Asperheim/Favaro: Introduction to Pharmacology, 12th Edition

Chapter 8: Antihistamines

Open-Book Quiz

NAME: _________________

1. What do researchers believe is responsible for symptoms of an allergic reaction?

2. What is histamine?

3. Define the term anaphylaxis.

4. What are some jobs or activities in which the drowsiness caused by antihistamine agents
could present a problem?

5. Why do skin tests fail to pinpoint the allergy in many cases?

6. How may the patient detect food allergies?

7. Name three drug types that would potentiate the effect of an antihistamine agent.

8. Which antihistamine agent is useful for the control of motion sickness?

9. Which injectable antihistamine agent is useful to control vomiting from many causes?

10. Explain why it is important to ask older adults about the type of medications they are taking
while on an antihistamine agent.

11. List the four criteria for a drug hypersensitivity reaction.

12. In which patients is immunotherapy particularly useful?

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005 Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Open-Book Quiz 8-2

ANSWERS

1. The release of histamine from body tissues in response to contact with an allergen produces
the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

2. Histamine is a chemical found naturally in many plant and animal tissues that is released
from body tissues in response to an allergic reaction.

3. Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction, marked by an extreme drop in

blood pressure, a decrease in the circulating blood volume, and cardiac abnormalities.

4. Machinery operators, long-distance truck drivers, or workers with jobs that require
employees to climb on ladders are examples of occupations in which drowsiness caused by
antihistamine agents could present a problem.

5. There are millions of allergens—too many to test accurately. The more common agents are
chosen for skin testing. In addition, sometimes it takes a two-hit phenomenon for expression of
an allergic reaction (i.e., certain pollens with certain foods).

6. A careful history of all food eaten must be made. Allergic reactions generally occur within a
3-day period after eating the food.

7. Alcohol, tranquilizers, hypnotic agents, narcotic agents, and some antihypertensive agents
would all potentiate the effect of an antihistamine agent.

8. Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) is used primarily for the relief of motion sickness.

9. Trimethobenzamide (Tigan) is used via intramuscular injection to control nausea and

vomiting in children and adults.

10. The sedative effects of antihistamine agents are more pronounced in older adults. Before
administering antihistamine agents, ask about other prescriptions for sedating drugs, such as
sedative agents, hypnotic agents, tranquilizer agents, and beta-blocking antihypertensive agents.

11. The four general criteria for a drug hypersensitivity reaction are as follows: (1) The patient’s
symptoms are consistent with a drug reaction. (2) The patient was administered a drug known to
cause such symptoms. (3) The timing of the appearance of symptoms is consistent with a drug
reaction. (4) Other causes of the symptoms are excluded.

12. Immunotherapy is particularly useful for those who are unwilling or unable to avoid allergen
agents, those who experience intolerable side effects or inadequate relief from medications, and
those with comorbid conditions.

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005 Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.