Question

You respond to the aid of a​ 19-year-old patient who is reported to have taken an overdose of a prescribed medication. She exhibits combativeness and severe tremors. Her blood pressure is​ 160/100 mmHg, and her pulse is 132. Sinus tachycardia appears on her ECG. Which of the following classification of drugs is most likely to cause these​ symptoms?

A. Benzodiazepines
B. Amphetamines
C. Opiates
D. Barbiturates

Answer 1

The symptoms of combativeness, severe tremors, high blood pressure, and elevated pulse with sinus tachycardia point towards an overdose of amphetamines, which is a stimulant that causes such excitatory symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms presented by the patient—a 19-year-old who has taken an overdose of prescribed medication—such as combativeness, severe tremors, high blood pressure, and elevated heart rate with sinus tachycardia, are most consistent with the effects of amphetamines. These symptoms do not align with the depressant effects of benzodiazepines, opiates, or barbiturates, which typically lead to CNS depression and symptoms such as drowsiness, respiratory depression, and bradycardia. Amphetamines can cause these excitatory symptoms due to their stimulating effect on the central nervous system, increasing neurotransmitter release, and thereby leading to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.