CEA Nursing Practice Exam

Which medication may benefit a patient experiencing status asthmaticus who is not responding to nebulized albuterol?

1. Albuterol (Xopenex)

2. Glucagon (Glucagen)

3. Terbutaline (Bricanyl)

4. Atropine (AtroPen)

The correct answer is: Terbutaline (Bricanyl)

In the context of status asthmaticus, which is a severe form of asthma exacerbation that is not responsive to standard treatments like nebulized albuterol, the choice of medication plays a crucial role in patient management. Terbutaline, as a beta-agonist, serves as a systemic bronchodilator. While nebulized albuterol is typically the first-line beta-agonist treatment for acute asthma episodes, terbutaline can be administered subcutaneously or intravenously for more severe cases where traditional treatment is failing. Terbutaline works similarly to albuterol by stimulating beta-2 adrenergic receptors in the lungs, leading to bronchodilation, but its different route of administration can provide rapid systemic effects, which may be particularly beneficial in acute situations. In cases of status asthmaticus, where patients are not responding adequately to inhaled medications, the use of terbutaline can offer an effective alternative for providing relief from bronchospasm. The other options, while they may have their own therapeutic uses, do not specifically target the immediate needs of a patient in status asthmaticus in the manner that terbutaline does. For instance, albuterol (Xopenex) is similar to albuterol but is considered a le