ATI Pharmacology Exam Practice Related

Review ATI Pharmacology Exam Practice related questions and content

The following are true for adrenaline EXCEPT:

  • A. it acts via G-proteins
  • B. alpha receptor stimulation results in decreased cAMP production
  • C. it may be administered via inhalation, orally and parentally
  • D. it has no active metabolites
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Adrenaline, or epinephrine, is a catecholamine that exerts its effects through adrenergic receptors, which are G-protein-coupled, making its action via G-proteins a true statement. Alpha receptor stimulation typically inhibits adenylate cyclase, reducing cyclic AMP (cAMP) production, which aligns with its known pharmacology and is also true. Adrenaline can indeed be administered via inhalation (e.g., for asthma), orally (though less common), and parenterally (e.g., intramuscularly in anaphylaxis), confirming this as true. However, adrenaline does have active metabolites, such as metanephrine and normetanephrine, produced via catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) metabolism, making the statement about having no active metabolites false. In cardiac arrest, it facilitates CPR by causing peripheral vasoconstriction, increasing coronary perfusion pressure, which is true. The false statement here is about the absence of active metabolites, as adrenaline's breakdown products retain some activity, a key point in understanding its pharmacokinetics and duration of effect.