WGU D441 Pharmacology Exam Questions and answers Newest RATED A+ 2025/2026 NEW

WGU D441 Pharmacology Exam Questions and answers
Newest RATED A+ 2025/2026 NEW

Section 2: Pharmacology Basics
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Chapter 1: Pharmacology & The Nursing Process
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• Subjective Data: Information gathered from the patient or their support system, including
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health history, signs and symptoms (S/S), current medications, and the patient's ability to
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access prescribed medications.
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• Objective Data: Measurable signs detected by healthcare professionals (HCP), such as
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vital signs (V/S), lab results, and health assessments.
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• Pre-administration Assessment: Critical steps include establishing baseline Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




measurements (e.g., blood pressure before administering lisinopril), anticipating adverse
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effects (e.g., checking potassium levels before starting Lasix), identifying high-risk patients
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(e.g., African Americans and ACE inhibitors), and determining the patient's self-care
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capacity.
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• Nursing Diagnosis: Essential for guiding the development of care plans, particularly in
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relation to drug therapy, addressing issues like pain, confusion, and the need for health
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education.
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Pharmacokinetics

• Definition: The study of how the body affects a drug, encompassing absorption,
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distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
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• Absorption: The process by which a drug enters the bloodstream; influenced by Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




bioavailability and the first-pass effect, which can significantly reduce the amount of
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active drug available.
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• Distribution: Refers to how the drug is transported throughout the body, primarily via the Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




bloodstream, with albumin being the most common protein that carries drugs.
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• Metabolism: Also known as biotransformation, it involves the chemical alteration of a Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




drug, primarily in the liver, affecting its efficacy and toxicity. Cytochrome P-450 enzymes
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play a crucial role in this process.
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, • Excretion: The elimination of drugs from the body, primarily through the kidneys, but also
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via bile, sweat, saliva, and other routes.
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Pharmacodynamics

• Definition: The study of the effects of drugs on the body, including mechanisms of action Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




and therapeutic effects.
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• Dose-Response Relationship: Describes how the body's physiological response changes Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




with varying drug concentrations, determining the minimum effective concentration
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(MEC) needed for a therapeutic effect.
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• Efficacy vs. Potency: Efficacy refers to the maximum effect a drug can produce, while
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potency indicates the amount of drug needed to achieve a desired effect.
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• Drug Half-Life: The time required for the concentration of the drug in the bloodstream to
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reduce by half, influencing dosing schedules and therapeutic levels.
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Drug Receptors and Interactions
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• Agonists and Antagonists: Agonists activate receptors to produce a response, while
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antagonists block receptor activation, preventing normal receptor function.
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• Drug-Drug Interactions: Can be additive (increased effect), synergistic (greater effect than
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individual drugs), or antagonistic (one drug blocks the effect of another).
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• Examples of Interactions: Desirable interactions include combining diuretics with beta-
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blockers to lower blood pressure, while undesirable interactions may involve alcohol and
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aspirin leading to increased bleeding risk.
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Chapter 3: Lifespan Considerations
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Changes in Older Adults Il` Il` Il`




• Absorption: Changes include decreased hydrochloric acid production, delayed gastric Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




emptying, and reduced GI blood flow, affecting drug absorption.
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• Distribution: Total body water decreases while fat content increases, leading to altered Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




drug distribution and potential toxicity due to reduced protein binding.
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• Metabolism: Decreased liver size and blood flow can lead to slower drug metabolism, Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




increasing the risk of drug interactions and toxicity.
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• Excretion: Reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in older adults heightens the risk of
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drug accumulation and toxicity.
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, Section 3: Drugs Affecting the CNS
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Chapter 12: CNS Depressants & Skeletal Muscle Relaxant Therapy
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• CNS Depressants: Medications that slow brain activity, used for moderate sedation;
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examples include benzodiazepines like Diazepam, Lorazepam, and Midazolam.
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• Midazolam: Used for pre-operative and procedural sedation; rapid absorption and high Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




protein binding; potential adverse reactions include sedation and respiratory depression.
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• Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Used to relieve muscle spasms; Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) is a
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common example, with rapid absorption and significant protein binding.
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• Adverse Reactions and Contraindications: Both classes of drugs have specific
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contraindications and interactions, such as with alcohol and other CNS depressants, which
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can enhance sedation.
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Chapter 16: Psychotherapeutic Drugs
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Antidepressant and Mood Stabilizer Drug Therapy Il` Il` Il` Il` Il`




• SNRI (Duloxetine): Used for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety
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Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder, and pain management. It works by inhibiting the
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reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, although the onset time is not specified.
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• SSRIs (Sertraline, Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine): Commonly prescribed for
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depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Side effects include sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and
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insomnia, with an onset of about 1 week. They selectively block the reuptake of serotonin,
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enhancing mood.
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• Atypical Antidepressants (Bupropion): Effective for MDD, sleep disorders, and smoking
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cessation. Side effects include insomnia, headache, and weight loss, with an onset of 1-2
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weeks. They affect 1-2 of the 3 neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine, and
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dopamine.
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• Mood Stabilizers: Primarily used in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder. Key drugs include
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Lithium, Carbamazepine, Valproic Acid, Divalproex, and Lamotrigine. Lithium has a short
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half-life and a high risk for toxicity, requiring careful dosing and monitoring.
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• Lithium: Well absorbed in the GI tract, distributed evenly in body tissues, not metabolized,
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and excreted in urine. It alters sodium ion transport, with an onset of 5-7 days.
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Antipsychotic Drug Therapy Il` Il`