Advanced Pharmacology D116 Unit 3 Actual preparation test
exam with Thorough and Correct Answers Updated
2025/2026
Which drug can properly be described as a partial opiate agonist? - correct answer
Buprenorphine which is an opiate agonist/antagonist otherwise known as a partial
opiate agonist
What is naltrexone? - correct answer An opiate antagonist
What is tramadol? - correct answer Centrally acting analgesic
What is naloxone? - correct answer Opiate antagonist
Which medications are used to treat menstrually associated migraines (MAM)? -
correct answer Estrogen, frovatriptan, naproxen
A patient on the unit complains of cluster headaches. A new graduate nurse is asked to
differentiate between a migraine headache and cluster headaches.
The graduate nurse is correct to state that manifestations and risk factors for a patient
with cluster headaches include which of the following? - correct answer More common
in males
Short in duration
Present as throbbing and piercing pain
Migraines: more common in females, n/v, have an aura
When the patient reaches the hospital, you want to administer a serotonin receptor
agonist. What should be your largest concern? - correct answer Coronary vasospasm
,Pt is already hypertensive
A patient with schizophrenia has been taking an oral first-generation antipsychotic
(FGA) for one week. The patient has been taking the drug daily in two divided doses.
The individual complains of daytime drowsiness. The patient's family reports a decrease
in the person's hostility and anxiety but states that the patient remains antisocial with
disordered thinking.
What should you tell the patient and family? - correct answer Some symptoms take
months to improve
When pts begin therapy with antipsychotic medications, some symptoms resolve sooner
than others.
A patient who is taking a first-generation antipsychotic (FGA) drug for schizophrenia
comes to the clinic for evaluation. The nurse observes that the patient has a shuffling
gait and mild tremors. The nurse communicates this observation to you (the provider).
What should be your course of action? - correct answer Give an anticholinergic
medication
Patient is showing signs of parkinsonism which is an extrapyramidal effect associated
with antipsychotic meds.
You provide a teaching moment for a patient about to begin taking a first-generation
antipsychotic (FGA) drug for schizophrenia. Which statement by the patient indicates a
need for further teaching about side effects of these drugs? - correct answer "Dry
mouth and constipation are uncommon with this medication"
Anticholinergic effects are common with FGAs,
Neuroendocrine effects, orthostatic hypertension, and sedation can occur with FGAs
, A patient has been taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant
for major depression and reports having headaches and jaw pain. What should you tell
the patient? - correct answer Bruxism is a side effect of SSRIs which results in
headaches and jaw pain
Headaches and jaw pain are not s/s of extrapyramidal side effects
A patient is diagnosed with major depression with severe symptoms and begins taking
an antidepressant medication. Three weeks after beginning therapy, the patient tells the
nurse that the drug is not working.
The nurse should counsel this patient to ask the provider about which of the following? -
correct answer Using nondrug therapies to augment the medication
Drug needs to be used to four to eight weeks before its efficacy can be assessed
A patient taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) is seen in the clinic with a blood
pressure of 170/96 mm Hg. What should the nurse ask this patient? - correct answer
To list all foods eaten that day
Pts taking MAOIs need to follow strict dietary restrictions and avoid all foods containing
tyramine
Can experience a hypertensive crisis if they do
A patient who has recently begun taking carbamazepine for bipolar disorder reports
having vertigo and headaches. Which action by the nurse is appropriate? - correct
answer Reassure the patient that these side effects occur early in treatment and will
resolve over time
A patient with bipolar disorder takes lamotrigine. Which statement by the patient would
prompt the nurse to hold the drug and notify the prescriber for further assessment? -
correct answer "I've broken out in a rash on my chest and back"
exam with Thorough and Correct Answers Updated
2025/2026
Which drug can properly be described as a partial opiate agonist? - correct answer
Buprenorphine which is an opiate agonist/antagonist otherwise known as a partial
opiate agonist
What is naltrexone? - correct answer An opiate antagonist
What is tramadol? - correct answer Centrally acting analgesic
What is naloxone? - correct answer Opiate antagonist
Which medications are used to treat menstrually associated migraines (MAM)? -
correct answer Estrogen, frovatriptan, naproxen
A patient on the unit complains of cluster headaches. A new graduate nurse is asked to
differentiate between a migraine headache and cluster headaches.
The graduate nurse is correct to state that manifestations and risk factors for a patient
with cluster headaches include which of the following? - correct answer More common
in males
Short in duration
Present as throbbing and piercing pain
Migraines: more common in females, n/v, have an aura
When the patient reaches the hospital, you want to administer a serotonin receptor
agonist. What should be your largest concern? - correct answer Coronary vasospasm
,Pt is already hypertensive
A patient with schizophrenia has been taking an oral first-generation antipsychotic
(FGA) for one week. The patient has been taking the drug daily in two divided doses.
The individual complains of daytime drowsiness. The patient's family reports a decrease
in the person's hostility and anxiety but states that the patient remains antisocial with
disordered thinking.
What should you tell the patient and family? - correct answer Some symptoms take
months to improve
When pts begin therapy with antipsychotic medications, some symptoms resolve sooner
than others.
A patient who is taking a first-generation antipsychotic (FGA) drug for schizophrenia
comes to the clinic for evaluation. The nurse observes that the patient has a shuffling
gait and mild tremors. The nurse communicates this observation to you (the provider).
What should be your course of action? - correct answer Give an anticholinergic
medication
Patient is showing signs of parkinsonism which is an extrapyramidal effect associated
with antipsychotic meds.
You provide a teaching moment for a patient about to begin taking a first-generation
antipsychotic (FGA) drug for schizophrenia. Which statement by the patient indicates a
need for further teaching about side effects of these drugs? - correct answer "Dry
mouth and constipation are uncommon with this medication"
Anticholinergic effects are common with FGAs,
Neuroendocrine effects, orthostatic hypertension, and sedation can occur with FGAs
, A patient has been taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant
for major depression and reports having headaches and jaw pain. What should you tell
the patient? - correct answer Bruxism is a side effect of SSRIs which results in
headaches and jaw pain
Headaches and jaw pain are not s/s of extrapyramidal side effects
A patient is diagnosed with major depression with severe symptoms and begins taking
an antidepressant medication. Three weeks after beginning therapy, the patient tells the
nurse that the drug is not working.
The nurse should counsel this patient to ask the provider about which of the following? -
correct answer Using nondrug therapies to augment the medication
Drug needs to be used to four to eight weeks before its efficacy can be assessed
A patient taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) is seen in the clinic with a blood
pressure of 170/96 mm Hg. What should the nurse ask this patient? - correct answer
To list all foods eaten that day
Pts taking MAOIs need to follow strict dietary restrictions and avoid all foods containing
tyramine
Can experience a hypertensive crisis if they do
A patient who has recently begun taking carbamazepine for bipolar disorder reports
having vertigo and headaches. Which action by the nurse is appropriate? - correct
answer Reassure the patient that these side effects occur early in treatment and will
resolve over time
A patient with bipolar disorder takes lamotrigine. Which statement by the patient would
prompt the nurse to hold the drug and notify the prescriber for further assessment? -
correct answer "I've broken out in a rash on my chest and back"
