Galen College of Nursing NUR 210 Exam 1 2026 | Practice
Questions & Verified Answers | Principles of Pharmacology
Review
1. Pts. taking phenytoin may need to increase diet with foods high in what?
Sugar
Folic acid
Sodium
Potassium
2. What type of diet is recommended for patients taking MAOIs?
High carbohydrate diet
Low fat diet
High protein diet
Low tyramine diet
3. Describe the significance of following a low tyramine diet for patients
on MAOIs.
A low tyramine diet enhances the effectiveness of MAOIs in
treating depression.
Patients on MAOIs can eat any food as long as they take their
medication regularly.
The low tyramine diet is only necessary for patients taking
antidepressants.
Following a low tyramine diet is crucial to prevent hypertensive
crises caused by interactions with MAOIs.
4. What dietary component should patients on phenytoin increase to
prevent potential side effects?
, Vitamin C
Calcium
Iron
Folic acid
5. Describe how phenytoin's side effects can impact patient compliance
with treatment.
Patients are more likely to comply due to the effectiveness of
phenytoin.
Side effects like gingival hyperplasia may discourage patients
from adhering to their medication regimen.
Side effects are irrelevant to patient compliance.
Phenytoin has no significant side effects that affect compliance.
6. The pharmacologic category for Valproic Acid and Derivatives is?
nonopioid analgesic, NSAID
partial nicotine agonist
anticonvulsant, misc. antimanic agent, histone deacetylase
inhibitor
antianginal agent, antihypertensive, Ca++ channel blocker,
dihydropyridine
7. Describe the primary therapeutic use of valproic acid in clinical practice.
Valproic acid is mainly used to treat anxiety disorders.
Valproic acid is primarily used to stabilize mood and treat
conditions like bipolar disorder and epilepsy.
Valproic acid is mainly used to manage psychotic disorders.
, Valproic acid is primarily used as an antidepressant.
8. The herb St. John's wort is of special concern because
it has not been investigated in any scientific studies.
it is unusually expensive.
it interacts with many drugs, making the drugs less effective.
9. What class of medication does phenobarbital belong to?
Antidepressants
Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Antipsychotics
10. Lorazepam (Ativan) is used to treat status epilepticus (prolonged,
critical seizure). What is the classification of this medication?
Valproic acid
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Broad-spectrum Antiepileptic drug(AED)
Benzodiazepine
11. What is Acute Dystonia?
A drug adverse effect with sever spasms of the tongue, face,
neck, or back usually within the first few hours of taking a new
anti psychotic medication.
Uncontrollable need to be in motion, pacing or squirming, and
unable to sit still.
One of the more attractive dystonia's
, A drug adverse effect with sever spasms of the tongue, face,
neck, or back usually associated with long term use of anti
psychotic medication.
12. Describe the significance of maintaining the therapeutic range for
phenobarbital in patient treatment.
Therapeutic range is not important for phenobarbital treatment.
Maintaining the therapeutic range for phenobarbital is crucial
to ensure efficacy while minimizing the risk of toxicity.
Phenobarbital has no established therapeutic range.
The therapeutic range is only relevant for antidepressants.
13. Common side effects of phenytoin therapy:
nystagmus and ataxia
all of these
gingival hyperplasia
14. If a patient is prescribed fluoxetine (Prozac) for depression, what
monitoring considerations should be taken into account?
Monitor for liver function tests.
Monitor for blood glucose levels.
Monitor for electrolyte imbalances.
Monitor for changes in mood and any side effects, particularly
during the initial treatment phase.
15. What class of medication does aripiprazole belong to?
Antidepressant
Antipsychotic
, Mood stabilizer
Benzodiazepine
16. What class of medication does fluoxetine (Prozac) belong to?
Benzodiazepine
Antipsychotic
Mood stabilizer
Antidepressant
17. If a patient is prescribed zolpidem (Ambien) for insomnia, what
important monitoring consideration should a healthcare provider keep
in mind?
Monitor for electrolyte imbalances.
Monitor blood pressure regularly.
Monitor for liver function tests.
Monitor for signs of dependence or tolerance.
18. Phenytoin belongs to what class?
SSRIs
Anticonvulsants
ADHD meds
Tricyclic antidepressant
19. What is a common side effect associated with the use of phenytoin?
Nausea
Insomnia
, Weight gain
Gingival hyperplasia
20. The nurse is preparing to administer IM Haldol (haloperidol) to a
patient who has schizophrenia. What action will the nurse perform?
Teach the patient to return every week to receive medication
doses
Use a small bore needle when injecting the medication
Use the Z track method and inject the medication into a deep
muscle
Massage the site after injecting the medication to ensure
absorption
21. If a patient on phenytoin reports symptoms of gum swelling and
bleeding, what dietary adjustment should be recommended?
Increase vitamin D intake
Decrease calcium intake
Increase folic acid intake
Increase iron intake
22. What condition is phenytoin primarily used to manage?
Seizures
Psychosis
Anxiety
Depression
23. What is the interaction between oral contraceptives and phenytoin?
Oral contraceptives have no effect on phenytoin.
