Nitro-glycerine is a/an?

UPRVUNL - 2021

Pharmacology

Easy

Appeared in: UPRVUNL - 2021

Explanation

Nitroglycerine is classified as a vasodilator, specifically an organic nitrate.
Its primary mechanism of action is the release of nitric oxide (NO) in vascular smooth muscle, leading to vasodilation.
It predominantly dilates veins, which reduces preload (the volume of blood returning to the heart), thereby decreasing cardiac workload and oxygen demand.
This effect makes it highly effective for the treatment of angina pectoris (chest pain).

Option A: Diuretics, such as furosemide, work by increasing the excretion of salt and water from the kidneys to reduce blood volume and edema. This is a different mechanism from nitroglycerine's direct action on blood vessels.
Option B: Cardiac glycosides, like digoxin, are positive inotropic agents. They increase the force of myocardial contraction, which is the opposite of nitroglycerine's goal of reducing cardiac workload.
Option D: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as captopril, block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to cause vasodilation and reduce blood pressure. While they are also vasodilators, they have a completely different mechanism of action than nitroglycerine.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacological classification of Nitroglycerine as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nitroglycerine is a first-line drug for the acute relief of angina. Nurses must be proficient in its administration and be able to educate patients on its use.
Key nursing actions include assessing the patient's blood pressure before and after administration, monitoring for common side effects like headache and hypotension, and teaching the patient to take the medication while sitting down to prevent falls.
What if? If a patient taking nitroglycerine also takes a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (e.g., sildenafil for erectile dysfunction), the combination can cause severe, life-threatening hypotension. Nurses must screen for the use of these drugs before administering nitroglycerin.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the drug named in the question stem: 'Nitro-glycerine'.
Recognize that the question is asking for the pharmacological classification of this drug.
This is a factual recall question based on your knowledge of pharmacology.
Recall the primary use of nitroglycerine, which is to relieve chest pain (angina) by widening blood vessels.
Evaluate the options provided. 'Vasodilator' is the term for a drug that widens blood vessels.
Confirm this by differentiating it from the other classes: Diuretics remove fluid, Cardiac glycosides increase heart contraction strength, and ACE inhibitors block a specific hormonal pathway.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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