Question 1: A patient who has primary hyperlipidemia and who takes atorvastatin (Lipitor)
continues to have LDL cholesterol of 140 mg/dL after 3 months of therapy. The primary care NP
increases the dose from 10 mg daily to 20 mg daily. The patient reports headache and dizziness a
few weeks after the dose increase. The NP should:
a. recommend supplements of omega-3 along with the atorvastatin.
b. change the atorvastatin dose to 15 mg twice daily.
c. add ezetimibe (Zetia) and lower the atorvastatin to 10 mg daily.
d. change the patient’s medication to cholestyramine
Question 2: A patient who has hyperlipidemia has been taking atorvastatin (Lipitor) 60 mg daily
for 6 months. The patient’s initial lipid profile showed LDL of 180 mg/dL, HDL of 45 mg/dL,
and triglycerides of 160 mg/dL. The primary care NP orders a lipid profile today that shows LDL
of 105 mg/dL, HDL of 50 mg/dL, and triglycerides of 120 mg/dL. The patient reports muscle
pain and weakness. The NP should:
a.order liver function tests (LFTs).
b. order a creatine kinase-MM (CK-MM) level.
c. change atorvastatin to twice-daily dosing.
d. add gemfibrozil (Lopid) to the patient’s medication regimen
Question 3: A patient comes to the clinic with a 4-day history of 10 to 12 liquid stools each day.
The patient reports seeing blood and mucus in the stools. The patient has had nausea but no