NURS 212 Pharmacology Final Exam Key
Medications & Concepts UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Pyridostigmine (Mestinon, Regonol) - CORRECT ANSWER -Reversibly inhibits acetylcholinesterase → ↑ ACh at
neuromuscular junction.
Cholinergic crisis - CORRECT ANSWER -Salivation, lacrimation, urination, diarrhea, GI cramping, emesis;
bradycardia/bronchospasm possible.
Bethanechol (Duvoid, Urecholine) - CORRECT ANSWER -Stimulates cholinergic/muscarinic receptors → ↑
detrusor tone and GI motility.
Atropine (Atropen) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks muscarinic ACh effects.
Epinephrine (Adrenalin) - CORRECT ANSWER -Stimulates alpha and beta receptors → ↑ HR/BP,
bronchodilation.
Prazosin (Minipress) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks NE at alpha-adrenergic receptors → vasodilation.
Propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran XL) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks beta-1 and beta-2 receptors → ↓
HR/contractility; can block bronchodilation.
Metoprolol tartrate/succinate (Lopressor/Toprol XL) - CORRECT ANSWER -↓ HR and myocardial contractility
→ ↓ CO/workload and BP.
Carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet) - CORRECT ANSWER -Levodopa converts to dopamine; carbidopa limits
peripheral breakdown.
Benztropine (Cogentin) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks central muscarinic effects.
Donepezil (Aricept) - CORRECT ANSWER -Prevents ACh breakdown in CNS.
Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) - CORRECT ANSWER -Neuronal sodium channel modulation → stabilizes
neuronal membranes.
Gabapentin (Neurontin) - CORRECT ANSWER -Modulates calcium-channel activity; decreases excitatory
neurotransmission.
Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall/XR) - CORRECT ANSWER -Increases catecholamine activity.
Glucagon (GlucaGen) - CORRECT ANSWER -Raises blood glucose by mobilizing hepatic glucose stores.
Desmopressin (DDAVP, Nocdurna) - CORRECT ANSWER -Acts like ADH → water reabsorption; treats
neurogenic DI, not nephrogenic DI.
Sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio) - CORRECT ANSWER -Vasodilation through nitric oxide/cGMP pathway.
Famotidine (Pepcid) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks H2 receptors → ↓ gastric acid secretion.
Omeprazole (Prilosec) - CORRECT ANSWER -Irreversibly suppresses gastric proton pump → ↓ acid.
Insulin lispro (Humalog) - CORRECT ANSWER -Promotes glucose uptake; inhibits hepatic glucose production,
lipolysis, proteolysis.
Insulin glargine (Lantus) - CORRECT ANSWER -Provides basal insulin effect.
, Metformin (Glucophage/XR) - CORRECT ANSWER -↓ hepatic glucose production, ↓ intestinal glucose
absorption, ↑ insulin sensitivity.
glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase) - CORRECT ANSWER -Stimulates pancreatic beta cells to release insulin.
hydrocortisone (Cortef/Solu-Cortef) - CORRECT ANSWER -Anti-inflammatory and adrenal hormone replacement
effects.
levothyroxine (Synthroid) - CORRECT ANSWER -Replaces thyroxine involved in
metabolism/growth/development.
flumazenil (Romazicon) - CORRECT ANSWER -Competitive GABA/benzodiazepine receptor antagonist.
phenobarbital (Luminal) - CORRECT ANSWER -Enhances GABA/CNS depression; anticonvulsant/sedative.
lorazepam (Ativan) - CORRECT ANSWER -Enhances GABA activity.
fluoxetine (Prozac) - CORRECT ANSWER -Selectively inhibits serotonin reuptake.
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) - CORRECT ANSWER -Influences neurotransmitter reuptake; class key is narrow
therapeutic index.
haloperidol (Haldol) - CORRECT ANSWER -Dopamine D2 receptor antagonist.
risperidone (Risperdal) - CORRECT ANSWER -Dopamine/serotonin receptor antagonist effects.
cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) - CORRECT ANSWER -Exact MOA unknown; potentiates norepinephrine and binds
serotonin receptors → ↓ spasticity.
aspirin/ASA - CORRECT ANSWER -Irreversibly inhibits COX-1/COX-2 → ↓ prostaglandins and thromboxane
A2; ↓ platelet aggregation.
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) - CORRECT ANSWER -Reversibly inhibits COX → ↓ prostaglandin/thromboxane
synthesis.
celecoxib (Celebrex) - CORRECT ANSWER -Selective COX-2 inhibition → anti-inflammatory/analgesic.
acetaminophen (Tylenol/APAP) - CORRECT ANSWER -Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in CNS; antipyretic via
hypothalamus.
morphine sulfate - CORRECT ANSWER -Binds mu and kappa opioid receptors → analgesia/sedation.
sumatriptan (Imitrex) - CORRECT ANSWER -Serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist causing cranial vasoconstriction
and ↓ neurogenic inflammation.
hydralazine (Apresoline) - CORRECT ANSWER -Directly relaxes vascular smooth muscle → vasodilation and ↓
BP.
nifedipine (Adalat CC/Procardia XL) - CORRECT ANSWER -Inhibits calcium influx in vascular smooth
muscle/myocardium → vasodilation.
diltiazem (Cardizem) - CORRECT ANSWER -Negative inotropic/chronotropic; ↓ preload/afterload/workload, ↓
vasospasm, ↑ O2 supply.
lisinopril (Prinivil/Zestril) - CORRECT ANSWER -Inhibits ACE conversion of angiotensin I → II; ↓
vasoconstriction/aldosterone.
