RASMUSSEN PHARMACOLOGY EXAMINATION
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ drugs that prevent or block a response. Answer: antagonist
◉ What is the therapuetic window? Answer: level of the drug between
minimal effective concentration in the plasma for obtaining desired drug
response and the minimal toxic concentration
◉ What is half life? Answer: The time it takes for one half of the drug
concentration to be eliminated from the body is
◉ If a drug has a long half life, how often should it be taken? Answer:
once per day
◉ What is a patient on two highly protein bound drugs at risk for?
Answer: accumulation and toxicity
◉ What is tolerance? Answer: a decreased responsiveness over the
course of therapy, which may lead to the need to increase dosages to
attain the same effect
,◉ What makes drugs fit into the same "Class". Answer: -related by
chemical structure
-work in the same way
-used for the same purpose
◉ Before administering beta blockers, you should check what two vital
signs? Answer: Heart rate
Blood pressure
◉ Who would you not give a beta blocker to? Why? Answer: Asthmatic;
bronchospasm
◉ What kind of drug is metoclopramide (Reglan). Answer: cholinergic
◉ Cholinergics do what to the body? (SLUD). Answer: Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
◉ Anticholinergics do what to the body. Answer: Can't see, Can't spit,
Can't pee, Can't shit
,◉ Symptoms of cholinergic crisis. Answer: Flushing, Sweating, Nausea,
Abdominal cramps
◉ What drug would you give to treat cholinergic crisis? Answer:
atropine
◉ Anticholinergics are contraindicated in which clients? Answer: -
coronary artery disease (Increase heart rate)
-GI obstruction (constipates)
-supraventricular tachycardia (increased heart rate)
◉ CNS stimulants are contraindicated in which clients? Answer: -
coronary artery disease (cause vasoconstriction=heart attack)
-Hypertension (additive hypertension=stroke)
◉ Most common side effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin). Answer: -
irritability
-insomnia
-weight loss
-decreased appetite
◉ Signs of hemorrhagic stroke. Answer: -increased B/P
-increased heart rate
, -increased respiratory rate
-unresponsive to deep pain
◉ Benzodiazepines increase the activity of which neurotransmitter.
Answer: GABA
◉ Reversal agent of benzodiazepines. Answer: Flumazenil
◉ zolpidem (Ambien) side effects. Answer: -sedative/hypnotic
(nonbenzodiazepine)
-suicidal ideation
-dependence
-abnormal behavior
◉ What is the drug of choice for treating status epilepticus. Answer:
diazepam
◉ phenytoin (Dilantin) side effects. Answer: GINGIVAL
HYPERPLASIA
-treat seizures
-cause high blood sugar
-cause birth defects
-decrease effectiveness of anticoagulants
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ drugs that prevent or block a response. Answer: antagonist
◉ What is the therapuetic window? Answer: level of the drug between
minimal effective concentration in the plasma for obtaining desired drug
response and the minimal toxic concentration
◉ What is half life? Answer: The time it takes for one half of the drug
concentration to be eliminated from the body is
◉ If a drug has a long half life, how often should it be taken? Answer:
once per day
◉ What is a patient on two highly protein bound drugs at risk for?
Answer: accumulation and toxicity
◉ What is tolerance? Answer: a decreased responsiveness over the
course of therapy, which may lead to the need to increase dosages to
attain the same effect
,◉ What makes drugs fit into the same "Class". Answer: -related by
chemical structure
-work in the same way
-used for the same purpose
◉ Before administering beta blockers, you should check what two vital
signs? Answer: Heart rate
Blood pressure
◉ Who would you not give a beta blocker to? Why? Answer: Asthmatic;
bronchospasm
◉ What kind of drug is metoclopramide (Reglan). Answer: cholinergic
◉ Cholinergics do what to the body? (SLUD). Answer: Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
◉ Anticholinergics do what to the body. Answer: Can't see, Can't spit,
Can't pee, Can't shit
,◉ Symptoms of cholinergic crisis. Answer: Flushing, Sweating, Nausea,
Abdominal cramps
◉ What drug would you give to treat cholinergic crisis? Answer:
atropine
◉ Anticholinergics are contraindicated in which clients? Answer: -
coronary artery disease (Increase heart rate)
-GI obstruction (constipates)
-supraventricular tachycardia (increased heart rate)
◉ CNS stimulants are contraindicated in which clients? Answer: -
coronary artery disease (cause vasoconstriction=heart attack)
-Hypertension (additive hypertension=stroke)
◉ Most common side effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin). Answer: -
irritability
-insomnia
-weight loss
-decreased appetite
◉ Signs of hemorrhagic stroke. Answer: -increased B/P
-increased heart rate
, -increased respiratory rate
-unresponsive to deep pain
◉ Benzodiazepines increase the activity of which neurotransmitter.
Answer: GABA
◉ Reversal agent of benzodiazepines. Answer: Flumazenil
◉ zolpidem (Ambien) side effects. Answer: -sedative/hypnotic
(nonbenzodiazepine)
-suicidal ideation
-dependence
-abnormal behavior
◉ What is the drug of choice for treating status epilepticus. Answer:
diazepam
◉ phenytoin (Dilantin) side effects. Answer: GINGIVAL
HYPERPLASIA
-treat seizures
-cause high blood sugar
-cause birth defects
-decrease effectiveness of anticoagulants
