ESTUDYR
NR293 PHARMACOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2025 UPDATED EXAM
WITH MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | ASSURED
SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
1. Why are patients with asthma attacks not prescribed beta-blockers?
a. They have no effect on asthma medications.
b. Beta-blockers reduce the therapeutic effect of bronchodilators.
c. They increase heart rate and blood pressure.
d. Beta-blockers can cause bronchospasms.
Answer: d. Beta-blockers can cause bronchospasms.
Rationale: Beta-blockers block beta-2 receptors in the lungs, potentially causing bronchospasm, which
worsens asthma symptoms.
2. Which type of drugs can cause fetal abnormalities and should not be taken by pregnant women?
a. Category A drugs
b. Category C drugs
c. Category X drugs
d. Category B drugs
Answer: c. Category X drugs
Rationale: Category X drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy due to evidence of fetal abnormalities.
3. Which drug reverses the effects of opioids?
a. Flumazenil
b. Atropine
c. Naloxone (Narcan)
d. Epinephrine
Answer: c. Naloxone (Narcan)
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that binds to opioid receptors, reversing opioid effects like
respiratory depression.
4. Burning or stinging when sublingual nitroglycerin is administered indicates:
,ESTUDYR
a. Adverse reaction
b. Therapeutic effect due to potency
c. Drug toxicity
d. Ineffective medication
Answer: b. Therapeutic effect due to potency
Rationale: A burning sensation suggests that the nitroglycerin is potent and actively releasing nitric
oxide to dilate blood vessels.
5. Which diuretic is commonly prescribed for heart failure?
a. Spironolactone
b. Furosemide (loop diuretic)
c. Hydrochlorothiazide
d. Mannitol
Answer: b. Furosemide (loop diuretic)
Rationale: Furosemide reduces fluid overload by increasing urine production, improving heart failure
symptoms.
6. Which class of antacids should patients with renal disease take?
a. Calcium salts
b. Aluminum salts
c. Magnesium salts
d. Sodium bicarbonate
Answer: b. Aluminum salts
Rationale: Aluminum salts are safer for patients with renal disease as they do not accumulate like
magnesium salts.
7. Which diuretic is often prescribed for cerebral edema?
a. Mannitol
b. Furosemide
c. Spironolactone
d. Hydrochlorothiazide
Answer: a. Mannitol
Rationale: Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic used to decrease intracranial pressure and cerebral edema.
,ESTUDYR
8. What adverse effect can temazepam (Restoril) cause due to its effect on the sleep cycle?
a. Hangover effect the next day
b. Increased REM sleep
c. Hypertension
d. Hyperactivity
Answer: a. Hangover effect the next day
Rationale: Restoril affects sleep architecture, leading to residual drowsiness or "hangover" effects.
9. Which adverse effects are associated with Zolpidem (Ambien) for insomnia?
a. Increased appetite
b. Hypertension
c. Sedation and next-day sleepiness (Hangover effect)
d. Restlessness
Answer: c. Sedation and next-day sleepiness (Hangover effect)
Rationale: Ambien’s sedative effects can persist, causing next-day drowsiness.
10. Abrupt withdrawal of benzodiazepines after long-term use can cause:
a. Constipation
b. Withdrawal symptoms
c. Hypertension
d. Increased sleep
Answer: b. Withdrawal symptoms
Rationale: Symptoms like anxiety, tremors, and sleep disturbances can occur with abrupt
discontinuation of benzodiazepines.
11. Black stools after using bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) indicate:
a. Common adverse effect
b. GI bleeding
c. Drug toxicity
d. Ineffective medication
, ESTUDYR
Answer: a. Common adverse effect
Rationale: Bismuth in the medication can cause harmless black discoloration of stools.
12. Which lab value should be checked before administering digitalis (Dig)?
a. Sodium
b. Potassium
c. Hemoglobin
d. Calcium
Answer: b. Potassium
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digitalis toxicity and cardiac arrhythmias.
13. A common adverse effect of frequent opioid use includes:
a. Constipation
b. Diarrhea
c. CNS stimulation
d. Tachycardia
Answer: a. Constipation
Rationale: Opioids slow intestinal motility, leading to constipation. Increasing fluids and fiber is
recommended.
14. A therapeutic effect of mild analgesics includes:
a. Fever relief
b. Back pain relief
c. Reduced inflammation
d. Increased blood pressure
Answer: b. Back pain relief
Rationale: Analgesics are used to relieve mild to moderate pain, such as back pain.
