ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
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◉ What kind of drug is vancomycin?.
Answer: Glycopeptide antibiotic
◉ Why is it important to monitor vancomycin levels?.
Answer: It has a narrow TI. Dose has to be adjusted according to
amount of vanco in the blood serum (draw a vanco trough 1 hour
before the next dose is due)
◉ What is antibiotic synergy?.
Answer: When 2 antibiotics are combined in one combination drug
to improve efficacy
Ex: Bactrim, Augmentin, Zosyn
◉ What are the components of bactrim?.
Answer: Sulfamethoxazole: Disrupts production of dihydrofolic acid
Trimethoprim: Disrupts production of tetrahydrafolic acid
,Together these drugs target different steps in the folic acid pathway
that kills susceptible bacteria better than either drug would alone
◉ How does Augmentin work?.
Answer: Irreversibly binds to bacterial beta lactamases which
protects the penicillin drugs from destruction. The clavulanic acid
protects the penicillin from being broken down by the bacteria
(combats bacterial resistance).
◉ How do superinfections develop?.
Answer: -Broad spectrum antibiotics
-Several antibiotics over a short period of time
◉ Major side effect of aminoglycosides (like Gentamicin):.
Answer: Oto and nephrotoxicity
◉ Major side effect of Tetracyclines:.
Answer: Photosensitivity and teeth stains in kids
◉ Major side effect of Vancomycin:.
Answer: Red-man syndrome (if given too quickly)
,◉ Major side effect of Bactrim:.
Answer: Kidney stones if patients don't hydrate well
◉ Major side effect of Penicillins/Cephalosporins:.
Answer: Allergies
◉ Which antibiotics are not safe for children (age less than 12)?.
Answer: -Tetracycline (bones and teeth)
-Fluoroquinolones (tendon rupture)
◉ What is important to keep in mind when treating URIs in young
infants?.
Answer: Young infants are not fully vaccinated yet, so antibiotic
treatment of URIs may be necessary
◉ How do antivirals work?.
Answer: Interfere with the virus' replication within the host cell
◉ Which type of medication prescribed to a pregnant patient is
more likely to have effects on the fetus?
A. Drugs that are highly polar
, B. Ionized drugs
C. Lipid-soluble drugs
D. Protein-bound drugs.
Answer: C
- Lipid-soluble drugs cross the placenta more easily
- Drugs that are highly polar, ionized, or are protein-bound will have
more difficulty crossing
◉ A 5-year old child presents to your primary care clinic and has
gray teeth. When taking a medication history, you will ask about
previous use of which group of antibiotics?
A. PCN
B. Cephalosporins
C. Sulfonamids
D. Tetracyclines.
Answer: D
- Tetracyclines cause discoloration of developing teeth in children,
which is an adverse effect unique to this class of antibiotics
- The other drugs listed here don't cause this effect
SCRIPT FINAL PAPER 2026 FULL SOLUTION
VIEW AHEAD
◉ What kind of drug is vancomycin?.
Answer: Glycopeptide antibiotic
◉ Why is it important to monitor vancomycin levels?.
Answer: It has a narrow TI. Dose has to be adjusted according to
amount of vanco in the blood serum (draw a vanco trough 1 hour
before the next dose is due)
◉ What is antibiotic synergy?.
Answer: When 2 antibiotics are combined in one combination drug
to improve efficacy
Ex: Bactrim, Augmentin, Zosyn
◉ What are the components of bactrim?.
Answer: Sulfamethoxazole: Disrupts production of dihydrofolic acid
Trimethoprim: Disrupts production of tetrahydrafolic acid
,Together these drugs target different steps in the folic acid pathway
that kills susceptible bacteria better than either drug would alone
◉ How does Augmentin work?.
Answer: Irreversibly binds to bacterial beta lactamases which
protects the penicillin drugs from destruction. The clavulanic acid
protects the penicillin from being broken down by the bacteria
(combats bacterial resistance).
◉ How do superinfections develop?.
Answer: -Broad spectrum antibiotics
-Several antibiotics over a short period of time
◉ Major side effect of aminoglycosides (like Gentamicin):.
Answer: Oto and nephrotoxicity
◉ Major side effect of Tetracyclines:.
Answer: Photosensitivity and teeth stains in kids
◉ Major side effect of Vancomycin:.
Answer: Red-man syndrome (if given too quickly)
,◉ Major side effect of Bactrim:.
Answer: Kidney stones if patients don't hydrate well
◉ Major side effect of Penicillins/Cephalosporins:.
Answer: Allergies
◉ Which antibiotics are not safe for children (age less than 12)?.
Answer: -Tetracycline (bones and teeth)
-Fluoroquinolones (tendon rupture)
◉ What is important to keep in mind when treating URIs in young
infants?.
Answer: Young infants are not fully vaccinated yet, so antibiotic
treatment of URIs may be necessary
◉ How do antivirals work?.
Answer: Interfere with the virus' replication within the host cell
◉ Which type of medication prescribed to a pregnant patient is
more likely to have effects on the fetus?
A. Drugs that are highly polar
, B. Ionized drugs
C. Lipid-soluble drugs
D. Protein-bound drugs.
Answer: C
- Lipid-soluble drugs cross the placenta more easily
- Drugs that are highly polar, ionized, or are protein-bound will have
more difficulty crossing
◉ A 5-year old child presents to your primary care clinic and has
gray teeth. When taking a medication history, you will ask about
previous use of which group of antibiotics?
A. PCN
B. Cephalosporins
C. Sulfonamids
D. Tetracyclines.
Answer: D
- Tetracyclines cause discoloration of developing teeth in children,
which is an adverse effect unique to this class of antibiotics
- The other drugs listed here don't cause this effect
