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Beta-blocker class (-olol)

  • PTCB PTCE
  • Medications
  • Multiple choice
  • Difficulty 2 of 5

Question

During a medication review, the pharmacist asks the technician to highlight every beta-blocker on a patient's list. Atenolol is already highlighted. Which other drug on the list should also be highlighted?

  1. Amlodipine✗ Incorrect

    Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, not a beta-blocker.

  2. Doxazosin✗ Incorrect

    Doxazosin blocks alpha-1 receptors. Despite the word blocker, it is not in the beta-blocker class.

  3. Propranolol✓ Correct

    Correct. Propranolol blocks beta-adrenergic receptors, and its -olol ending matches atenolol's.

  4. Clonidine✗ Incorrect

    Clonidine is a centrally acting alpha-2 agonist, a different class of drug.

Answer

C. Propranolol

Rationale

Propranolol and atenolol both block beta-adrenergic receptors, and the -olol ending is the usual signal for this class. Atenolol acts mainly on beta-1 receptors, while propranolol is nonselective, but both are beta-blockers. Amlodipine blocks calcium channels, doxazosin blocks alpha-1 receptors and clonidine stimulates alpha-2 receptors in the brain, so none of them belongs in the beta-blocker group.

RememberAtenolol and propranolol are beta-blockers; other drugs can block different receptors.

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