IA MED Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) Practice Test

In addition to cardiovascular collapse, beta blocker overdose may cause which metabolic abnormality?

Hypoglycemia Hyponatremia Shortened PR interval Widened QRS

Correct Answer:

Hypoglycemia

Explanation:

In beta-blocker overdose, glucose management can be impaired because these drugs blunt the body's counterregulatory response to low blood sugar. Blocking beta-2 receptors in the liver reduces glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, so hepatic glucose production falls. In an overdose, this can lead to hypoglycemia, especially in patients who are fasting, malnourished, or taking insulin or other glucose-lowering meds. The other findings are not metabolic problems: shortened PR interval and widened QRS are ECG conduction changes, not metabolic disturbances, and hyponatremia is an electrolyte issue not typically caused by beta-blocker overdose. Therefore, the metabolic abnormality to watch for is hypoglycemia.

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