WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY OA
EXAM ACTUAL CORRECT QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED DETAILED ANSWERS| CURRENTLY
TESTING VERSION | ALREADY GRADED
A+|NEWEST|EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS 2026/2027
Question 1
A 68-year-old man with hypertension, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
(HFrEF), and type 2 diabetes is prescribed lisinopril. Which laboratory value should be
monitored most closely after initiating therapy?
A. Hemoglobin A1c
B. Serum potassium and serum creatinine
C. Platelet count
D. Serum calcium
Correct Answer: B. Serum potassium and serum creatinine
Answer:
ACE inhibitors can decrease aldosterone secretion, increasing potassium retention
and causing hyperkalemia. They may also produce a transient rise in serum
creatinine due to reduced intraglomerular pressure. Baseline and follow-up renal
function and potassium should be assessed within 1–2 weeks of initiation or dose
adjustment.
Question 2
Which beta blocker has demonstrated mortality benefit in patients with HFrEF?
A. Propranolol
B. Metoprolol succinate
1|Page
,C. Atenolol
D. Esmolol
Correct Answer: B. Metoprolol succinate
Answer:
Evidence-based beta blockers for HFrEF include metoprolol succinate, carvedilol,
and bisoprolol. These agents reduce mortality and hospitalization by decreasing
sympathetic nervous system activation.
Question 3
A patient taking warfarin begins trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy. What is the
most likely outcome?
A. Decreased INR
B. Increased INR and bleeding risk
C. No effect on anticoagulation
D. Increased vitamin K production
Correct Answer: B. Increased INR and bleeding risk
Answer:
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole inhibits warfarin metabolism, increasing INR and
bleeding risk. Closer INR monitoring and potential warfarin dose reduction are
warranted.
Question 4
Which insulin has the fastest onset of action?
A. Insulin glargine
B. Insulin detemir
C. Insulin lispro
D. NPH insulin
Correct Answer: C. Insulin lispro
2|Page
,Answer:
Insulin lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of approximately 15 minutes,
making it suitable for mealtime glucose control.
Question 5
A patient receiving atorvastatin reports new-onset muscle pain and weakness. What is
the priority action?
A. Continue therapy and reassure the patient.
B. Evaluate creatine kinase (CK) and assess for rhabdomyolysis.
C. Add niacin.
D. Double the statin dose.
Correct Answer: B. Evaluate creatine kinase (CK) and assess for rhabdomyolysis.
Answer:
Statin-associated muscle symptoms warrant evaluation. Severe symptoms should
prompt CK measurement and assessment for rhabdomyolysis, especially if
accompanied by dark urine or significant weakness.
Question 6
Which antihypertensive medication is contraindicated during pregnancy?
A. Methyldopa
B. Labetalol
C. Nifedipine
D. Lisinopril
Correct Answer: D. Lisinopril
Answer:
ACE inhibitors are contraindicated during pregnancy because they can cause fetal
renal injury, oligohydramnios, and other serious fetal complications.
Question 7
3|Page
, A patient taking metformin develops severe sepsis and acute kidney injury. Which
medication should be held?
A. Aspirin
B. Metformin
C. Amlodipine
D. Omeprazole
Correct Answer: B. Metformin
Answer:
Acute kidney injury increases the risk of metformin-associated lactic acidosis.
Metformin should be withheld until renal function stabilizes.
Question 8
Which antibiotic is most strongly associated with tendon rupture?
A. Azithromycin
B. Ciprofloxacin
C. Amoxicillin
D. Doxycycline
Correct Answer: B. Ciprofloxacin
Answer:
Fluoroquinolones carry a risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture, particularly in older
adults, transplant recipients, and patients receiving corticosteroids.
Question 9
Which laboratory test should be obtained before starting statin therapy?
