NYU PHARMACOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ pneumonic for remembering adverse effects of anticholinergic drugs.
Answer: Blind as a bat (dilated pupils)
Red as a beet (vasodilation/flushing)
Hot as a hare (hyperthermia)
Dry as a bone (dry skin)
Mad as a hatter (hallucinations/agitation)
Bloated as a Toad (ileus, urinary retention)
And the heart runs alone (tachycardia)
◉ Side effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Answer: vasodilation,
pupil constriction, decreased heart rate, mucus secretion, constriction of
bronchioles, increased secretion of sweat, saliva and tears, GI tract
hypermotility. Certain drugs target the central nervous system and can
cause heightened cognition as well.
◉ Primary Indications for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Answer:
Alzheimers and Dementia. Specifically cognitive functions.
,◉ Indications for acetylcisteine. Answer: when inhaled it is used to
loosen mucus in lung diseases like chronic bronchitis, emphysema cystic
fibrosis and pneumonia.
when taken orally it acts as an antidote to acetaminophen overdose,
preventing liver damage
◉ Side effects of acetylcisteine. Answer: inhalation: mouth sores and
runny nose.
orally: severe stomach pain, black stools, vomit that looks like coffee
ground
◉ Acetaminophen drug type. Answer: antipyretic, non-opioid analgesic
◉ Indications of Acetaminophen. Answer: fever, mild to moderate pain
◉ Acetaminophen mechanism of action. Answer: inhibits synthesis of
prostaglandins that may serve as mediators of pain and fever, and effects
hypothalamic heat-regulator center
◉ Nursing considerations for acetaminophen (paracetamol). Answer: do
not administer more than 4000mg in 24 hours
,◉ Contraindications for acetaminophen. Answer: should not be given to
patients with sever hepatic problems, and administered cautiously to
patients with high alcohol use.
◉ side effects of acetaminophen. Answer: hepatoxicity in overdoses,
constipation, skin reactions (steven johnson syndrome), vomiting
◉ Indications for activated charcoal. Answer: used to treat poison or
overdose
◉ mechanism of action for activated charcoal. Answer: excessive drugs
and toxins bind to activated charcoal and are then more easily excreted
◉ indications for albuterol. Answer: used as a bronchodilator to to
control or treat reversible airway obstruction caused by Asthma or
COPD.
◉ mechanism of action for albuterol. Answer: binds to beta 2 adrenergic
receptors in the smooth muscle airways, causing a decrease in
intracellular calcium, thus relaxing the smooth muscle and opening the
airway.
◉ Side/adverse effects of albuterol. Answer: paradoxical bronchospasm
(if used to much), nervousness, tremors, restlessness, palpitations, chest
pain.
, ◉ Nursing consideration for albuterol. Answer: focused respiratory
assessment before administration. If patient presents with paradoxical
bronchospasm then discontinue immediately
◉ medication classification for allopurinol. Answer: antigout,
antihyperuremics
◉ indications for allopurinol. Answer: prevents gouty arthritis and
nephropathy. Can also treat secondary hyperuricemia during leukemia or
treatment of tumors
◉ mechanism of action for allopurinol. Answer: inhibits the production
of uric acid by inhibiting the production of xanthine oxidase
◉ Contraindications of allopurinol. Answer: acute cases of gout, renal
insufficiency, dehydration
◉ side/adverse effects of allopurinol. Answer: rash, renal failure,
hypotension, hypertension, bradycardia, heart failure, drowsiness,
nausea, vomiting, hepatitis, diarrhea, hematuria, bone marrow
depression
◉ nursing considerations for allopurinol. Answer: discontinue at first
sign of rash.
EXAM 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ pneumonic for remembering adverse effects of anticholinergic drugs.
Answer: Blind as a bat (dilated pupils)
Red as a beet (vasodilation/flushing)
Hot as a hare (hyperthermia)
Dry as a bone (dry skin)
Mad as a hatter (hallucinations/agitation)
Bloated as a Toad (ileus, urinary retention)
And the heart runs alone (tachycardia)
◉ Side effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Answer: vasodilation,
pupil constriction, decreased heart rate, mucus secretion, constriction of
bronchioles, increased secretion of sweat, saliva and tears, GI tract
hypermotility. Certain drugs target the central nervous system and can
cause heightened cognition as well.
◉ Primary Indications for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Answer:
Alzheimers and Dementia. Specifically cognitive functions.
,◉ Indications for acetylcisteine. Answer: when inhaled it is used to
loosen mucus in lung diseases like chronic bronchitis, emphysema cystic
fibrosis and pneumonia.
when taken orally it acts as an antidote to acetaminophen overdose,
preventing liver damage
◉ Side effects of acetylcisteine. Answer: inhalation: mouth sores and
runny nose.
orally: severe stomach pain, black stools, vomit that looks like coffee
ground
◉ Acetaminophen drug type. Answer: antipyretic, non-opioid analgesic
◉ Indications of Acetaminophen. Answer: fever, mild to moderate pain
◉ Acetaminophen mechanism of action. Answer: inhibits synthesis of
prostaglandins that may serve as mediators of pain and fever, and effects
hypothalamic heat-regulator center
◉ Nursing considerations for acetaminophen (paracetamol). Answer: do
not administer more than 4000mg in 24 hours
,◉ Contraindications for acetaminophen. Answer: should not be given to
patients with sever hepatic problems, and administered cautiously to
patients with high alcohol use.
◉ side effects of acetaminophen. Answer: hepatoxicity in overdoses,
constipation, skin reactions (steven johnson syndrome), vomiting
◉ Indications for activated charcoal. Answer: used to treat poison or
overdose
◉ mechanism of action for activated charcoal. Answer: excessive drugs
and toxins bind to activated charcoal and are then more easily excreted
◉ indications for albuterol. Answer: used as a bronchodilator to to
control or treat reversible airway obstruction caused by Asthma or
COPD.
◉ mechanism of action for albuterol. Answer: binds to beta 2 adrenergic
receptors in the smooth muscle airways, causing a decrease in
intracellular calcium, thus relaxing the smooth muscle and opening the
airway.
◉ Side/adverse effects of albuterol. Answer: paradoxical bronchospasm
(if used to much), nervousness, tremors, restlessness, palpitations, chest
pain.
, ◉ Nursing consideration for albuterol. Answer: focused respiratory
assessment before administration. If patient presents with paradoxical
bronchospasm then discontinue immediately
◉ medication classification for allopurinol. Answer: antigout,
antihyperuremics
◉ indications for allopurinol. Answer: prevents gouty arthritis and
nephropathy. Can also treat secondary hyperuricemia during leukemia or
treatment of tumors
◉ mechanism of action for allopurinol. Answer: inhibits the production
of uric acid by inhibiting the production of xanthine oxidase
◉ Contraindications of allopurinol. Answer: acute cases of gout, renal
insufficiency, dehydration
◉ side/adverse effects of allopurinol. Answer: rash, renal failure,
hypotension, hypertension, bradycardia, heart failure, drowsiness,
nausea, vomiting, hepatitis, diarrhea, hematuria, bone marrow
depression
◉ nursing considerations for allopurinol. Answer: discontinue at first
sign of rash.