15. What is a therapeutic effect of antihypertensives?
a. Increased heart rate
b. Stabilized blood pressure
NR293 PHARMACOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2025 UPDATED EXAM
WITH MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | ASSURED
SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
1. Why are patients with asthma attacks not prescribed beta-blockers?
a. They have no effect on asthma medications.
b. Beta-blockers reduce the therapeutic effect of bronchodilators.
c. They increase heart rate and blood pressure.
d. Beta-blockers can cause bronchospasms.
Answer: d. Beta-blockers can cause bronchospasms.
Rationale: Beta-blockers block beta-2 receptors in the lungs, potentially causing bronchospasm, which
worsens asthma symptoms.
2. Which type of drugs can cause fetal abnormalities and should not be taken by pregnant women?
a. Category A drugs
b. Category C drugs
c. Category X drugs
d. Category B drugs
Answer: c. Category X drugs
Rationale: Category X drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy due to evidence of fetal abnormalities.
3. Which drug reverses the effects of opioids?
a. Flumazenil
b. Atropine
c. Naloxone (Narcan)
d. Epinephrine
Answer: c. Naloxone (Narcan)
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that binds to opioid receptors, reversing opioid effects like
respiratory depression.
4. Burning or stinging when sublingual nitroglycerin is administered indicates:
,ESTUDYR
a. Adverse reaction
b. Therapeutic effect due to potency
c. Drug toxicity
d. Ineffective medication
Answer: b. Therapeutic effect due to potency
Rationale: A burning sensation suggests that the nitroglycerin is potent and actively releasing nitric
oxide to dilate blood vessels.
5. Which diuretic is commonly prescribed for heart failure?
a. Spironolactone
b. Furosemide (loop diuretic)
c. Hydrochlorothiazide
d. Mannitol
Answer: b. Furosemide (loop diuretic)
Rationale: Furosemide reduces fluid overload by increasing urine production, improving heart failure
symptoms.
6. Which class of antacids should patients with renal disease take?
a. Calcium salts
b. Aluminum salts
c. Magnesium salts
d. Sodium bicarbonate
Answer: b. Aluminum salts
Rationale: Aluminum salts are safer for patients with renal disease as they do not accumulate like
magnesium salts.
7. Which diuretic is often prescribed for cerebral edema?
a. Mannitol
b. Furosemide
c. Spironolactone
d. Hydrochlorothiazide
Answer: a. Mannitol
Rationale: Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic used to decrease intracranial pressure and cerebral edema.
,ESTUDYR
8. What adverse effect can temazepam (Restoril) cause due to its effect on the sleep cycle?
a. Hangover effect the next day
b. Increased REM sleep
c. Hypertension
d. Hyperactivity
Answer: a. Hangover effect the next day
Rationale: Restoril affects sleep architecture, leading to residual drowsiness or "hangover" effects.
9. Which adverse effects are associated with Zolpidem (Ambien) for insomnia?
a. Increased appetite
b. Hypertension
c. Sedation and next-day sleepiness (Hangover effect)
d. Restlessness
Answer: c. Sedation and next-day sleepiness (Hangover effect)
Rationale: Ambien’s sedative effects can persist, causing next-day drowsiness.
10. Abrupt withdrawal of benzodiazepines after long-term use can cause:
a. Constipation
b. Withdrawal symptoms
c. Hypertension
d. Increased sleep
Answer: b. Withdrawal symptoms
Rationale: Symptoms like anxiety, tremors, and sleep disturbances can occur with abrupt
discontinuation of benzodiazepines.
11. Black stools after using bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) indicate:
a. Common adverse effect
b. GI bleeding
c. Drug toxicity
d. Ineffective medication
, ESTUDYR
Answer: a. Common adverse effect
Rationale: Bismuth in the medication can cause harmless black discoloration of stools.
12. Which lab value should be checked before administering digitalis (Dig)?
a. Sodium
b. Potassium
c. Hemoglobin
d. Calcium
Answer: b. Potassium
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digitalis toxicity and cardiac arrhythmias.
13. A common adverse effect of frequent opioid use includes:
a. Constipation
b. Diarrhea
c. CNS stimulation
d. Tachycardia
Answer: a. Constipation
Rationale: Opioids slow intestinal motility, leading to constipation. Increasing fluids and fiber is
recommended.
14. A therapeutic effect of mild analgesics includes:
a. Fever relief
b. Back pain relief
c. Reduced inflammation
d. Increased blood pressure
Answer: b. Back pain relief
Rationale: Analgesics are used to relieve mild to moderate pain, such as back pain.
15. What is a therapeutic effect of antihypertensives?
a. Increased heart rate
b. Stabilized blood pressure
