ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY QUIZZES
ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY QUIZZES
Question 1
pts
Which of the following statements is true about the prescribing practices of physicians?
Antibiotic medications remain in the top five classifications of medications prescribed.
Older physicians tend to prescribe more appropriate medications than younger physicians.
The dominant form of drug information used by primary care physicians continues to be that
provided by pharmaceutical companies.
Most physicians rely on a “therapeutic armamentarium” that consists of less than 100 drug
preparations per physician.
Even though most physicians claim to place little weight on drug advertisements, pharmaceutical
representatives, and patient preference and state that they rely on academic sources for drug
information, a study showed that commercial rather than scientific sources of drug information
dominated their drug information materials. Younger physicians tend to prescribe fewer and
more appropriate drugs. Antibiotics have dropped out of the top five classifications of drugs
prescribed. Most physicians have a therapeutic armamentarium of about 144 drugs.
A primary care NP recommends an over-the-counter medication for a patient who has acid
Question 2
reflux. When teaching the patient about this drug, the NP should tell the patient:
pts
not to worry about taking this drug with any other medications.
that over-the-counter acid reflux medications are generally safe to take with other medications.
,ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY QUIZZES
to take the dose recommended by the manufacturer.
to avoid taking other drugs that cause sedation while taking this drug.
Because patients often increase over-the-counter drug doses themselves, it is important to
reinforce the need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for dosing. As with any drug,
interactions may occur with other medications. Antacids do not cause sedation, so patients need
not be cautioned to avoid other sedating medications.
A woman who has been taking a COCP for 2 months tells the primary care NP that she has had
Question 3
several headaches, breakthrough bleeding, and nausea. The NP should counsel the woman:
pts
that these effects will likely decrease in another month.
to change to a progestin-only pill.
to stop taking the COCP immediately.
to use a backup form of contraception.
Breakthrough bleeding, nausea, and headaches are common during the first 3 months of therapy
and should improve without intervention. Progestin-only pills are used for lactating women only.
Prolonged bleeding and severe headache would warrant discontinuation of the COCP. Backup
contraception is not indicated.
Question 4
pts
,ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY QUIZZES
A patient asks a primary care nurse practitioner (NP) about using over-the-counter medications to
treat an upper respiratory infection with symptoms of cough, fever, and nasal congestion. The
NP should:
suggest using single-ingredient products to treat each symptom separately.
tell the patient that over-the-counter medications are usually not effective in manufacturer-
recommended doses.
recommend a cough preparation that also contains acetaminophen.
recommend a product containing antitussive, antipyretic, and decongestant ingredients.
A basic principle guiding over-the-counter use is to look at specific symptoms and treat each
separately because some products contain therapeutic doses of one ingredient and subtherapeutic
doses of others. Cough preparations containing acetaminophen often do not contain therapeutic
doses, and patients often overdose when they supplement with acetaminophen. Over-the-counter
medications are effective at recommended doses. Patients should follow dosing
recommendations on the package.
A patient has recurrent symptoms and tells the primary care NP that she can’t remember to take
Question 5
her medication all the time. The NP should:
pts
ask her about her lifestyle, her schedule, and her understanding of her condition.
administer the medication in the clinic to ensure that she takes the drug.
, ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY QUIZZES
give her shortened regimens of the drug to facilitate compliance.
provide written information about her condition and the medication.
If the attitude is that the patient has a problem for the health care provider to solve, then the
provider owns the problem and often hastens to solve it. When patients own their problems, they
are more likely to engage in their care and treatment. Giving shortened regimens, providing
written information, and administrating medication in the clinic are examples of the provider
solving the problem for the patient.
A postpartum woman will begin taking the minipill while she is nursing her infant. The primary
Question 6
care NP should instruct the patient:
pts
that irregular periods while taking the minipill may indicate she is pregnant.
Correct Answer
that this method does not increase her risk of thromboembolic events.
to use backup contraception while taking the minipill.
to continue using the minipill for 6 months after she stops nursing.
Minipills are used primarily in breastfeeding women. There is no increased risk for
thromboembolic events for women taking these pills. It is not necessary to use a backup method
of contraception. Women should be advised to contact the provider when they stop nursing so
that a COCP can be prescribed. The more disrupted the bleeding pattern, the more likely it is
that ovulation is inhibited.
