VTNE PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE
TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The basic bedrock federal law governing drugs in the US - Answer-The Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act of 1938
The federal law which restricted the availability of certain drugs to prescription through
licensed practitioners - Answer-The Durham-Humphrey Amendment (1951)
Controlled substance logs are to be kept for how long? - Answer-Two years
Inventories of controlled substances must be conducted how often? - Answer-Initially,
and then at least twice a year
How are records for Schedule III, IV, and V drugs marked when incorporated with other
drugs? - Answer-A red "C" in the lower right-hand corner of the record
What is required if theft or significant loss is noted in the controlled substance
inventory? - Answer-The loss must be reported to the local police department and DEA
regional office when noted
What does an expiration date guarantee? - Answer-No toxic by-products accumulate
before completion of the drug regimen
Potency of the drug remains unaffected during time of use
Who regulates drugs such as Advantage? - Answer-EPA
The only approved method of disposal of controlled substances - Answer-Via a reverse
distribution company (RDC)
Material safety data sheet (MSDS) - Answer-A paper document that accompanies every
chemical shipped, used, or stored
The company that produces the chemicals writes the MSDS
OSHA requires a file of MSDSs readily accessible for employees
Common GI problems - Answer-- vomiting, regurgitation, diarrhea, abdominal pain
(colic), bloat (GDV), constipation, malabsorption, maldigestion
,Digestive physiology of GI tract - Answer-- to break down fat with amylase and break
down carbs with lipase
Digestive anatomy of GI tract - Answer-- a long hollow muscular tube from the mouth to
the anus that is composed of 3 segments (gastric-stomach, enteric-intestine, colonic-
colon)
Monogastrics - Answer-- carnivores and omnivores who have a simple stomach used
for enzymatic digestion (dogs, cats, swine)
Ruminants - Answer-- herbivores who have a complex forestomach used for rumination
and a true stomach (abomasum) used for microbial digestion in a fermentation vat
(cattle, sheep, goats)
Hindgut fermenters - Answer-- nonruminant herbivores who use digestive enzymes in
addition to digestive microbes for fermentation through an enlarged cecum and colon
(equine, rabbits, elephants)
Function of GI tract - Answer-- peristalsis by flow of material/moving forward of ingesta
through GI tract and segmentation through the churning of GI contents
Autonomic nervous system - Answer-- regulates the GI tract without conscious thought
and is divided into 2 opposing components (parasympathetic nervous system and
sympathetic nervous system)
Hormones and chemical secretions that help control the GI tract - Answer--
prostaglandins/PgE/PgI (compounds produced by tissues to exert change in the
immediate area), gastrin (hormone released by the stomach wall that signals the
stomach to relax), histamine/H (released by basophils and mast cells during
inflammation/allergic reaction), seratonin, secretin
Parasympathetic nervous system - Answer-- known as the rest and restore system and
is typically associated with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
- increases intestinal motility/GI secretions, relaxes sphincters by smoothing muscle
tone, and helps absorb nutrients by increasing blood flow to GI tract
- cholinergic drugs stimulate these actions and anticholinergic drugs inhibit these
actions
Sympathetic nervous system - Answer-- known as the fight or flight system by
antagonizing the parasympathetic nervous system and is typically associated with the
neurotransmitter norepinephrine
- increases heart rate, blood pressure, and redirects blood flow from nonessential to
essential organs
- decreases perfusion and motility of GI tract which decreases digestion and absorption
of nutrients
- sympathomimetic drugs stimulate these actions
, Anticholinergic drugs - Answer-- are also called parasympathetic drugs
Cholinergic drugs - Answer-- are also called sympathetic drugs
Emetics - Answer-- drugs that induce vomiting/emesis via the vomit center in the
medulla as a protective mechanism upon ingestion of toxic substances
- composed of centrally and locally acting
Vomiting is triggered by stimulation of - Answer-- neurons in vomit center (a
adrenergic/serotonin receptors)
- the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CRTZ) in the medulla
- the vagus nerve due to distension or tissue irritation
- nerves in the inner ear (CN VIII) due to balance or motion
- the higher brain center/cortex by emotional stimuli or trauma
Animals that do not vomit - Answer-- horses, rats, rabbits
Exceptions to the use of emetics - Answer-- risk of aspiration, ingestion of
corrosive/volatile substances (acids, bases, gasoline), a patient who is
convulsive/comatose (no gag reflex), bloating/gastric torsion
Locally acting emetics - Answer-- cause irritation of the GI tract via parasympathetic
stimulation of the vomit center (syrup of ipecac/now outlawed), (hydrogen peroxide/can
cause severe gastritis and is not effective in cats)
Centrally acting emetics - Answer-- stimulate the CRTZ/vomit center in the brain (CII
controlled opioid drug apomorphine is DOC in dogs via IV, IM, eye),
(xylazine/Rompun®/Sedazine® is DOC in cats)
Antiemetics - Answer-- drugs which prevent or decrease vomiting when it is no longer
beneficial (phenothiazine derivatives, antihistamines, anticholinergics, prokinetics)
Phenothiazine derivative antiemetics - Answer-- drugs that inhibit the release of
dopamine in the CRTZ (acepromazine/Promace®), (chlorpromazine/Thorazine®),
(prochlorperazine/Compazine®)
- side effects include hypotension, sedation, and lower seizure threshold in epileptic
patients
Antihistamine antiemetics - Answer-- drugs that block motion sickness by blocking input
from the vestibular system to the CRTZ (trimethobenzamide/Tigan®),
(dimenhydrinate/Dramamine®), (diphenhydramine/Benedryl®)
