PCAM Final questions with verified answers
A 32-year-old female asks you if she should take an allicin-rich garlic
supplement for lowering cholesterol. Her current medications include
an oral contraceptive, ibuprofen as needed for menstrual discomfort,
and calcium. What would you recommend for this patient?
a. She should separate administration of ibuprofen and garlic by at least
2 hours.
b. Don't use calcium and garlic at the same time because it can
decrease the effectiveness of garlic.
c. Use a backup form of birth control while taking allicin-rich garlic.
d. Garlic may cause severe stomach discomfort when taken with an oral
contraceptive. Ans✓✓✓ Use a backup form of birth control while
taking allicin-rich garlic.
A 55-year-old patient with osteoporosis mentions that he has started
taking caffeine to treat symptoms of asthma. The patient is currently
taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement to reduce bone loss. The
patient is also taking terbinafine (Lamisil) to treat athlete's foot. What
should you tell this patient about taking caffeine?
A. Caffeine should be used with caution because it can relieve asthma
symptoms but may also increase the excretion of terbinafine.
B. Caffeine should be used with caution because it can relieve asthma
symptoms but may also increase the excretion of calcium.
C. Caffeine should be avoided because there's no evidence it improves
asthma symptoms and it can increase the excretion of calcium.
,D. Caffeine should be avoided because there's no evidence it improves
asthma symptoms and it can increase the excretion of terbinafine.
Ans✓✓✓ Caffeine should be avoided because there's no evidence it
improves asthma symptoms and it can increase the excretion of
terbinafine.
A 66-year-old male with diabetes and a family history of prostate
cancer has an LDL of 140 mg/dL, and systolic blood pressure of 110
mmHg. He is a smoker and exercises three times per week. What are
his risk factors for ASCVD?
a. Diabetes, exercise habits
b. Diabetes, smoking
c. Hypertension, exercise habits
d. Hypertension, smoking Ans✓✓✓ Diabetes, smoking
A 72-year old female recently had a percutaneous intervention (PCI)
and is taking aspirin and clopidogrel in addition to other medications.
She wants to buy a supplement containing ginkgo, garlic, astragalus, or
dong quai. Which herb can the patient take safely with clopidogrel and
aspirin?
a. Astragalus
b. Garlic
c. Ginkgo
d. Saw palmetto Ans✓✓✓ Astralagus
,A newly diagnosed heart failure patient is interested in using natural
medicines for the management of their heart failure symptoms. What
guidance should you provide to this patient?
a. Natural medicines are generally safe and effective for the
management of heart failure.
b. Natural medicines are generally effective but often unsafe for the
management of heart failure.
c. Conventional medicines can be considered as add-on treatments;
some natural medicines should be used initially to slow the progression
of heart failure.
d. Conventional medicines should be used initially to slow the
progression of heart failure; some natural medicines can be considered
as add-on treatments. Ans✓✓✓ Conventional medicines should be
used initially to slow the progression of heart failure; some natural
medicines can be considered as add-on treatments.
A patient asks you about natural products for his cold symptoms. He
says he's "allergic to everything," including dust, ragweed, and cats.
What natural product may be cause an allergic reaction in the patient?
a. Vitamin C
b. Echinacea
c. Zinc
d. Multivitamins Ans✓✓✓ Echinacea
A patient experiencing occasional asthma symptoms has heard that
some natural medicines may work like mast cell stabilizers to relieve
, allergy symptoms. She would like to try one of these natural medicines
but is concerned about potential interactions with the warfarin and
simvastatin she is taking. Which of the following statements should you
tell her regarding the potential for drug interactions ?
A. Quercetin may be unsafe, as this supplement might interact with
warfarin and/or simvastatin.
B. Boswellia is safe to use and does not appear to interact with warfarin
or simvastatin.
C. Coleus is safe to use and does not appear to interact with warfarin or
simvastatin.
D. Picrorhiza may be unsafe, as this supplement might interact with
warfarin and/or simvastatin. Ans✓✓✓ Quercetin may be unsafe, as
this supplement might interact with warfarin and/or simvastatin.
A patient has recently been experiencing occasional asthma
exacerbations and is considering trying an alternative treatment
modality to relieve symptoms. What should you tell this patient?
A. Acupuncture seems to relieve symptoms in asthma patients.
B. Alexander Technique seems to relieve symptoms in asthma patients.
C. Chiropractic might not relieve asthma symptoms but may improve
overall health.
D. Yoga might not relieve asthma symptoms but may improve overall
health. Ans✓✓✓ Yoga might not relieve asthma symptoms but may
improve overall health.
A 32-year-old female asks you if she should take an allicin-rich garlic
supplement for lowering cholesterol. Her current medications include
an oral contraceptive, ibuprofen as needed for menstrual discomfort,
and calcium. What would you recommend for this patient?
a. She should separate administration of ibuprofen and garlic by at least
2 hours.
b. Don't use calcium and garlic at the same time because it can
decrease the effectiveness of garlic.
c. Use a backup form of birth control while taking allicin-rich garlic.
d. Garlic may cause severe stomach discomfort when taken with an oral
contraceptive. Ans✓✓✓ Use a backup form of birth control while
taking allicin-rich garlic.
A 55-year-old patient with osteoporosis mentions that he has started
taking caffeine to treat symptoms of asthma. The patient is currently
taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement to reduce bone loss. The
patient is also taking terbinafine (Lamisil) to treat athlete's foot. What
should you tell this patient about taking caffeine?
A. Caffeine should be used with caution because it can relieve asthma
symptoms but may also increase the excretion of terbinafine.
B. Caffeine should be used with caution because it can relieve asthma
symptoms but may also increase the excretion of calcium.
C. Caffeine should be avoided because there's no evidence it improves
asthma symptoms and it can increase the excretion of calcium.
,D. Caffeine should be avoided because there's no evidence it improves
asthma symptoms and it can increase the excretion of terbinafine.
Ans✓✓✓ Caffeine should be avoided because there's no evidence it
improves asthma symptoms and it can increase the excretion of
terbinafine.
A 66-year-old male with diabetes and a family history of prostate
cancer has an LDL of 140 mg/dL, and systolic blood pressure of 110
mmHg. He is a smoker and exercises three times per week. What are
his risk factors for ASCVD?
a. Diabetes, exercise habits
b. Diabetes, smoking
c. Hypertension, exercise habits
d. Hypertension, smoking Ans✓✓✓ Diabetes, smoking
A 72-year old female recently had a percutaneous intervention (PCI)
and is taking aspirin and clopidogrel in addition to other medications.
She wants to buy a supplement containing ginkgo, garlic, astragalus, or
dong quai. Which herb can the patient take safely with clopidogrel and
aspirin?
a. Astragalus
b. Garlic
c. Ginkgo
d. Saw palmetto Ans✓✓✓ Astralagus
,A newly diagnosed heart failure patient is interested in using natural
medicines for the management of their heart failure symptoms. What
guidance should you provide to this patient?
a. Natural medicines are generally safe and effective for the
management of heart failure.
b. Natural medicines are generally effective but often unsafe for the
management of heart failure.
c. Conventional medicines can be considered as add-on treatments;
some natural medicines should be used initially to slow the progression
of heart failure.
d. Conventional medicines should be used initially to slow the
progression of heart failure; some natural medicines can be considered
as add-on treatments. Ans✓✓✓ Conventional medicines should be
used initially to slow the progression of heart failure; some natural
medicines can be considered as add-on treatments.
A patient asks you about natural products for his cold symptoms. He
says he's "allergic to everything," including dust, ragweed, and cats.
What natural product may be cause an allergic reaction in the patient?
a. Vitamin C
b. Echinacea
c. Zinc
d. Multivitamins Ans✓✓✓ Echinacea
A patient experiencing occasional asthma symptoms has heard that
some natural medicines may work like mast cell stabilizers to relieve
, allergy symptoms. She would like to try one of these natural medicines
but is concerned about potential interactions with the warfarin and
simvastatin she is taking. Which of the following statements should you
tell her regarding the potential for drug interactions ?
A. Quercetin may be unsafe, as this supplement might interact with
warfarin and/or simvastatin.
B. Boswellia is safe to use and does not appear to interact with warfarin
or simvastatin.
C. Coleus is safe to use and does not appear to interact with warfarin or
simvastatin.
D. Picrorhiza may be unsafe, as this supplement might interact with
warfarin and/or simvastatin. Ans✓✓✓ Quercetin may be unsafe, as
this supplement might interact with warfarin and/or simvastatin.
A patient has recently been experiencing occasional asthma
exacerbations and is considering trying an alternative treatment
modality to relieve symptoms. What should you tell this patient?
A. Acupuncture seems to relieve symptoms in asthma patients.
B. Alexander Technique seems to relieve symptoms in asthma patients.
C. Chiropractic might not relieve asthma symptoms but may improve
overall health.
D. Yoga might not relieve asthma symptoms but may improve overall
health. Ans✓✓✓ Yoga might not relieve asthma symptoms but may
improve overall health.