A. Troponin
B. Baseline liver enzymes (ALT/AST)
C. D-dimer
D. Amylase
Correct Answer: B. Baseline liver enzymes (ALT/AST)
4|Page
EXAM ACTUAL CORRECT QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED DETAILED ANSWERS| CURRENTLY
TESTING VERSION | ALREADY GRADED
A+|NEWEST|EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS 2026/2027
Question 1
A 68-year-old man with hypertension, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
(HFrEF), and type 2 diabetes is prescribed lisinopril. Which laboratory value should be
monitored most closely after initiating therapy?
A. Hemoglobin A1c
B. Serum potassium and serum creatinine
C. Platelet count
D. Serum calcium
Correct Answer: B. Serum potassium and serum creatinine
Answer:
ACE inhibitors can decrease aldosterone secretion, increasing potassium retention
and causing hyperkalemia. They may also produce a transient rise in serum
creatinine due to reduced intraglomerular pressure. Baseline and follow-up renal
function and potassium should be assessed within 1–2 weeks of initiation or dose
adjustment.
Question 2
Which beta blocker has demonstrated mortality benefit in patients with HFrEF?
A. Propranolol
B. Metoprolol succinate
1|Page
,C. Atenolol
D. Esmolol
Correct Answer: B. Metoprolol succinate
Answer:
Evidence-based beta blockers for HFrEF include metoprolol succinate, carvedilol,
and bisoprolol. These agents reduce mortality and hospitalization by decreasing
sympathetic nervous system activation.
Question 3
A patient taking warfarin begins trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy. What is the
most likely outcome?
A. Decreased INR
B. Increased INR and bleeding risk
C. No effect on anticoagulation
D. Increased vitamin K production
Correct Answer: B. Increased INR and bleeding risk
Answer:
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole inhibits warfarin metabolism, increasing INR and
bleeding risk. Closer INR monitoring and potential warfarin dose reduction are
warranted.
Question 4
Which insulin has the fastest onset of action?
A. Insulin glargine
B. Insulin detemir
C. Insulin lispro
D. NPH insulin
Correct Answer: C. Insulin lispro
2|Page
,Answer:
Insulin lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of approximately 15 minutes,
making it suitable for mealtime glucose control.
Question 5
A patient receiving atorvastatin reports new-onset muscle pain and weakness. What is
the priority action?
A. Continue therapy and reassure the patient.
B. Evaluate creatine kinase (CK) and assess for rhabdomyolysis.
C. Add niacin.
D. Double the statin dose.
Correct Answer: B. Evaluate creatine kinase (CK) and assess for rhabdomyolysis.
Answer:
Statin-associated muscle symptoms warrant evaluation. Severe symptoms should
prompt CK measurement and assessment for rhabdomyolysis, especially if
accompanied by dark urine or significant weakness.
Question 6
Which antihypertensive medication is contraindicated during pregnancy?
A. Methyldopa
B. Labetalol
C. Nifedipine
D. Lisinopril
Correct Answer: D. Lisinopril
Answer:
ACE inhibitors are contraindicated during pregnancy because they can cause fetal
renal injury, oligohydramnios, and other serious fetal complications.
Question 7
3|Page
, A patient taking metformin develops severe sepsis and acute kidney injury. Which
medication should be held?
A. Aspirin
B. Metformin
C. Amlodipine
D. Omeprazole
Correct Answer: B. Metformin
Answer:
Acute kidney injury increases the risk of metformin-associated lactic acidosis.
Metformin should be withheld until renal function stabilizes.
Question 8
Which antibiotic is most strongly associated with tendon rupture?
A. Azithromycin
B. Ciprofloxacin
C. Amoxicillin
D. Doxycycline
Correct Answer: B. Ciprofloxacin
Answer:
Fluoroquinolones carry a risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture, particularly in older
adults, transplant recipients, and patients receiving corticosteroids.
Question 9
Which laboratory test should be obtained before starting statin therapy?
A. Troponin
B. Baseline liver enzymes (ALT/AST)
C. D-dimer
D. Amylase
Correct Answer: B. Baseline liver enzymes (ALT/AST)
4|Page
