Psychiatric Technician Pharmacology
Board Exam Review Questions and
Correct Answers| Updated
1. The psychiatrist prescribes alprazolam (Xanax), a benzodiazepine, for acute
anxiety experienced by a client with agoraphobia. Health teaching should
include instructions about:
A. A tyramine- free diet.
B. Adjusting dose and frequency of ingestion based on level of anxiety.
C. Avoiding alcoholic beverages.
D. Reporting dry mouth.
C. Avoiding alcoholic beverages.
Rationale: When prescribing alprazolam (Xanax), a benzodiazepine, for acute
anxiety in a client with agoraphobia, it is important to instruct the client to avoid
alcoholic beverages. Benzodiazepines like alprazolam can enhance the sedative
effects of alcohol, leading to increased drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired
coordination. Combining benzodiazepines with alcohol can also result in severe
central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, and even overdose.
Therefore, it is essential to educate the client about the potential dangers of
consuming alcohol while taking alprazolam.
2. How often and what dosage is alprazolam (Xanax) given to clients?
A. 0.25-1.0 mg. b.i.d.
,B. 0.25-0.5 mg. t.i.d.
C. 0.5-1.0 mg. t.i.d.
D. 0.5-1.0 mg. q.i.d.
B: 0.25-0.5 mg t.i.d.
The rationale for this dosage is as follows:
Individualized treatment: The dosage of alprazolam can vary depending on
factors such as the severity of the anxiety disorder, the patient's response to the
medication, and their medical history. It is essential for healthcare providers to
tailor the dosage to the specific needs of each patient.
Gradual titration: Starting with a lower dosage, such as 0.25-0.5 mg, allows for a
cautious approach to treatment. It helps to minimize the risk of side effects and
allows the healthcare provider to assess the patient's response before
potentially adjusting the dosage.
Therapeutic effect: Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine medication that acts as an
anxiolytic and can provide relief from anxiety symptoms. The dosage range of
0.25-0.5 mg has been found effective for many individuals in managing anxiety
disorders, providing the desired therapeutic effect.
3. The psychiatric technician is to give Haldol Decanoate 300 mg IM to a client.
The label on the ampule reads Haldol Decanoate 100mg/ml. The hospital policy
states that no more than 2 ml can be given to a client in one site. The psychiatric
technician will give:
A. 2 ml. in one site and 2 ml in another site.
B. 1 ml. in one site and then one hour later give 2 ml. in the same site.
C. 1 1/2 ml. in one site and 1 1/2 ml in another site.
,D. 1 1/2 ml. in one site.
C. 1 1/2 ml. in one site and 1 1/2 ml. in another site.
Rationale: The label on the ampule indicates that Haldol Decanoate has a
concentration of 100 mg/ml. The prescribed dose is 300 mg. Since the hospital
policy states that no more than 2 ml can be given at one site, the psychiatric
technician will need to split the dose between two injection sites. Each site can
receive a maximum of 2 ml, so the technician will administer 1 1/2 ml (150 mg)
in one site and another 1 1/2 ml (150 mg) in another site to achieve the total
prescribed dose of 300 mg.
4. Mr. Jones goes to his family physician complaining of a gnawing pain in his
abdomen. He has had a lot of stress lately at work and has been taking a
corticosteroid medication. The physician diagnoses the problem to be a peptic
ulcer. The most likely medication the physician will prescribe for Mr. Jones is:
A. chlorzoxazone.
B. methsuximide.
C. furazolidone.
D. famotidine.
D. famotidine.
Rationale: Given the symptoms of a gnawing pain in the abdomen and the
patient's recent stress and corticosteroid use, the physician is likely to diagnose
a peptic ulcer. The most likely medication that the physician will prescribe for Mr.
Jones is famotidine. Famotidine is a histamine-2 receptor antagonist that
reduces the production of stomach acid, providing relief from symptoms and
promoting the healing of peptic ulcers.
, 5. The psychiatric technician is to give 400 mg of chlorpromazine to the client at
1200. There are both 100 mg and 200 mg tablets of chlorpromazine in the
client's medication cassette. The psychiatric technician would give:
A. Four of the 100 mg. tablets.
B. Two of the 100 mg. tablets.
C. Two of the 200 mg. tablets.
D. One 100 mg. tablet and one 200 mg. tablet.
B. two of the 200 mg tablets.
Rationale:
To administer 400 mg of chlorpromazine to the client, we need to select the
combination of tablets that adds up to the desired dosage. Since there are both
100 mg and 200 mg tablets available, we need to determine the combination
that adds up to 400 mg.
6. The doctor has ordered 10 mg of a medication and the label on the bottle
reads 0.005 grams per tablet. How many tablets should the client receive?