Questions & Verified Answers | Principles of Pharmacology
Review
1. Pts. taking phenytoin may need to increase diet with foods high in what?
Sugar
Folic acid
Sodium
Potassium
2. What type of diet is recommended for patients taking MAOIs?
High carbohydrate diet
Low fat diet
High protein diet
Low tyramine diet
3. Describe the significance of following a low tyramine diet for patients
on MAOIs.
A low tyramine diet enhances the effectiveness of MAOIs in
treating depression.
Patients on MAOIs can eat any food as long as they take their
medication regularly.
The low tyramine diet is only necessary for patients taking
antidepressants.
Following a low tyramine diet is crucial to prevent hypertensive
crises caused by interactions with MAOIs.
4. What dietary component should patients on phenytoin increase to
prevent potential side effects?
, Vitamin C
Calcium
Iron
Folic acid
5. Describe how phenytoin's side effects can impact patient compliance
with treatment.
Patients are more likely to comply due to the effectiveness of
phenytoin.
Side effects like gingival hyperplasia may discourage patients
from adhering to their medication regimen.
Side effects are irrelevant to patient compliance.
Phenytoin has no significant side effects that affect compliance.
6. The pharmacologic category for Valproic Acid and Derivatives is?
nonopioid analgesic, NSAID
partial nicotine agonist
anticonvulsant, misc. antimanic agent, histone deacetylase
inhibitor
antianginal agent, antihypertensive, Ca++ channel blocker,
dihydropyridine
7. Describe the primary therapeutic use of valproic acid in clinical practice.
Valproic acid is mainly used to treat anxiety disorders.
Valproic acid is primarily used to stabilize mood and treat
conditions like bipolar disorder and epilepsy.
Valproic acid is mainly used to manage psychotic disorders.
, Valproic acid is primarily used as an antidepressant.
8. The herb St. John's wort is of special concern because
it has not been investigated in any scientific studies.
it is unusually expensive.
it interacts with many drugs, making the drugs less effective.
9. What class of medication does phenobarbital belong to?
Antidepressants
Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Antipsychotics
10. Lorazepam (Ativan) is used to treat status epilepticus (prolonged,
critical seizure). What is the classification of this medication?
Valproic acid
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Broad-spectrum Antiepileptic drug(AED)
Benzodiazepine
11. What is Acute Dystonia?
A drug adverse effect with sever spasms of the tongue, face,
neck, or back usually within the first few hours of taking a new
anti psychotic medication.
Uncontrollable need to be in motion, pacing or squirming, and
unable to sit still.
One of the more attractive dystonia's
, A drug adverse effect with sever spasms of the tongue, face,
neck, or back usually associated with long term use of anti
psychotic medication.
12. Describe the significance of maintaining the therapeutic range for
phenobarbital in patient treatment.
Therapeutic range is not important for phenobarbital treatment.
Maintaining the therapeutic range for phenobarbital is crucial
to ensure efficacy while minimizing the risk of toxicity.
Phenobarbital has no established therapeutic range.
The therapeutic range is only relevant for antidepressants.
13. Common side effects of phenytoin therapy:
nystagmus and ataxia
all of these
gingival hyperplasia
14. If a patient is prescribed fluoxetine (Prozac) for depression, what
monitoring considerations should be taken into account?
Monitor for liver function tests.
Monitor for blood glucose levels.
Monitor for electrolyte imbalances.
Monitor for changes in mood and any side effects, particularly
during the initial treatment phase.
15. What class of medication does aripiprazole belong to?
Antidepressant
Antipsychotic
, Mood stabilizer
Benzodiazepine
16. What class of medication does fluoxetine (Prozac) belong to?
Benzodiazepine
Antipsychotic
Mood stabilizer
Antidepressant
17. If a patient is prescribed zolpidem (Ambien) for insomnia, what
important monitoring consideration should a healthcare provider keep
in mind?
Monitor for electrolyte imbalances.
Monitor blood pressure regularly.
Monitor for liver function tests.
Monitor for signs of dependence or tolerance.
18. Phenytoin belongs to what class?
SSRIs
Anticonvulsants
ADHD meds
Tricyclic antidepressant
19. What is a common side effect associated with the use of phenytoin?
Nausea
Insomnia
, Weight gain
Gingival hyperplasia
20. The nurse is preparing to administer IM Haldol (haloperidol) to a
patient who has schizophrenia. What action will the nurse perform?
Teach the patient to return every week to receive medication
doses
Use a small bore needle when injecting the medication
Use the Z track method and inject the medication into a deep
muscle
Massage the site after injecting the medication to ensure
absorption
21. If a patient on phenytoin reports symptoms of gum swelling and
bleeding, what dietary adjustment should be recommended?
Increase vitamin D intake
Decrease calcium intake
Increase folic acid intake
Increase iron intake
22. What condition is phenytoin primarily used to manage?
Seizures
Psychosis
Anxiety
Depression
23. What is the interaction between oral contraceptives and phenytoin?
Oral contraceptives have no effect on phenytoin.
