Nursing Pharmacology Exam Questions and Answers
(Graded A+)
1. Synergistic effects - ANSWER-Drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of
two or more drugs with similar actions is greater than the sum of the individual effects of
the same drugs given alone.
2. Tolerance - ANSWER-The general term for a state in which repetitive exposure to a given
drug, over time, induces changes in drug receptors that reduce the drug's effects (aka
physical dependence)
3. Vascular Pain - ANSWER-Pain that results from pathology of the vascular or perivascular
tissues
4. Visceral Pain - ANSWER-Pain that originates from organs or smooth muscles
5. World Health Organization (WHO) - ANSWER-An international body of health care
professionals, including clinicians and epidemiologists among many others, that studies
and responds to health needs and trends worldwide
6. Barbiturates - ANSWER-A class of drugs that are chemical derivatives of barbituric acid.
They are used to induce sedation.
7. Benzodiazepines - ANSWER-A chemical category of drugs most frequently prescribed as
anxiolytic drugs and less frequently as sedative-hypnotic agents
8. Gamma-aminobutyric acid - ANSWER-The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter found in
the brain. A key compound affected by sedative, anxiolytic, psychotropic, and muscle
relaxing medications
9. Hypnotics - ANSWER-Drugs that, when given at low to moderate dosages, calm or
soothe the central nervous system without inducing sleep but when given at high dosages
cause sleep
10. Non-rapid eye movement sleep - ANSWER-The largest portion of the sleep cycle. It has
four stages and precedes REM sleep.
11. Rapid eye movement sleep - ANSWER-One of the stages of the sleep cycle.
Characteristics are rapid movement of the eyes, vivid dreams, and irregular breathing
12. REM rebound - ANSWER-Excessive REM sleep following discontinuation of a sleep-
altering drug
13. Sedatives - ANSWER-Drugs that have an inhibitory effect on the CNS to the degree that
they reduce nervousness, excitability, and irritability without causing sleep
14. Sedative-hypnotics - ANSWER-Drugs that can act in the body either as sedatives or as
hypnotics
15. Sleep - ANSWER-A transient, reversible, and periodic state of rest in which there is a
decrease in physical activity and consciousness
16. Sleep architecture - ANSWER-The structure of the various elements involved in the
sleep cycle, including normal and abnormal patterms of sleep
17. Therapeutic index - ANSWER-The ratio between the toxic and therapeutic
concentrations of a drug. If the index is low, the difference between the therapeutic and
toxic drug concentrations is small, and use of the drug is more hazardous
, 18. Amphetamines - ANSWER-A class of stimulant drugs that includes amphetamine sulfate
and all of its drug derivatives
19. Analeptics - ANSWER-Central nervous system stimulants that have generalized effects
on the brainstem and spinal cord, which produce an increase in responsiveness to external
stimuli and stimulate respiration
20. Anorexiants - ANSWER-Drugs used to control or suppress appetite
21. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - ANSWER-A syndrome characterized by
difficulty in maintaining concentration on a given task and/or hyperactive behavior; may
affect children, adolescents, and adults.
22. Adrenergic agonists - ANSWER-Drugs that stimulate and mimic the actions of the
sympathetic nervous system
23. Adrenergic receptors - ANSWER-Receptor sites for the sympathetic neurotransmitters
norepinephrine and epinephrine
24. Alpha-adrenergic receptors - ANSWER-A class of adrenergic receptors that are further
subdivided into alpha1-and alpha2-adrenergic receptors
25. Autonomic functions - ANSWER-Bodily functions that are involuntary and result from
the physiologic activity of the autonomic nervous system. The functions often occur in
pairs of opposing actions between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the
autonomic nervous system
26. Autonomic nervous system - ANSWER-A branch of the peripheral nervous system that
controls autonomic bodily functions. It consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous systems
27. Beta-adrenergic receptors - ANSWER-Receptors located on a postsynaptic cells that are
stimulated by specific autonomic nerve fibers.
28. Where are Beta1-adrenergic receptors primarily located? - ANSWER-Heart and kidney
29. Where are Beta2-adrenergic receptors located? - ANSWER-Smooth muscle fibers of the
bronchioles, arterioles, and visceral organs
30. Catecholamines - ANSWER-Substances that can produce a sympathomimetic response.
31. Dopaminergic receptor - ANSWER-A third type of adrenergic receptor located in
various tissues and organs and activated by the binding of the neurotransmitter dopamine,
which can be either endogenous or a synthetic drug form
32. Mydriasis - ANSWER-Pupillary dilation, whether natural or drug induced
33. Ophthalmics - ANSWER-Drugs that are used in the eye
34. Positive chronotropic effect - ANSWER-An increase in Heart Rate
35. Positive dromotropic effect - ANSWER-An increase in the conduction of cardiac
electrical impulses through the atrioventricular node, which results in the transfer of
nerve action potentials from the atria to the ventricles. This ultimately leads to a systolic
heartbeat.
