AEMCA Practice Exam

Atenolol is a selective beta-1 blocker, which means it primarily targets the beta-1 adrenergic receptors found predominantly in the heart. By selectively blocking these receptors, atenolol reduces the heart rate and the force of heart contractions, leading to decreased cardiac output and lower blood pressure. This makes it particularly effective in treating conditions such as hypertension and certain types of angina. The other options represent different classes or types of medications. Timolol, for instance, is a non-selective beta blocker that blocks both beta-1 and beta-2 receptors, which can lead to different effects, including bronchoconstriction, making it less suitable for patients with respiratory conditions. Propranolol is also a non-selective beta blocker used similarly, but due to its non-selective nature, it can cause side effects related to beta-2 receptor inhibition. Prazosin is an alpha-1 blocker used primarily for the treatment of hypertension and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and it does not primarily act on beta receptors at all. Thus, atenolol is categorized effectively as a common selective beta-1 blocker, fitting the criteria of the question.