Pharmacology Exam 1

Question 1

The process of compiling a list of a patient’s current medication and comparing that list to the physician’s orders at discharge from the hospital is MOST LIKELY known as:

A) Pharmacodynamics
B) bioavailability
C) Pharmacokinetics
D) medication reconciliation

Answer 1

D) medication reconciliation

Question 2

Which of the following terms refers to the effects of drugs upon the body?

A) pharmacokinetics
B) pharmacodynamics

Answer 2

B) pharmacodynamics

Question 3

Which of the following terms refers to what the body does to a drug?

A) pharmacodynamics
B) pharmacokinetics

Answer 3

B) pharmacokinetics

Question 4

Which of the following names is MOST LIKELY to be an example of a trade name for a drug?

A) acetaminophen
B) N-acetyl-p-aminophenol
C) tylenol

Answer 4

C) tylenol

Question 5

Which of the following drugs would MOST LIKELY be the safest to take?

A) a drug with a Therapeutic Index of 5
B) a drug with a Therapeutic Index of 15
C) a drug with a Therapeutic Index of 25
D) a drug with a Therapeutic Index of 50

Answer 5

D) a drug with a Therapeutic Index of 50

Question 6

Drug administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination are MOST LIKELY to be components of which of the following terms?

A) pharmacokinetics
B) pharmacodynamics

Answer 6

A) pharmacokinetics

Question 7

First-Pass Metabolism of a medication orally administered is MOST LIKELY to occur in which of the following organs?

A) the lungs
B) the spleen
C) the liver
D) the brain

Answer 7

C) the liver

Question 8

If 100 mg of a drug was administered using an intravenous (IV) route of administration, what percentage of that drug would be bioavailable?

A) 25 % of the drug
B) 50 % of the drug
C) 75 % of the drug
D) 100 % of the drug

Answer 8

D) 100% of the drug

Question 9

A drug that binds to a receptor on a cell and initiates a change in that cell’s function is MOST LIKELY classified as which of the following types of agents?

A) an agonist
B) an antagonist

Answer 9

A) an agonist

Question 10

Narcan is a type of medication often used for treatment of opioid overdose. Which type of agent is Narcan MOST LIKELY classified as?

A) a noncompetitive agonist
B) a competitive antagonist
C) a noncompetitive antagonist
D) a competitive agonist

Answer 10

B) a competitive antagonist

Question 11

Which of the following structures of the brain would MOST LIKELY be the primary target of a drug affecting mental alertness and consciousness?

A) Cerebellum
B) Basal Ganglia
C) Reticular Formation
D) The Limbic System

Answer 11

C) Reticular Formation

Question 12

Which of the following drugs will Most Likely pass through the blood-brain barrier by passive diffusion?

A) a drug that is lipid soluble
B) a drug that is not lipid soluble

Answer 12

A) a drug that is lipid soluble

Question 13

Which of the following neurotransmitters will MOST LIKELY produce an inhibitory effect upon a target cell?

A) enkephalins
B) substance P
C) acetylcholine
D) GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Answer 13

D) GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Question 14

_______ is a neurotransmitter that MOST LIKELY has an excitatory effect on a target cell.

A) Acetylcholine (ACh)
B) gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
C) Dopamine
D) Serotonin

Answer 14

A) Acetylcholine (ACh)

Question 15

Which of the following types of drugs would MOST LIKELY promote the accumulation of neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft between 2 neurons?

A) A drug that blocks the re-uptake of the neurotransmitter to the presynaptic neuron
B) A drug that blocks the propagation of an action potential in the presynaptic neuron
C) A drug that stimulates the re-uptake of the neurotransmitter to the presynaptic neuron
D) A drug that promotes the enzymatic breakdown of the neurotransmitter in synaptic cleft

Answer 15

A) A drug that blocks the re-uptake of the neurotransmitter to the presynaptic neuron

Question 16

Benzodiazepines produce sedation by enhancing the effects of WHICH of the following types of neurotransmitters in the brain?