36. Positive inotropic effect - ANSWER-An increase in the force of contraction of the heart
muscle
37. Sympathomimetics - ANSWER-Drugs that are used therapeutically that mimic the
catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
(Graded A+)
1. Synergistic effects - ANSWER-Drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of
two or more drugs with similar actions is greater than the sum of the individual effects of
the same drugs given alone.
2. Tolerance - ANSWER-The general term for a state in which repetitive exposure to a given
drug, over time, induces changes in drug receptors that reduce the drug's effects (aka
physical dependence)
3. Vascular Pain - ANSWER-Pain that results from pathology of the vascular or perivascular
tissues
4. Visceral Pain - ANSWER-Pain that originates from organs or smooth muscles
5. World Health Organization (WHO) - ANSWER-An international body of health care
professionals, including clinicians and epidemiologists among many others, that studies
and responds to health needs and trends worldwide
6. Barbiturates - ANSWER-A class of drugs that are chemical derivatives of barbituric acid.
They are used to induce sedation.
7. Benzodiazepines - ANSWER-A chemical category of drugs most frequently prescribed as
anxiolytic drugs and less frequently as sedative-hypnotic agents
8. Gamma-aminobutyric acid - ANSWER-The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter found in
the brain. A key compound affected by sedative, anxiolytic, psychotropic, and muscle
relaxing medications
9. Hypnotics - ANSWER-Drugs that, when given at low to moderate dosages, calm or
soothe the central nervous system without inducing sleep but when given at high dosages
cause sleep
10. Non-rapid eye movement sleep - ANSWER-The largest portion of the sleep cycle. It has
four stages and precedes REM sleep.
11. Rapid eye movement sleep - ANSWER-One of the stages of the sleep cycle.
Characteristics are rapid movement of the eyes, vivid dreams, and irregular breathing
12. REM rebound - ANSWER-Excessive REM sleep following discontinuation of a sleep-
altering drug
13. Sedatives - ANSWER-Drugs that have an inhibitory effect on the CNS to the degree that
they reduce nervousness, excitability, and irritability without causing sleep
14. Sedative-hypnotics - ANSWER-Drugs that can act in the body either as sedatives or as
hypnotics
15. Sleep - ANSWER-A transient, reversible, and periodic state of rest in which there is a
decrease in physical activity and consciousness
16. Sleep architecture - ANSWER-The structure of the various elements involved in the
sleep cycle, including normal and abnormal patterms of sleep
17. Therapeutic index - ANSWER-The ratio between the toxic and therapeutic
concentrations of a drug. If the index is low, the difference between the therapeutic and
toxic drug concentrations is small, and use of the drug is more hazardous
, 18. Amphetamines - ANSWER-A class of stimulant drugs that includes amphetamine sulfate
and all of its drug derivatives
19. Analeptics - ANSWER-Central nervous system stimulants that have generalized effects
on the brainstem and spinal cord, which produce an increase in responsiveness to external
stimuli and stimulate respiration
20. Anorexiants - ANSWER-Drugs used to control or suppress appetite
21. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - ANSWER-A syndrome characterized by
difficulty in maintaining concentration on a given task and/or hyperactive behavior; may
affect children, adolescents, and adults.
22. Adrenergic agonists - ANSWER-Drugs that stimulate and mimic the actions of the
sympathetic nervous system
23. Adrenergic receptors - ANSWER-Receptor sites for the sympathetic neurotransmitters
norepinephrine and epinephrine
24. Alpha-adrenergic receptors - ANSWER-A class of adrenergic receptors that are further
subdivided into alpha1-and alpha2-adrenergic receptors
25. Autonomic functions - ANSWER-Bodily functions that are involuntary and result from
the physiologic activity of the autonomic nervous system. The functions often occur in
pairs of opposing actions between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the
autonomic nervous system
26. Autonomic nervous system - ANSWER-A branch of the peripheral nervous system that
controls autonomic bodily functions. It consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous systems
27. Beta-adrenergic receptors - ANSWER-Receptors located on a postsynaptic cells that are
stimulated by specific autonomic nerve fibers.
28. Where are Beta1-adrenergic receptors primarily located? - ANSWER-Heart and kidney
29. Where are Beta2-adrenergic receptors located? - ANSWER-Smooth muscle fibers of the
bronchioles, arterioles, and visceral organs
30. Catecholamines - ANSWER-Substances that can produce a sympathomimetic response.
31. Dopaminergic receptor - ANSWER-A third type of adrenergic receptor located in
various tissues and organs and activated by the binding of the neurotransmitter dopamine,
which can be either endogenous or a synthetic drug form
32. Mydriasis - ANSWER-Pupillary dilation, whether natural or drug induced
33. Ophthalmics - ANSWER-Drugs that are used in the eye
34. Positive chronotropic effect - ANSWER-An increase in Heart Rate
35. Positive dromotropic effect - ANSWER-An increase in the conduction of cardiac
electrical impulses through the atrioventricular node, which results in the transfer of
nerve action potentials from the atria to the ventricles. This ultimately leads to a systolic
heartbeat.
36. Positive inotropic effect - ANSWER-An increase in the force of contraction of the heart
muscle
37. Sympathomimetics - ANSWER-Drugs that are used therapeutically that mimic the
catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
