WFR Wilderness Pharmacology & Medications 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which over-the-counter medication provides pain relief, fever reduction, AND anti-inflammatory effects, making it especially useful for musculoskeletal injuries in the wilderness?
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) (Correct answer)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Loperamide (Imodium)
Correct answer: Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin)
Ibuprofen is an NSAID that provides analgesia, antipyresis, and anti-inflammation, making it the most versatile OTC choice for sprains, strains, and similar injuries.
Question 2: Epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens) are primarily used in wilderness medicine to treat which condition?
- Severe asthma only
- Anaphylaxis (Correct answer)
- Diabetic emergencies
- Cardiac arrest
Correct answer: Anaphylaxis
Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, rapidly reversing bronchospasm, vasodilation, and hypotension caused by a severe allergic reaction.
Question 3: What is the standard adult oral dose of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for treating mild allergic reactions in the field?
- 12.5 mg
- 25–50 mg (Correct answer)
- 75–100 mg
- 150 mg
Correct answer: 25–50 mg
The standard adult dose of diphenhydramine is 25–50 mg, effectively controlling mild allergic symptoms without risking toxicity.
Question 4: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) should be used with caution or avoided in patients who:
- Have a history of asthma
- Are allergic to sulfa drugs
- Consume alcohol regularly or have liver disease (Correct answer)
- Have a history of kidney stones
Correct answer: Consume alcohol regularly or have liver disease
Acetaminophen is hepatically metabolized, and liver disease or chronic alcohol use greatly increases the risk of liver toxicity even at therapeutic doses.
Question 5: Loperamide (Imodium) is used in wilderness medicine primarily to manage:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dehydration from heat stroke
- Diarrhea (Correct answer)
- Altitude sickness
Correct answer: Diarrhea
Loperamide slows intestinal motility to reduce diarrhea, preventing dangerous fluid and electrolyte losses in a remote environment.
Question 6: Which medication is contraindicated in patients with suspected gastrointestinal bleeding or peptic ulcer disease?
- Acetaminophen
- Diphenhydramine
- Ibuprofen (Correct answer)
- Ondansetron
Correct answer: Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen inhibits prostaglandins that protect the stomach lining and impairs platelet aggregation, worsening GI bleeding and ulcers.
Question 7: In wilderness medicine, chewable aspirin (325 mg) is most critically indicated when a patient is suspected of having:
- A severe headache from dehydration
- High fever from infection
- An acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) (Correct answer)
- A severe allergic reaction
Correct answer: An acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)
Aspirin's antiplatelet action inhibits further clot formation during a heart attack, potentially reducing myocardial damage while awaiting evacuation.
WFR Wilderness Pharmacology & Medications 1
Which over-the-counter medication provides pain relief, fever reduction, AND anti-inflammatory effects, making it especially useful for musculoskeletal injuries in the wilderness?