Drugs that produce a response - ANSWER agonist
Drugs that prevent or block a response - ANSWER antagonist
What is the therapuetic window? - ANSWER level of the drug between minimal effective
concentration in the plasma for obtaining desired drug response and the minimal toxic con-
centration
What is half life? - ANSWER The time it takes for one half of the drug concentration to be
eliminated from the body is
If a drug has a long half life, how often should it be taken? - ANSWER once per day
What is a patient on two highly protein bound drugs at risk for? - ANSWER accumulation
and toxicity
What is tolerance? - ANSWER a decreased responsiveness over the course of therapy,
which may lead to the need to increase dosages to attain the same effect
What makes drugs fit into the same "Class" - ANSWER -related by chemical structure
-work in the same way
-used for the same purpose
Before administering beta blockers, you should check what two vital signs? - ANSWER
Heart rate
1
,Blood pressure
Who would you not give a beta blocker to? Why? - ANSWER Asthmatic; bronchospasm
What kind of drug is metoclopramide (Reglan) - ANSWER cholinergic
Cholinergics do what to the body? (SLUD) - ANSWER Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
Anticholinergics do what to the body - ANSWER Can't see, Can't spit, Can't pee, Can't shit
Symptoms of cholinergic crisis - ANSWER Flushing, Sweating, Nausea, Abdominal cramps
What drug would you give to treat cholinergic crisis? - ANSWER atropine
Anticholinergics are contraindicated in which clients? - ANSWER -coronary artery disease
(Increase heart rate)
-GI obstruction (constipates)
-supraventricular tachycardia (increased heart rate)
CNS stimulants are contraindicated in which clients? - ANSWER -coronary artery disease
(cause vasoconstriction=heart attack)
-Hypertension (additive hypertension=stroke)
Most common side effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin) - ANSWER -irritability
-insomnia
2
,-weight loss
-decreased appetite
Signs of hemorrhagic stroke - ANSWER -increased B/P
-increased heart rate
-increased respiratory rate
-unresponsive to deep pain
Benzodiazepines increase the activity of which neurotransmitter - ANSWER GABA
Reversal agent of benzodiazepines - ANSWER Flumazenil
Zolpidem (Ambien) side effects - ANSWER -sedative/hypnotic (nonbenzodiazepine)
-suicidal ideation
-dependence
-abnormal behavior
What is the drug of choice for treating status epilepticus - ANSWER diazepam
Phenytoin (Dilantin) side effects - ANSWER GINGIVAL HYPERPLASIA
-treat seizures
-cause high blood sugar
-cause birth defects
-decrease effectiveness of anticoagulants
When a client is on phenytoin (Dilantin) what are some nursing interventions - ANSWER -
monitor for narrow therapeutic index (frequent blood test)
3
, -take as prescribed
-oral care
-teach pt to use barrier contraceptives along with oral
What is the therapeutic range for phenytoin (Dilantin) - ANSWER 10-20 ug/ml
What does valproic acid (Depakote) treat? - ANSWER seizures, mania associated with bi-
polar, migraines
Side effects of valproic acid (Depakote) - ANSWER Can cause hepatotoxicity
What is valproic acid (Depakote)'s therapeutic range - ANSWER 50-125 ug/ml
Patient education valproic acid (Depakote) - ANSWER Must have liver enzymes and blood
levels checked regularly
Benzodiazepines can lead to what? - ANSWER -tolerance
-dependence
-withdrawl
What should you do if valproic acid (Depakote) levels are high? - ANSWER -hold medica-
tion
-check liver function (blood test)
-discuss with physician
-neuro assessment
-check vitals
What is the reversal agent for barbiturates? - ANSWER activated charcoal
4
Drugs that prevent or block a response - ANSWER antagonist
What is the therapuetic window? - ANSWER level of the drug between minimal effective
concentration in the plasma for obtaining desired drug response and the minimal toxic con-
centration
What is half life? - ANSWER The time it takes for one half of the drug concentration to be
eliminated from the body is
If a drug has a long half life, how often should it be taken? - ANSWER once per day
What is a patient on two highly protein bound drugs at risk for? - ANSWER accumulation
and toxicity
What is tolerance? - ANSWER a decreased responsiveness over the course of therapy,
which may lead to the need to increase dosages to attain the same effect
What makes drugs fit into the same "Class" - ANSWER -related by chemical structure
-work in the same way
-used for the same purpose
Before administering beta blockers, you should check what two vital signs? - ANSWER
Heart rate
1
,Blood pressure
Who would you not give a beta blocker to? Why? - ANSWER Asthmatic; bronchospasm
What kind of drug is metoclopramide (Reglan) - ANSWER cholinergic
Cholinergics do what to the body? (SLUD) - ANSWER Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
Anticholinergics do what to the body - ANSWER Can't see, Can't spit, Can't pee, Can't shit
Symptoms of cholinergic crisis - ANSWER Flushing, Sweating, Nausea, Abdominal cramps
What drug would you give to treat cholinergic crisis? - ANSWER atropine
Anticholinergics are contraindicated in which clients? - ANSWER -coronary artery disease
(Increase heart rate)
-GI obstruction (constipates)
-supraventricular tachycardia (increased heart rate)
CNS stimulants are contraindicated in which clients? - ANSWER -coronary artery disease
(cause vasoconstriction=heart attack)
-Hypertension (additive hypertension=stroke)
Most common side effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin) - ANSWER -irritability
-insomnia
2
,-weight loss
-decreased appetite
Signs of hemorrhagic stroke - ANSWER -increased B/P
-increased heart rate
-increased respiratory rate
-unresponsive to deep pain
Benzodiazepines increase the activity of which neurotransmitter - ANSWER GABA
Reversal agent of benzodiazepines - ANSWER Flumazenil
Zolpidem (Ambien) side effects - ANSWER -sedative/hypnotic (nonbenzodiazepine)
-suicidal ideation
-dependence
-abnormal behavior
What is the drug of choice for treating status epilepticus - ANSWER diazepam
Phenytoin (Dilantin) side effects - ANSWER GINGIVAL HYPERPLASIA
-treat seizures
-cause high blood sugar
-cause birth defects
-decrease effectiveness of anticoagulants
When a client is on phenytoin (Dilantin) what are some nursing interventions - ANSWER -
monitor for narrow therapeutic index (frequent blood test)
3
, -take as prescribed
-oral care
-teach pt to use barrier contraceptives along with oral
What is the therapeutic range for phenytoin (Dilantin) - ANSWER 10-20 ug/ml
What does valproic acid (Depakote) treat? - ANSWER seizures, mania associated with bi-
polar, migraines
Side effects of valproic acid (Depakote) - ANSWER Can cause hepatotoxicity
What is valproic acid (Depakote)'s therapeutic range - ANSWER 50-125 ug/ml
Patient education valproic acid (Depakote) - ANSWER Must have liver enzymes and blood
levels checked regularly
Benzodiazepines can lead to what? - ANSWER -tolerance
-dependence
-withdrawl
What should you do if valproic acid (Depakote) levels are high? - ANSWER -hold medica-
tion
-check liver function (blood test)
-discuss with physician
-neuro assessment
-check vitals
What is the reversal agent for barbiturates? - ANSWER activated charcoal
4