A. One
B. One and a half
C. Two
D. Three
C. Two
Rationale: Since 1 gram is equal to 1000 milligrams, we can convert the weight
of each tablet from grams to milligrams:
Board Exam Review Questions and
Correct Answers| Updated
1. The psychiatrist prescribes alprazolam (Xanax), a benzodiazepine, for acute
anxiety experienced by a client with agoraphobia. Health teaching should
include instructions about:
A. A tyramine- free diet.
B. Adjusting dose and frequency of ingestion based on level of anxiety.
C. Avoiding alcoholic beverages.
D. Reporting dry mouth.
C. Avoiding alcoholic beverages.
Rationale: When prescribing alprazolam (Xanax), a benzodiazepine, for acute
anxiety in a client with agoraphobia, it is important to instruct the client to avoid
alcoholic beverages. Benzodiazepines like alprazolam can enhance the sedative
effects of alcohol, leading to increased drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired
coordination. Combining benzodiazepines with alcohol can also result in severe
central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, and even overdose.
Therefore, it is essential to educate the client about the potential dangers of
consuming alcohol while taking alprazolam.
2. How often and what dosage is alprazolam (Xanax) given to clients?
A. 0.25-1.0 mg. b.i.d.
,B. 0.25-0.5 mg. t.i.d.
C. 0.5-1.0 mg. t.i.d.
D. 0.5-1.0 mg. q.i.d.
B: 0.25-0.5 mg t.i.d.
The rationale for this dosage is as follows:
Individualized treatment: The dosage of alprazolam can vary depending on
factors such as the severity of the anxiety disorder, the patient's response to the
medication, and their medical history. It is essential for healthcare providers to
tailor the dosage to the specific needs of each patient.
Gradual titration: Starting with a lower dosage, such as 0.25-0.5 mg, allows for a
cautious approach to treatment. It helps to minimize the risk of side effects and
allows the healthcare provider to assess the patient's response before
potentially adjusting the dosage.
Therapeutic effect: Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine medication that acts as an
anxiolytic and can provide relief from anxiety symptoms. The dosage range of
0.25-0.5 mg has been found effective for many individuals in managing anxiety
disorders, providing the desired therapeutic effect.
3. The psychiatric technician is to give Haldol Decanoate 300 mg IM to a client.
The label on the ampule reads Haldol Decanoate 100mg/ml. The hospital policy
states that no more than 2 ml can be given to a client in one site. The psychiatric
technician will give:
A. 2 ml. in one site and 2 ml in another site.
B. 1 ml. in one site and then one hour later give 2 ml. in the same site.
C. 1 1/2 ml. in one site and 1 1/2 ml in another site.
,D. 1 1/2 ml. in one site.
C. 1 1/2 ml. in one site and 1 1/2 ml. in another site.
Rationale: The label on the ampule indicates that Haldol Decanoate has a
concentration of 100 mg/ml. The prescribed dose is 300 mg. Since the hospital
policy states that no more than 2 ml can be given at one site, the psychiatric
technician will need to split the dose between two injection sites. Each site can
receive a maximum of 2 ml, so the technician will administer 1 1/2 ml (150 mg)
in one site and another 1 1/2 ml (150 mg) in another site to achieve the total
prescribed dose of 300 mg.
4. Mr. Jones goes to his family physician complaining of a gnawing pain in his
abdomen. He has had a lot of stress lately at work and has been taking a
corticosteroid medication. The physician diagnoses the problem to be a peptic
ulcer. The most likely medication the physician will prescribe for Mr. Jones is:
A. chlorzoxazone.
B. methsuximide.
C. furazolidone.
D. famotidine.
D. famotidine.
Rationale: Given the symptoms of a gnawing pain in the abdomen and the
patient's recent stress and corticosteroid use, the physician is likely to diagnose
a peptic ulcer. The most likely medication that the physician will prescribe for Mr.
Jones is famotidine. Famotidine is a histamine-2 receptor antagonist that
reduces the production of stomach acid, providing relief from symptoms and
promoting the healing of peptic ulcers.
, 5. The psychiatric technician is to give 400 mg of chlorpromazine to the client at
1200. There are both 100 mg and 200 mg tablets of chlorpromazine in the
client's medication cassette. The psychiatric technician would give:
A. Four of the 100 mg. tablets.
B. Two of the 100 mg. tablets.
C. Two of the 200 mg. tablets.
D. One 100 mg. tablet and one 200 mg. tablet.
B. two of the 200 mg tablets.
Rationale:
To administer 400 mg of chlorpromazine to the client, we need to select the
combination of tablets that adds up to the desired dosage. Since there are both
100 mg and 200 mg tablets available, we need to determine the combination
that adds up to 400 mg.
6. The doctor has ordered 10 mg of a medication and the label on the bottle
reads 0.005 grams per tablet. How many tablets should the client receive?
A. One
B. One and a half
C. Two
D. Three
C. Two
Rationale: Since 1 gram is equal to 1000 milligrams, we can convert the weight
of each tablet from grams to milligrams:
