Actual Exam Questions and Answers
When prescribing acyclovir, patients should be educated regarding the:
A) Need to avoid sun exposure
B) Importance of completing the full course of therapy
C) Risk of liver toxicity
D) Need to monitor blood pressure daily
Correct Answer: B) Importance of completing the full course of therapy
Explanation: Acyclovir is an antiviral used for herpes infections. Patients should be educated to
complete the full course to ensure effective treatment and prevent recurrence or resistance, as
incomplete therapy can lead to treatment failure.
To prevent further development of antibacterial resistance, it is recommended that
fluoroquinolones be reserved for treatment of:
A) Uncomplicated urinary tract infections
B) Community-acquired pneumonia in otherwise healthy patients
C) Serious infections when other alternatives are inadequate
D) Mild skin infections
Correct Answer: C) Serious infections when other alternatives are inadequate
Explanation: Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antibiotics, and their use should be reserved
for serious infections (e.g., resistant bacterial infections) to minimize the risk of developing
antibacterial resistance, per antimicrobial stewardship guidelines.
Pharmaceutical promotion may affect prescribing. To address the impact of pharmaceutical
promotion, the following recommendations have been made by the Institute of Medicine:
A) Ban all pharmaceutical advertising
B) Require prescribers to disclose financial ties to drug companies
C) Limit continuing medical education to non-industry sources
D) Prohibit direct-to-consumer drug advertising
Correct Answer: B) Require prescribers to disclose financial ties to drug companies
Explanation: The Institute of Medicine recommends transparency, such as disclosing financial
relationships with pharmaceutical companies, to mitigate the influence of promotion on
prescribing practices and maintain objectivity.
, Nicholas has been diagnosed with type A influenza. Appropriate prescribing of oseltamivir
(Tamiflu) would include:
A) Starting oseltamivir within 48 hours of symptom onset
B) Prescribing oseltamivir for 10 days
C) Administering oseltamivir intravenously
D) Combining oseltamivir with an antibiotic
Correct Answer: A) Starting oseltamivir within 48 hours of symptom onset
Explanation: Oseltamivir is most effective for influenza A when started within 48 hours of
symptom onset to reduce symptom duration and severity. It is typically prescribed for 5 days
orally, not IV, and antibiotics are not indicated for viral infections.
Pharmacokinetic factors that affect prescribing include:
A) Patient’s insurance coverage
B) Drug half-life and bioavailability
C) Patient’s preference for brand-name drugs
D) Drug cost and availability
Correct Answer: B) Drug half-life and bioavailability
Explanation: Pharmacokinetics, including drug half-life and bioavailability, affects how a drug
is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted, directly influencing dosing and prescribing
decisions.
An example of a first-dose reaction that may occur includes:
A) Orthostatic hypotension with antihypertensives
B) Nausea with antibiotics
C) Rash with antihistamines
D) Drowsiness with analgesics
Correct Answer: A) Orthostatic hypotension with antihypertensives
Explanation: A first-dose reaction, such as orthostatic hypotension with antihypertensives (e.g.,
alpha-blockers), occurs due to an exaggerated response to the initial dose, often requiring
monitoring or dose adjustment.
Monitoring for patients on long-term antifungal therapy with ketoconazole includes:
A) Monthly complete blood count
B) Regular liver function tests
C) Weekly blood pressure checks
D) Annual renal function tests