Certified Inpatient Coding (CIC) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the Certified Inpatient Coding Exam. Test your knowledge with our multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Prepare to ace your certification!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Which one of the following drugs is not a calcium channel blocking drug?

Diltiazem
Amlodipine
Propranolol
Verapamil

The correct answer is: Propranolol

Propranolol is the drug that does not belong to the class of calcium channel blockers. Instead, it is classified as a non-selective beta-adrenergic antagonist. Beta-blockers such as propranolol work by blocking the effects of epinephrine (adrenaline) on beta receptors, which results in a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. This mechanism is different from that of calcium channel blockers, which primarily inhibit the influx of calcium ions into cardiac and smooth muscle cells, leading to relaxation of these muscles and dilation of blood vessels. On the other hand, drugs like diltiazem, amlodipine, and verapamil are all calcium channel blockers that work by preventing calcium from entering cells. This results in decreased force of contraction of the heart and dilation of the blood vessels, therefore lowering blood pressure. Understanding the distinct pharmacological categories and their mechanisms of action is fundamental for effective medication management in clinical settings.