Nursing 552 Exam 3 Practice
Questions and Answers (Latest
2025 Update) GRADED A
1. Which statement by a patient should alert you to a
serious issue related to the patient's use of
Atorvastatin?
A) "I've been feeling really down lately."
B) "My urine has been a lot darker than usual."
C) "I've been having issues with blurry vision lately."
D) "My heart feels like it beats really fast sometimes."
Answer: B. Rhabdomyolysis is a rare but serious side
effect of statin medications.
Reference: Chapter 39
2. An 66 year old male has been taking Simvastatin
for three years. The Nurse Practitioner should be
concerned about which new medication prescribed for
this patient in combination with Simvastatin:
A) Metoprolol
B) Multivitamin
C) Azithromycin
D) Tylenol
Answer: C. Antibiotics, specifically macrolide
antibiotics put elderly patients at high risk for muscle
toxicity when mixed with statin medications.
Reference: Chapter 39
3. Which medication is absolutely contraindicated for
a new 23 year old pregnant patient who presents with
hyperlipidemia not responsive to lifestyle
modifications?
A) Rosuvastatin
B) Nicotinic Acid
C) Fenofibrate
D) Gemfibrozil
1
, Answer: A. Statins are pregnancy category X.
Reference: Chapter 39
4. Which drug to treat hyperlipidemia acts by
inhibiting the mobilization of free fatty acids (FFA)
from peripheral adipose tissue to the liver?
A) Statins
B) Fibric Acids
C) Niacin (Nicotinic Acid)
D) Bile acid-binding Resins
E) Ezetimibe
Answer: C.
Rationale: The mobilization of FFA from peripheral
adipose tissue to the liver is inhibited by nicotinic
acid. The conversion of VLDL to LDL is decreased as a
consequence of this decrease or an additional hepatic
effect via nicotinic acid and the synthesis and
secretion of VLDLs are reduced. Although the
mechanism is unknown, nicotinic acid also increases
serum HDL cholesterol concentrations by up to 30%.
5. Which antihyperlipidemic is most effective when
given in combination with other drugs?
A. Niacin
B. Bile acid-binding resins
C. Ezetimibe
D. Statins
E. Fabric Acid
Answer: A.
Rationale: If a bile acid-binding resin is added, 40-
60% reduction in LDL. In triple therapy with bile acid-
binding resin plus a statin, it decreases LDL by 70% or
more.
6. How can you avoid some of the adverse effects
seen with Niacin (dyspepsia, skin flushing, itching)?
2
Questions and Answers (Latest
2025 Update) GRADED A
1. Which statement by a patient should alert you to a
serious issue related to the patient's use of
Atorvastatin?
A) "I've been feeling really down lately."
B) "My urine has been a lot darker than usual."
C) "I've been having issues with blurry vision lately."
D) "My heart feels like it beats really fast sometimes."
Answer: B. Rhabdomyolysis is a rare but serious side
effect of statin medications.
Reference: Chapter 39
2. An 66 year old male has been taking Simvastatin
for three years. The Nurse Practitioner should be
concerned about which new medication prescribed for
this patient in combination with Simvastatin:
A) Metoprolol
B) Multivitamin
C) Azithromycin
D) Tylenol
Answer: C. Antibiotics, specifically macrolide
antibiotics put elderly patients at high risk for muscle
toxicity when mixed with statin medications.
Reference: Chapter 39
3. Which medication is absolutely contraindicated for
a new 23 year old pregnant patient who presents with
hyperlipidemia not responsive to lifestyle
modifications?
A) Rosuvastatin
B) Nicotinic Acid
C) Fenofibrate
D) Gemfibrozil
1
, Answer: A. Statins are pregnancy category X.
Reference: Chapter 39
4. Which drug to treat hyperlipidemia acts by
inhibiting the mobilization of free fatty acids (FFA)
from peripheral adipose tissue to the liver?
A) Statins
B) Fibric Acids
C) Niacin (Nicotinic Acid)
D) Bile acid-binding Resins
E) Ezetimibe
Answer: C.
Rationale: The mobilization of FFA from peripheral
adipose tissue to the liver is inhibited by nicotinic
acid. The conversion of VLDL to LDL is decreased as a
consequence of this decrease or an additional hepatic
effect via nicotinic acid and the synthesis and
secretion of VLDLs are reduced. Although the
mechanism is unknown, nicotinic acid also increases
serum HDL cholesterol concentrations by up to 30%.
5. Which antihyperlipidemic is most effective when
given in combination with other drugs?
A. Niacin
B. Bile acid-binding resins
C. Ezetimibe
D. Statins
E. Fabric Acid
Answer: A.
Rationale: If a bile acid-binding resin is added, 40-
60% reduction in LDL. In triple therapy with bile acid-
binding resin plus a statin, it decreases LDL by 70% or
more.
6. How can you avoid some of the adverse effects
seen with Niacin (dyspepsia, skin flushing, itching)?
2
