NR 293: FINAL PHARM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
Antacids containing magnesium salts commonly causes ____ - ANSWER Diarrhea
Antacids containing aluminum salts commonly causes ____ - ANSWER Constipation
Antacids containing calcium salts commonly causes _____ - ANSWER Constipation + Kidney Stones
What are the adverse effects of adsorbents [antidiarrheal drugs]? - ANSWER increased bleeding time,
constipation, dark stool, confusion, tinnitus, metallic taste, blue gums
What are the adverse effects of anti-motility drugs? - ANSWER urinary retention, impotence [ED],
headache, dizziness, anxiety, drowsiness, bradycardia, hypotension, dry skin, flushing, and blurred vision
What are the adverse effects of opiates? - ANSWER drowsiness, dizziness, lethargy, nausea, vomiting,
constipation, hypotension, urinary retention, flushing, respiratory depression
What are the two most common toxicities associated with amino glycoside administration? - ANSWER
nephrotoxicity [renal damage]
ototoxicity [affect hearing + balance function]
Major adverse effects are caused by anti fungal drugs when administered in combination with
ampothericin B. What actions should the health care professional initiate? - ANSWER Administer pre
medications [antipyretic or acetaminophen, antihistamine, antiemetic, and corticosteroid] to minimize or
prevent infusion related reactions
fever, chills, hypotension, tachycardia, malaise, muscle and joint pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and
headache
,**During IV infusions, monitor patient q15-30 minutes**
Which antibiotic is indicated to treat MRSA infection through IV administration? - ANSWER Vancomycin
[Vancocin]
**parenteral form used to treat bone, joint, and bacterial blood infections from staphylococcus spp.**
What are the most common adverse effects associated with Vancomycin drug administration? - ANSWER
Red man syndrome- flushing and itching of head, face, neck, and upper trunk area when drug is infused
too quickly
hypotension from drug being infused too quickly
additive neuromuscular blocking effects in patients taking neuromuscular blockers
**alleviate adverse effects by slowing rate of infusion of drug dose over 1 HOUR**
The health care provider MUST monitor serum drug levels to ensure therapeutic levels and prevent
toxicity during vancomycin drug administration. What are the inappropriate levels and associated
adverse effects? - ANSWER < 5 mcg/mL --> reduced antibacterial effect
> 50 mcg/mL --> ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity
What is the drug mechanism of action of vancomycin? - ANSWER binds to bacterial cell wall -->
immediate inhibition of cell wall synthesis --> bacterial death
The oral drug form of vancomycin is indicated to treat which infection? - ANSWER C. Difficile and
staphylococcal enterocolitis
poor absorption from GI tract
, What is important before administering antibiotic drug therapy? - ANSWER It is ESSENTIAL to obtain
cultures from appropriate sites BEFORE beginning antibiotic therapy to identify the causative organism
and potential antibiotic susceptible to determine if empire therapy is effective for destroying the
bacteria
What is important when initiating treatment of Oseltamivir [Tamiflu] or Zanamivir [Relenza] indicated for
influenza infections? - ANSWER Treatment NEEDS to begin within TWO DAYS of symptom onset
What are the four stages of HIV infection according to the WHO model? - ANSWER 1. **Asymptomatic
infection**
○ Few weeks or months after initial exposure to virus
○ Asymptomatic but show signs of lymphadenopathy
○ Virus is present in blood at low levels
2. **Early, general symptoms of disease**
○ Lymphadenopathy, fever, rash, sore throat, night sweats, malaise, diarrhea, idiopathic
thrombocytopenia, oral candiasis, shingles
○ Pt's own antibodies [HIV antibodies] appear in blood 3 wks. - 3 mo. Post exposure
3. **Moderate symptoms**
○ Weight loss, chronic diarrhea, fever, CD4 counts drop
4. **Severe symptoms --> death**
○ Increased viral replication --> increased destruction of helper T cells and CD4 counts [death = < 50
cells]
Which class of drugs [-QUINE] may be used in combination with sulfonamide, tetracycline, and
clindamycin for a synergistic or additive killing power? - ANSWER Antimalarial Drugs
Which antimalarial drug is used to treat malaria infections AND cardiac dysrhythmias by decreasing
excitability of cardiac and skeletal muscle? - ANSWER Quinidine
What is the drug mechanism of action for Metronidazole [Flagyl]? - ANSWER interfere with DNA -->
inhibits protein synthesis --> cell death