Question 7
ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY QUIZZES
Question 1
pts
Which of the following statements is true about the prescribing practices of physicians?
Antibiotic medications remain in the top five classifications of medications prescribed.
Older physicians tend to prescribe more appropriate medications than younger physicians.
The dominant form of drug information used by primary care physicians continues to be that
provided by pharmaceutical companies.
Most physicians rely on a “therapeutic armamentarium” that consists of less than 100 drug
preparations per physician.
Even though most physicians claim to place little weight on drug advertisements, pharmaceutical
representatives, and patient preference and state that they rely on academic sources for drug
information, a study showed that commercial rather than scientific sources of drug information
dominated their drug information materials. Younger physicians tend to prescribe fewer and
more appropriate drugs. Antibiotics have dropped out of the top five classifications of drugs
prescribed. Most physicians have a therapeutic armamentarium of about 144 drugs.
A primary care NP recommends an over-the-counter medication for a patient who has acid
Question 2
reflux. When teaching the patient about this drug, the NP should tell the patient:
pts
not to worry about taking this drug with any other medications.
that over-the-counter acid reflux medications are generally safe to take with other medications.
,ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY QUIZZES
to take the dose recommended by the manufacturer.
to avoid taking other drugs that cause sedation while taking this drug.
Because patients often increase over-the-counter drug doses themselves, it is important to
reinforce the need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for dosing. As with any drug,
interactions may occur with other medications. Antacids do not cause sedation, so patients need
not be cautioned to avoid other sedating medications.
A woman who has been taking a COCP for 2 months tells the primary care NP that she has had
Question 3
several headaches, breakthrough bleeding, and nausea. The NP should counsel the woman:
pts
that these effects will likely decrease in another month.
to change to a progestin-only pill.
to stop taking the COCP immediately.
to use a backup form of contraception.
Breakthrough bleeding, nausea, and headaches are common during the first 3 months of therapy
and should improve without intervention. Progestin-only pills are used for lactating women only.
Prolonged bleeding and severe headache would warrant discontinuation of the COCP. Backup
contraception is not indicated.
Question 4
pts
,ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY QUIZZES
A patient asks a primary care nurse practitioner (NP) about using over-the-counter medications to
treat an upper respiratory infection with symptoms of cough, fever, and nasal congestion. The
NP should:
suggest using single-ingredient products to treat each symptom separately.
tell the patient that over-the-counter medications are usually not effective in manufacturer-
recommended doses.
recommend a cough preparation that also contains acetaminophen.
recommend a product containing antitussive, antipyretic, and decongestant ingredients.
A basic principle guiding over-the-counter use is to look at specific symptoms and treat each
separately because some products contain therapeutic doses of one ingredient and subtherapeutic
doses of others. Cough preparations containing acetaminophen often do not contain therapeutic
doses, and patients often overdose when they supplement with acetaminophen. Over-the-counter
medications are effective at recommended doses. Patients should follow dosing
recommendations on the package.
A patient has recurrent symptoms and tells the primary care NP that she can’t remember to take
Question 5
her medication all the time. The NP should:
pts
ask her about her lifestyle, her schedule, and her understanding of her condition.
administer the medication in the clinic to ensure that she takes the drug.
, ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY QUIZZES
give her shortened regimens of the drug to facilitate compliance.
provide written information about her condition and the medication.
If the attitude is that the patient has a problem for the health care provider to solve, then the
provider owns the problem and often hastens to solve it. When patients own their problems, they
are more likely to engage in their care and treatment. Giving shortened regimens, providing
written information, and administrating medication in the clinic are examples of the provider
solving the problem for the patient.
A postpartum woman will begin taking the minipill while she is nursing her infant. The primary
Question 6
care NP should instruct the patient:
pts
that irregular periods while taking the minipill may indicate she is pregnant.
Correct Answer
that this method does not increase her risk of thromboembolic events.
to use backup contraception while taking the minipill.
to continue using the minipill for 6 months after she stops nursing.
Minipills are used primarily in breastfeeding women. There is no increased risk for
thromboembolic events for women taking these pills. It is not necessary to use a backup method
of contraception. Women should be advised to contact the provider when they stop nursing so
that a COCP can be prescribed. The more disrupted the bleeding pattern, the more likely it is
that ovulation is inhibited.
Question 7
