Anesthesia Technologist Practice Exam

Which drug can reverse a neuromuscular blockade produced by a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant?

1. Atropine

2. Neostigmine

3. Aspirin

4. Calcium gluconate

The correct answer is: Neostigmine

Neostigmine is the correct choice for reversing a neuromuscular blockade caused by a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant. It is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which means it prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft. By increasing the concentration of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, neostigmine competes with the non-depolarizing muscle relaxant for binding to nicotinic receptors on the motor end plate. This effectively restores muscle function by allowing signals from motor neurons to be transmitted more effectively to muscle fibers. The other options do not have the same mechanism or effect. Atropine, being an anticholinergic agent, acts to block the effects of acetylcholine and is not suitable for reversing neuromuscular block. Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and does not interact with the neuromuscular junction or reverse muscle relaxants. Calcium gluconate, while beneficial in certain scenarios (such as calcium channel blocker toxicity), does not have a role in reversing the effects of non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. Thus, neostigmine is specifically chosen for this purpose due to its pharmacological action on the neuromus