- side effects include sedation
TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The basic bedrock federal law governing drugs in the US - Answer-The Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act of 1938
The federal law which restricted the availability of certain drugs to prescription through
licensed practitioners - Answer-The Durham-Humphrey Amendment (1951)
Controlled substance logs are to be kept for how long? - Answer-Two years
Inventories of controlled substances must be conducted how often? - Answer-Initially,
and then at least twice a year
How are records for Schedule III, IV, and V drugs marked when incorporated with other
drugs? - Answer-A red "C" in the lower right-hand corner of the record
What is required if theft or significant loss is noted in the controlled substance
inventory? - Answer-The loss must be reported to the local police department and DEA
regional office when noted
What does an expiration date guarantee? - Answer-No toxic by-products accumulate
before completion of the drug regimen
Potency of the drug remains unaffected during time of use
Who regulates drugs such as Advantage? - Answer-EPA
The only approved method of disposal of controlled substances - Answer-Via a reverse
distribution company (RDC)
Material safety data sheet (MSDS) - Answer-A paper document that accompanies every
chemical shipped, used, or stored
The company that produces the chemicals writes the MSDS
OSHA requires a file of MSDSs readily accessible for employees
Common GI problems - Answer-- vomiting, regurgitation, diarrhea, abdominal pain
(colic), bloat (GDV), constipation, malabsorption, maldigestion
,Digestive physiology of GI tract - Answer-- to break down fat with amylase and break
down carbs with lipase
Digestive anatomy of GI tract - Answer-- a long hollow muscular tube from the mouth to
the anus that is composed of 3 segments (gastric-stomach, enteric-intestine, colonic-
colon)
Monogastrics - Answer-- carnivores and omnivores who have a simple stomach used
for enzymatic digestion (dogs, cats, swine)
Ruminants - Answer-- herbivores who have a complex forestomach used for rumination
and a true stomach (abomasum) used for microbial digestion in a fermentation vat
(cattle, sheep, goats)
Hindgut fermenters - Answer-- nonruminant herbivores who use digestive enzymes in
addition to digestive microbes for fermentation through an enlarged cecum and colon
(equine, rabbits, elephants)
Function of GI tract - Answer-- peristalsis by flow of material/moving forward of ingesta
through GI tract and segmentation through the churning of GI contents
Autonomic nervous system - Answer-- regulates the GI tract without conscious thought
and is divided into 2 opposing components (parasympathetic nervous system and
sympathetic nervous system)
Hormones and chemical secretions that help control the GI tract - Answer--
prostaglandins/PgE/PgI (compounds produced by tissues to exert change in the
immediate area), gastrin (hormone released by the stomach wall that signals the
stomach to relax), histamine/H (released by basophils and mast cells during
inflammation/allergic reaction), seratonin, secretin
Parasympathetic nervous system - Answer-- known as the rest and restore system and
is typically associated with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
- increases intestinal motility/GI secretions, relaxes sphincters by smoothing muscle
tone, and helps absorb nutrients by increasing blood flow to GI tract
- cholinergic drugs stimulate these actions and anticholinergic drugs inhibit these
actions
Sympathetic nervous system - Answer-- known as the fight or flight system by
antagonizing the parasympathetic nervous system and is typically associated with the
neurotransmitter norepinephrine
- increases heart rate, blood pressure, and redirects blood flow from nonessential to
essential organs
- decreases perfusion and motility of GI tract which decreases digestion and absorption
of nutrients
- sympathomimetic drugs stimulate these actions
, Anticholinergic drugs - Answer-- are also called parasympathetic drugs
Cholinergic drugs - Answer-- are also called sympathetic drugs
Emetics - Answer-- drugs that induce vomiting/emesis via the vomit center in the
medulla as a protective mechanism upon ingestion of toxic substances
- composed of centrally and locally acting
Vomiting is triggered by stimulation of - Answer-- neurons in vomit center (a
adrenergic/serotonin receptors)
- the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CRTZ) in the medulla
- the vagus nerve due to distension or tissue irritation
- nerves in the inner ear (CN VIII) due to balance or motion
- the higher brain center/cortex by emotional stimuli or trauma
Animals that do not vomit - Answer-- horses, rats, rabbits
Exceptions to the use of emetics - Answer-- risk of aspiration, ingestion of
corrosive/volatile substances (acids, bases, gasoline), a patient who is
convulsive/comatose (no gag reflex), bloating/gastric torsion
Locally acting emetics - Answer-- cause irritation of the GI tract via parasympathetic
stimulation of the vomit center (syrup of ipecac/now outlawed), (hydrogen peroxide/can
cause severe gastritis and is not effective in cats)
Centrally acting emetics - Answer-- stimulate the CRTZ/vomit center in the brain (CII
controlled opioid drug apomorphine is DOC in dogs via IV, IM, eye),
(xylazine/Rompun®/Sedazine® is DOC in cats)
Antiemetics - Answer-- drugs which prevent or decrease vomiting when it is no longer
beneficial (phenothiazine derivatives, antihistamines, anticholinergics, prokinetics)
Phenothiazine derivative antiemetics - Answer-- drugs that inhibit the release of
dopamine in the CRTZ (acepromazine/Promace®), (chlorpromazine/Thorazine®),
(prochlorperazine/Compazine®)
- side effects include hypotension, sedation, and lower seizure threshold in epileptic
patients
Antihistamine antiemetics - Answer-- drugs that block motion sickness by blocking input
from the vestibular system to the CRTZ (trimethobenzamide/Tigan®),
(dimenhydrinate/Dramamine®), (diphenhydramine/Benedryl®)
- side effects include sedation