Medications & Concepts UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Pyridostigmine (Mestinon, Regonol) - CORRECT ANSWER -Reversibly inhibits acetylcholinesterase → ↑ ACh at
neuromuscular junction.
Cholinergic crisis - CORRECT ANSWER -Salivation, lacrimation, urination, diarrhea, GI cramping, emesis;
bradycardia/bronchospasm possible.
Bethanechol (Duvoid, Urecholine) - CORRECT ANSWER -Stimulates cholinergic/muscarinic receptors → ↑
detrusor tone and GI motility.
Atropine (Atropen) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks muscarinic ACh effects.
Epinephrine (Adrenalin) - CORRECT ANSWER -Stimulates alpha and beta receptors → ↑ HR/BP,
bronchodilation.
Prazosin (Minipress) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks NE at alpha-adrenergic receptors → vasodilation.
Propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran XL) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks beta-1 and beta-2 receptors → ↓
HR/contractility; can block bronchodilation.
Metoprolol tartrate/succinate (Lopressor/Toprol XL) - CORRECT ANSWER -↓ HR and myocardial contractility
→ ↓ CO/workload and BP.
Carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet) - CORRECT ANSWER -Levodopa converts to dopamine; carbidopa limits
peripheral breakdown.
Benztropine (Cogentin) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks central muscarinic effects.
Donepezil (Aricept) - CORRECT ANSWER -Prevents ACh breakdown in CNS.
Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) - CORRECT ANSWER -Neuronal sodium channel modulation → stabilizes
neuronal membranes.
Gabapentin (Neurontin) - CORRECT ANSWER -Modulates calcium-channel activity; decreases excitatory
neurotransmission.
Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall/XR) - CORRECT ANSWER -Increases catecholamine activity.
Glucagon (GlucaGen) - CORRECT ANSWER -Raises blood glucose by mobilizing hepatic glucose stores.
Desmopressin (DDAVP, Nocdurna) - CORRECT ANSWER -Acts like ADH → water reabsorption; treats
neurogenic DI, not nephrogenic DI.
Sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio) - CORRECT ANSWER -Vasodilation through nitric oxide/cGMP pathway.
Famotidine (Pepcid) - CORRECT ANSWER -Blocks H2 receptors → ↓ gastric acid secretion.
Omeprazole (Prilosec) - CORRECT ANSWER -Irreversibly suppresses gastric proton pump → ↓ acid.
Insulin lispro (Humalog) - CORRECT ANSWER -Promotes glucose uptake; inhibits hepatic glucose production,
lipolysis, proteolysis.
Insulin glargine (Lantus) - CORRECT ANSWER -Provides basal insulin effect.
, Metformin (Glucophage/XR) - CORRECT ANSWER -↓ hepatic glucose production, ↓ intestinal glucose
absorption, ↑ insulin sensitivity.
glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase) - CORRECT ANSWER -Stimulates pancreatic beta cells to release insulin.
hydrocortisone (Cortef/Solu-Cortef) - CORRECT ANSWER -Anti-inflammatory and adrenal hormone replacement
effects.
levothyroxine (Synthroid) - CORRECT ANSWER -Replaces thyroxine involved in
metabolism/growth/development.
flumazenil (Romazicon) - CORRECT ANSWER -Competitive GABA/benzodiazepine receptor antagonist.
phenobarbital (Luminal) - CORRECT ANSWER -Enhances GABA/CNS depression; anticonvulsant/sedative.
lorazepam (Ativan) - CORRECT ANSWER -Enhances GABA activity.
fluoxetine (Prozac) - CORRECT ANSWER -Selectively inhibits serotonin reuptake.
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) - CORRECT ANSWER -Influences neurotransmitter reuptake; class key is narrow
therapeutic index.
haloperidol (Haldol) - CORRECT ANSWER -Dopamine D2 receptor antagonist.
risperidone (Risperdal) - CORRECT ANSWER -Dopamine/serotonin receptor antagonist effects.
cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) - CORRECT ANSWER -Exact MOA unknown; potentiates norepinephrine and binds
serotonin receptors → ↓ spasticity.
aspirin/ASA - CORRECT ANSWER -Irreversibly inhibits COX-1/COX-2 → ↓ prostaglandins and thromboxane
A2; ↓ platelet aggregation.
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) - CORRECT ANSWER -Reversibly inhibits COX → ↓ prostaglandin/thromboxane
synthesis.
celecoxib (Celebrex) - CORRECT ANSWER -Selective COX-2 inhibition → anti-inflammatory/analgesic.
acetaminophen (Tylenol/APAP) - CORRECT ANSWER -Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in CNS; antipyretic via
hypothalamus.
morphine sulfate - CORRECT ANSWER -Binds mu and kappa opioid receptors → analgesia/sedation.
sumatriptan (Imitrex) - CORRECT ANSWER -Serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist causing cranial vasoconstriction
and ↓ neurogenic inflammation.
hydralazine (Apresoline) - CORRECT ANSWER -Directly relaxes vascular smooth muscle → vasodilation and ↓
BP.
nifedipine (Adalat CC/Procardia XL) - CORRECT ANSWER -Inhibits calcium influx in vascular smooth
muscle/myocardium → vasodilation.
diltiazem (Cardizem) - CORRECT ANSWER -Negative inotropic/chronotropic; ↓ preload/afterload/workload, ↓
vasospasm, ↑ O2 supply.
lisinopril (Prinivil/Zestril) - CORRECT ANSWER -Inhibits ACE conversion of angiotensin I → II; ↓
vasoconstriction/aldosterone.
