2026 NUR 2474
PHARMACOLOGY
EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS
ALREADY VERIFIED
Dopaminergic agent
- levodopa/carbidopa
Anticholinergic agent
- benzotrophine
Cholinesterase inhibitor
- donepezil
Immunomodulators
- interferon beta
Traditional anti epileptic drugs
- phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid
When should we complete blood testing with use of lithium?
- early in therapy- every 2-3 days, until a therapeutic dose has been established, then long
term-every 3 to 6 months
Therapeutic level of lithium
- 0.8-1.4 mEq/L
Toxic level of lithium
,- greater than 1.5 mEq/L
When can we start to see side effects of lithium?
- when the drug is at a therapeutic level. they are expected.
What are the side effects of lithium (therapeutic level)?
- GI effects, tremors, polyuria, renal toxicity, goiter, hypothyroidism, teratogenesis.
What will happen to side effects when one has a toxic level of lithium?
- the effects will be much worse and possibly life threatening i.e. tremor that becomes larger
with muscle incoordination
What medications can we use to treat the cyclic effects of bipolar (mood-depression-
psychosis)?
- mood stabilizer (lithium)= control mood
antidepressant (SSRI,TCA,MAOI)= control depression
antipsychotic (Ist/2nd generation)= control the psychosis
, How does a benzodiazepine help with ETOH withdrawal?
- it will decrease the withdrawal manifestations and intensity, while making one sleepy and
having CNS depression. plus, it is easy to give IM and will work quickly.
What is a popular benzodiazepine that is used to treat anxiety?
- alprazolam (think A-anxiety)
How does alprazolam work to reduce anxiety?
- it inhibits GABA in the CNS, depressing the CNS.
What are the side effects of alprazolam use?
- a. CNS depression, anterograde amnesia (patient cannot remember much), sleep driving
(not safe), paradoxical effects (still anxious, stays up, rowdy), respiratory depression.
What drugs does alprazolam interact with?
- CNS depressant medications (additive effects), ETOH
What are various treatments and drugs used to treat anxiety patients?
- benzo's (pam/lam), atypical anxiolytic buspirone, SSRIs paroxetine/fluoxetine, TCAs, MAOIs,
trazodone.
Explain what a sedative hypnotic does
- cause the patient to have sedation, sleepiness, CNS depression, anterograde amnesia
(patient cannot remember much), sleep driving (not safe),respiratory depression
What things should we teach the patient using a drug to treat anxiety?
- drug should be tapered only by the HCP, not patient
no ETOH use
what withdrawal effects may look like
Atypical anti epileptic drugs
PHARMACOLOGY
EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS
ALREADY VERIFIED
Dopaminergic agent
- levodopa/carbidopa
Anticholinergic agent
- benzotrophine
Cholinesterase inhibitor
- donepezil
Immunomodulators
- interferon beta
Traditional anti epileptic drugs
- phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid
When should we complete blood testing with use of lithium?
- early in therapy- every 2-3 days, until a therapeutic dose has been established, then long
term-every 3 to 6 months
Therapeutic level of lithium
- 0.8-1.4 mEq/L
Toxic level of lithium
,- greater than 1.5 mEq/L
When can we start to see side effects of lithium?
- when the drug is at a therapeutic level. they are expected.
What are the side effects of lithium (therapeutic level)?
- GI effects, tremors, polyuria, renal toxicity, goiter, hypothyroidism, teratogenesis.
What will happen to side effects when one has a toxic level of lithium?
- the effects will be much worse and possibly life threatening i.e. tremor that becomes larger
with muscle incoordination
What medications can we use to treat the cyclic effects of bipolar (mood-depression-
psychosis)?
- mood stabilizer (lithium)= control mood
antidepressant (SSRI,TCA,MAOI)= control depression
antipsychotic (Ist/2nd generation)= control the psychosis
, How does a benzodiazepine help with ETOH withdrawal?
- it will decrease the withdrawal manifestations and intensity, while making one sleepy and
having CNS depression. plus, it is easy to give IM and will work quickly.
What is a popular benzodiazepine that is used to treat anxiety?
- alprazolam (think A-anxiety)
How does alprazolam work to reduce anxiety?
- it inhibits GABA in the CNS, depressing the CNS.
What are the side effects of alprazolam use?
- a. CNS depression, anterograde amnesia (patient cannot remember much), sleep driving
(not safe), paradoxical effects (still anxious, stays up, rowdy), respiratory depression.
What drugs does alprazolam interact with?
- CNS depressant medications (additive effects), ETOH
What are various treatments and drugs used to treat anxiety patients?
- benzo's (pam/lam), atypical anxiolytic buspirone, SSRIs paroxetine/fluoxetine, TCAs, MAOIs,
trazodone.
Explain what a sedative hypnotic does
- cause the patient to have sedation, sleepiness, CNS depression, anterograde amnesia
(patient cannot remember much), sleep driving (not safe),respiratory depression
What things should we teach the patient using a drug to treat anxiety?
- drug should be tapered only by the HCP, not patient
no ETOH use
what withdrawal effects may look like
Atypical anti epileptic drugs