A) Acetylcholine
B) Substance P
C) GABA
D) Enkephalins

Answer 16

C) GABA

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Barbiturates have a high therapeutic index
B) Barbiturates have a low potential for abuse
C) Barbiturates are effective due to selectivity for the cerebellum
D) Barbiturates have a low therapeutic index

Answer 17

D) Barbiturates have a low therapeutic index

Question 18

Which of the following statements is MOST ACCURATE regarding the use of medication used for the treatment of anxiety?

A) benzodiazepines may increase the risk of falling in older adults
B) benzodiazepines do not have any impact on the risk of falling in older adults
C) buspirone (BuSpar) will produce greater sedation than benzodiazepines
D) antidepressants should never be used for the treatment of anxiety

Answer 18

A) benzodiazepines may increase the risk of falling in older adults

Question 19

Which of the following drugs would MOST LIKELY be classified as a serotonin receptor agonist?

A) diazepam (Valium)
B) buspirone (BuSpar)
C) ramelteon (Rozerem)
D) phenobarbital (Luminal)

Answer 19

B) buspirone (BuSpar)

Question 20

Which of the following medications is MOST LIKELY considered a melatonin receptor agonist?

A) ramelteon (Rozerem)
B) zolpidem (Ambien)
C) buspirone (BuSpar)
D) phenobarbital (Luminal)

Answer 20

A) ramelteon (Rozerem)

Question 21

Depression is related to a disturbance in neurotransmission involving which of the following neurotransmitters?

A) Dopamine
B) Norepinephrine
C) Serotonin
D) All of the above

Answer 21

D) all of the above

Question 22

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding the effects of antidepressant drugs?

A) antidepressant drugs prolong the activity of amine transmission in the brain
B) antidepressant drugs decrease the activity of amine transmission in the brain

Answer 22

A) antidepressant drugs prolong the activity of amine transmission in the brain

Question 23

Which of the following statements is MOST ACCURATE regarding antidepressant medications?

A) A medication classified as a SNRI facilitates the reuptake of serotonin and dopamine
B) A medication classified as a SSRI is selective as an inhibitor of norepinephrine
C) A medication classified as a tricyclic tends to block the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
D) A medication classified as a MAO inhibitor is safe to administer while consuming aged cheese.

Answer 23

C) A medication classified as a tricyclic tends to block the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine

Question 24

Which of the following medications is classified as a metal and has been considered the primary drug for treatment of bipolar disorder for over 60 years?

A) amitriptyline
B) diazepam
C) phenobarbital
D) lithium

Answer 24

D) lithium

Question 25

Which of the following statements is MOST ACCURATE regarding the use of antidepressant medication? A) Once a patient initiates the use of antidepressant medication, changes in mood should be expected to occur within hours. B) A patient taking tricyclics may experience hypertension. C) Once a patient initiates taking antidepressant medication, it may take at least 2 weeks to notice any changes in mood. D) Lithium is easily metabolized by the body.

Answer 25

C) Once a patient initiates taking antidepressant medication, it may take at least 2 weeks to notice any changes in mood.

Question 26

Which of the following statements is MOST ACCURATE regarding the development of serotonin syndrome in patients who take SSRI or SNRI medications? A) caused by excessive accumulation of lithium in the brain B) caused by the depletion of serotonin from the brain C) caused by excessive accumulation of serotonin in the brain D) caused by excessive depletion of lithium from the brain

Answer 26

C) caused by excessive accumulation of serotonin in the brain

Question 27

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding antipsychotic drugs? A) traditional antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol (Haldol) are considered dopamine agonists B) traditional antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine) are considered dopamine blockers C) atypical antipsychotic drugs such as aripiprazole (Abilify) are considered strong dopamine agonists D) atypical antipsychotic drugs produce a greater risk of motor side effects vs traditional antipsychotic drugs

Answer 27

B) traditional antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine) are considered dopamine blockers

Question 28

_______________________ is a movement disorder that can occur in patients taking antipsychotic medication on a long-term basis and is characterized by involuntary movements of the trunk and extremities. A) Sedation B) Orthostatic hypotension C) Hypertensive crisis D) Tardive dyskinesia

Answer 28

D) Tardive dyskinesia

Question 29

Which of the following conditions could appear as a side effect in patients taking antipsychotic medications? A) Sedation B) blurred vision C) neuroleptic malignant syndrome D) All of the above conditions could appear as a side effect in patients taking antipsychotic medication

