RASMUSSEN PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 2 2026
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE DRUG
CLASSIFICATIONS MECHANISMS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ What does sympathomimetics affect? Answer: Beta1 and beta2
(increase heart rate and BP)
◉ What are 4 adverse effects of sympathomimetics? Answer: 1.
Rebound congestion
2. CNS stimulation
3. Cardiovascular effects and stroke
4. Abuse potential
◉ What're antihistamines for? (Benadryl) Answer: Allergic rhinitis
◉ What happens when histamine is released? Answer: It dilates
small blood vessels and increase capillary permeability
◉ What doesn't antihistamines reduce? Answer: Nasal congestion
◉ Antihistamines are most effective when? Answer: -Taken regularly
,-Take even when symptoms are absent
◉ Second generation antihistamine is known as what? What AE
does it not cause? Answer: -Zyrtec
-Sedation
◉ Antihistamines: Adverse Effects Answer: Anticholinergic (drying)
effects, most common
Dry mouth
Difficulty urinating
Constipation
Changes in vision
Drowsiness
Mild drowsiness to deep sleep
◉ Intranasal antihistamines are indicated for what in adults and
children 12yo and older? Answer: Allergic rhinits
◉ AE of intranasal antihistamines (azelastine and olopatadin)
Answer: -Nose bleeds
-Anticholinergic effects
-Unpleasant taste
-Sedation
,◉ Opioid antitussives include: Answer: -codeine and hydrocodone
◉ Non-opioid antitussives include: Answer: -dextromethorphan
-diphenhydramine
-benzonatate
◉ What is the most common use of cough medications? Answer: For
the suppression of a non-productive cough associated with the
common cold and other upper respiratory infections
◉ This medication acts on cough center in the medulla and it
decreases sensitivity of cough receptors and interrupts cough
impulse transmission Answer: Dextromethorphan (tessalon perles)
◉ AE of dextromethorphan Answer: Nausea, vomiting, constipation,
sedation, drowsiness, confusion, dizzy and nervousness
◉ This non-narcotic antitussive actually provides low local
anesthetic effects on the anesthetized stretch, receptors in the
respiratory passage and lungs Answer: Benzonatate
◉ When you think tessalon perles, think of what? Answer:
Anesthetic
, ◉ What is the first choice and most effective treatment prevention of
rhinitis? Answer: Intranasal glucocorticoids
◉ AE of intranasal glucocorticoids Answer: Drying of nasal mucosa,
Burning or itching sensation, Sore throat, Epistaxis, Headache
◉ What do you give intranasal glucocorticoids for? Answer:
Congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing and nasal itching
◉ This is a rare but serious AE that can occur from glucocorticoids
Answer: Adrenal suppression and slowing of linear pediatric growth
◉ What is adrenal suppression? Answer: -Disorder when the
adrenal glands don't produce enough hormones
◉ What is cimetidine? Answer: H2 receptor antagonist
◉ What is Cimetidine used for? Answer: Prevention and treatment
of PUD, GERD, esophagitis, GI bleeding, Zollnger-Ellison syndrome
◉ AE of cimetidine Answer: Anti-Androgenic Effects:
1) Gynecomastia
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE DRUG
CLASSIFICATIONS MECHANISMS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ What does sympathomimetics affect? Answer: Beta1 and beta2
(increase heart rate and BP)
◉ What are 4 adverse effects of sympathomimetics? Answer: 1.
Rebound congestion
2. CNS stimulation
3. Cardiovascular effects and stroke
4. Abuse potential
◉ What're antihistamines for? (Benadryl) Answer: Allergic rhinitis
◉ What happens when histamine is released? Answer: It dilates
small blood vessels and increase capillary permeability
◉ What doesn't antihistamines reduce? Answer: Nasal congestion
◉ Antihistamines are most effective when? Answer: -Taken regularly
,-Take even when symptoms are absent
◉ Second generation antihistamine is known as what? What AE
does it not cause? Answer: -Zyrtec
-Sedation
◉ Antihistamines: Adverse Effects Answer: Anticholinergic (drying)
effects, most common
Dry mouth
Difficulty urinating
Constipation
Changes in vision
Drowsiness
Mild drowsiness to deep sleep
◉ Intranasal antihistamines are indicated for what in adults and
children 12yo and older? Answer: Allergic rhinits
◉ AE of intranasal antihistamines (azelastine and olopatadin)
Answer: -Nose bleeds
-Anticholinergic effects
-Unpleasant taste
-Sedation
,◉ Opioid antitussives include: Answer: -codeine and hydrocodone
◉ Non-opioid antitussives include: Answer: -dextromethorphan
-diphenhydramine
-benzonatate
◉ What is the most common use of cough medications? Answer: For
the suppression of a non-productive cough associated with the
common cold and other upper respiratory infections
◉ This medication acts on cough center in the medulla and it
decreases sensitivity of cough receptors and interrupts cough
impulse transmission Answer: Dextromethorphan (tessalon perles)
◉ AE of dextromethorphan Answer: Nausea, vomiting, constipation,
sedation, drowsiness, confusion, dizzy and nervousness
◉ This non-narcotic antitussive actually provides low local
anesthetic effects on the anesthetized stretch, receptors in the
respiratory passage and lungs Answer: Benzonatate
◉ When you think tessalon perles, think of what? Answer:
Anesthetic
, ◉ What is the first choice and most effective treatment prevention of
rhinitis? Answer: Intranasal glucocorticoids
◉ AE of intranasal glucocorticoids Answer: Drying of nasal mucosa,
Burning or itching sensation, Sore throat, Epistaxis, Headache
◉ What do you give intranasal glucocorticoids for? Answer:
Congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing and nasal itching
◉ This is a rare but serious AE that can occur from glucocorticoids
Answer: Adrenal suppression and slowing of linear pediatric growth
◉ What is adrenal suppression? Answer: -Disorder when the
adrenal glands don't produce enough hormones
◉ What is cimetidine? Answer: H2 receptor antagonist
◉ What is Cimetidine used for? Answer: Prevention and treatment
of PUD, GERD, esophagitis, GI bleeding, Zollnger-Ellison syndrome
◉ AE of cimetidine Answer: Anti-Androgenic Effects:
1) Gynecomastia
