ATI Pharmacology: Neurological and Pain Medications Practice Exam
2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for
levodopa/carbidopa for Parkinson’s disease. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
A. Take the medication with a high-protein meal.
B. Expect the medication to cause dark-colored urine or sweat.
C. Stop taking the medication if tremors do not improve in 2 days.
D. Increase intake of Vitamin B6 to enhance absorption.
Answer: B
Rationale: Levodopa/carbidopa can cause harmless darkening of urine, sweat, or saliva.
High-protein meals should be avoided as they decrease absorption, and it may take weeks
or months for full therapeutic effects.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving IV morphine for pain. Which of
the following findings should the nurse prioritize?
A. Constipation
B. Respiratory rate of 10/min
C. Urinary retention
D. Nausea and vomiting
Answer: B
Rationale: Using the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) priority framework, a
respiratory rate of 10/min indicates respiratory depression, a life-threatening adverse
effect of opioids.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client with a new prescription for phenytoin. Which of
the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Skip a dose if you feel excessively tired.
B. Drink a glass of grapefruit juice daily.
C. Perform frequent mouth care and floss regularly.
D. Expect your gums to turn blue.
Answer: C
Rationale: Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gum tissue). Good oral
hygiene and flossing can help minimize this side effect.
4. A client is prescribed sumatriptan for migraine headaches. For which of the
following conditions is sumatriptan contraindicated?
A. Asthma
B. Hypothyroidism
C. Coronary artery disease
D. Rheumatoid arthritis
Answer: C
Rationale: Sumatriptan causes vasoconstriction and is contraindicated in clients with
history of MI, coronary artery disease, or uncontrolled hypertension.
5. Which of the following medications is used as the antidote for an overdose of
benzodiazepines?
A. Naloxone
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Flumazenil
Answer: D
Rationale: Flumazenil is the specific reversal agent for benzodiazepine toxicity. Naloxone
is for opioids, and Acetylcysteine is for acetaminophen.
, 6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for baclofen. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates understanding?
A. I should not consume alcohol while taking this medication.
B. I will stop the medication immediately if I feel dizzy.
C. I will take this on an empty stomach for better absorption.
D. This medication will increase my muscle strength.
Answer: A
Rationale: Baclofen is a CNS depressant. Combining it with alcohol or other CNS
depressants increases the risk of excessive sedation and respiratory depression.
7. A nurse is caring for a client taking neostigmine for myasthenia gravis. Which
of the following findings indicates a cholinergic crisis?
A. Increased salivation and bradycardia
B. Pupillary dilation and hypertension
C. Dry mouth and tachycardia
D. Muscle rigidity and fever
Answer: A
Rationale: Cholinergic crisis involves overstimulation of muscarinic receptors, leading to
‘SLUDGE’ symptoms (Salivation, Lacrimation, Urinary incontinence, Diarrhea, GI upset,
Emesis) and bradycardia.
8. A nurse is monitoring a client receiving valproic acid. Which of the following
laboratory values should the nurse monitor?
A. Serum calcium
B. Liver enzymes (ALT/AST)
C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Answer: B
2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for
levodopa/carbidopa for Parkinson’s disease. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
A. Take the medication with a high-protein meal.
B. Expect the medication to cause dark-colored urine or sweat.
C. Stop taking the medication if tremors do not improve in 2 days.
D. Increase intake of Vitamin B6 to enhance absorption.
Answer: B
Rationale: Levodopa/carbidopa can cause harmless darkening of urine, sweat, or saliva.
High-protein meals should be avoided as they decrease absorption, and it may take weeks
or months for full therapeutic effects.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving IV morphine for pain. Which of
the following findings should the nurse prioritize?
A. Constipation
B. Respiratory rate of 10/min
C. Urinary retention
D. Nausea and vomiting
Answer: B
Rationale: Using the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) priority framework, a
respiratory rate of 10/min indicates respiratory depression, a life-threatening adverse
effect of opioids.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client with a new prescription for phenytoin. Which of
the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Skip a dose if you feel excessively tired.
B. Drink a glass of grapefruit juice daily.
C. Perform frequent mouth care and floss regularly.
D. Expect your gums to turn blue.
Answer: C
Rationale: Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gum tissue). Good oral
hygiene and flossing can help minimize this side effect.
4. A client is prescribed sumatriptan for migraine headaches. For which of the
following conditions is sumatriptan contraindicated?
A. Asthma
B. Hypothyroidism
C. Coronary artery disease
D. Rheumatoid arthritis
Answer: C
Rationale: Sumatriptan causes vasoconstriction and is contraindicated in clients with
history of MI, coronary artery disease, or uncontrolled hypertension.
5. Which of the following medications is used as the antidote for an overdose of
benzodiazepines?
A. Naloxone
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Flumazenil
Answer: D
Rationale: Flumazenil is the specific reversal agent for benzodiazepine toxicity. Naloxone
is for opioids, and Acetylcysteine is for acetaminophen.
, 6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for baclofen. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates understanding?
A. I should not consume alcohol while taking this medication.
B. I will stop the medication immediately if I feel dizzy.
C. I will take this on an empty stomach for better absorption.
D. This medication will increase my muscle strength.
Answer: A
Rationale: Baclofen is a CNS depressant. Combining it with alcohol or other CNS
depressants increases the risk of excessive sedation and respiratory depression.
7. A nurse is caring for a client taking neostigmine for myasthenia gravis. Which
of the following findings indicates a cholinergic crisis?
A. Increased salivation and bradycardia
B. Pupillary dilation and hypertension
C. Dry mouth and tachycardia
D. Muscle rigidity and fever
Answer: A
Rationale: Cholinergic crisis involves overstimulation of muscarinic receptors, leading to
‘SLUDGE’ symptoms (Salivation, Lacrimation, Urinary incontinence, Diarrhea, GI upset,
Emesis) and bradycardia.
8. A nurse is monitoring a client receiving valproic acid. Which of the following
laboratory values should the nurse monitor?
A. Serum calcium
B. Liver enzymes (ALT/AST)
C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Answer: B