Answer 29

D) All of the above conditions could appear as a side effect in patients taking antipsychotic medication

Question 30

Which of the following statements regarding pharmacological treatment of Schizophrenia is MOST ACCURATE? A) Most antipsychotic medications work by decreasing dopamine activity in the brain B) Most antipsychotic medications work by increasing dopamine activity in the brain

Answer 30

A) Most antipsychotic medications work by decreasing dopamine activity in the brain

Question 31

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding antiepileptic drugs? A) Antiepileptic drugs share a common goal to stimulate the excitability of neurons that initiate seizure activity in the brain. B) Antiepileptic drugs share a common goal to suppress the excitability of neurons that initiate seizure activity in the brain.

Answer 31

B) Antiepileptic drugs share a common goal to suppress the excitability of neurons that initiate seizure activity in the brain.

Question 32

Which of the following drugs is MOST LIKELY to be used to treat seizure disorder? A) phenytoin (Dilantin) B) lithium C) levodopa carbidopa (Sinemet) D) amantadine (Symmetrel)

Answer 32

A) phenytoin (Dilantin)

Question 33

Which of the following statements is MOST ACCURATE regarding drugs used to treat seizure disorder? A) phenytoin (Dilantin) is used to treat seizure disorder by increasing the firing rate of neurons in the brain B) carbamazepine (Tegretol) is used to treat seizure disorder by increasing the firing rate of neurons in the brain C) benzodiazepines are used to treat seizure activity by promoting the inhibitory effects of GABA in the brain D) valproic acid (Depakene) is used to treat seizure disorder by increasing the firing rate of neurons in the brain

Answer 33

C) benzodiazepines are used to treat seizure activity by promoting the inhibitory effects of GABA in the brain

Question 34

Which of the following conditions can occur as an adverse effect from the use of barbiturates for treatment of seizure disorder? A) Nystagmus B) Ataxia C) Sedation D) all of the above

Answer 34

D) all of above

Question 35

Which of the following statements is MOST ACCURATE regarding Dopamine and Acetylcholine levels in patients with Parkinson's Disease? A) Dopamine and Acetylcholine levels in the basal ganglia are balanced B) Dopamine levels are decreased while Acetylcholine levels are increased C) Dopamine levels are increased while Acetylcholine levels are decreased D) Dopamine levels are decreased while Acetylcholine levels are decreased

Answer 35

B) Dopamine levels are decreased while Acetylcholine levels are increased

Question 36

Which of the following agents is the PRIMARY drug used to treat Parkinson's Disease? A) diazepam B) phenytoin C) carbamazepine D) levodopa

Answer 36

D) levodopa

Question 37

Which of the following agents is commonly combined with levodopa to increase the amount of levodopa that is able to cross the Blood Brain Barrier? A) carbidopa B) amantadine C) zolpidem D) buspiron

Answer 37

A) carbidopa

Question 38

While working with a patient in physical therapy, the patient's caregiver reports the patient seems to demonstrate daily bouts of increased motor problems which seem to improve when the patient takes their next dose of Sinemet. Which of the following conditions may be MOST LIKELY occurring to the patient? A) the patient is most likely experiencing Serotonin Syndrome B) the patient is most likely experiencing Lithium Toxicity C) the patient is most likely experiencing Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome D) the patient is most likely experiencing End-of-dose Akinesia

Answer 38

D) the patient is most likely experiencing End-of-dose Akinesia

Question 39

While reviewing a patient's medical record, you see that the patient is taking amantadine (Symmetrel). Of the following conditions, Symmetrel is MOST LIKELY to be used for treatment of ______________________ ? A) Seizure disorder B) Depression C) Parkinson' s Disease D) Schizophrenia

Answer 39

C) Parkinson' s Disease

Question 40

Which of the following activities would MOST LIKELY require additional precautions when working with a person who recently began taking Sinemet? A) upper extremity range of motion exercises while supine in bed B) sit to stand from a chair C) rolling over in bed D) lower extremity range of motion exercises while supine in bed

Answer 40

B) sit to stand from a chair