vagal nerve terminals in the GI tract. Centrally: In the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ).
93peak effect of dimenhydrinate
1-2hr
94onset dimenhydrinate
20-30 min
95duration dimenhydrinate
3-6 hr
96MOA dimenhydrinate
Mechanism: Blocks H1 histamine receptors both peripherally and centrally. Additional Properties: Exhibits anticholinergic and antivertigo properties.
97Where 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.