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PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN PHARMACOLOGY
BOARD EXAM REVIEW – PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS.
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. ......ANSWER......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.
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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. ......ANSWER......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.
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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. ......ANSWER......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 corticosteriod 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. ......ANSWER......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
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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. ......ANSWER......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?
pg. 4
PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN PHARMACOLOGY
BOARD EXAM REVIEW – PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS.
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. ......ANSWER......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.
pg. 1
,2|Page
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. ......ANSWER......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.
pg. 2
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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. ......ANSWER......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 corticosteriod 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. ......ANSWER......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
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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. ......ANSWER......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?
pg. 4
