Chapter 31 Pituitary Drugs
Sealock Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how to administer desmopressin 10 mcg intranasal. The nurse instructs
the patient to press the spray pump how many times to deliver a 10-mcg dose?
a. Once b. Twice
c. Five times d. Ten times
ANS A
The spray pump for desmopressin delivers a 10-mcg dose of the drug each time it is pressed. DIF
Cognitive Level Application
2. A 16-year-old boy who is taking somatropin (Humatrope®) has a growth on the back of his hand. When
the nurse asks him about it, he says that he has had it several weeks, but it has recently started to get
bigger. What should be the next intervention?
a. The growth should be tested.
b. The somatropin dosage should be increased.
c. The somatropin should be stopped immediately.
d. The growth should be documented and monitored for changes.
ANS C
Somatropin should not be used in any patient showing evidence of an active tumour. DIF Cognitive Level
Analysis
3. A patient is taking desmopressin (DDAVP®) nasal spray. What important information should the nurse
tell the patient about this nasal spray?
a. The spray should not be inhaled.
b. Inhale deeply after each spray is administered.
c. The spray should be taken only if symptoms are present.
d. Nasal passages should be cleared after the spray is administered. ANS A
, The spray should not be inhaled. The nasal spray should be used according to the instructions and only
after the patient’s nasal passages have been cleared.
DIF Cognitive Level Application
4. A patient is receiving vasopressin (Pressyn®). Which therapeutic response should the nurse expect
to see?
a. Improved appetite
b. Increased serum albumin levels
c. Increased serum potassium levels d. Decreased urinary output
ANS D
Decreased severe thirst and decreased urinary output are the expected therapeutic responses. DIF
Cognitive Level Application
5. A patient is taking desmopressin. What important information should the nurse give the patient
about this drug therapy?
a. It cannot be taken while the patient is taking a glucocorticoid. b. It has an enhanced effect if taken
with lithium carbonate.
c. It has a reduced effect if taken with carbamazepine.
d. The patient should avoid consuming alcohol during therapy.
ANS D
Alcohol should not be consumed during therapy. A glucocorticoid will not interact with desmopressin.
Carbamazepine causes an enhanced effect, and lithium carbonate causes a reduced effect.
DIF Cognitive Level Analysis
6. An 8-year-old girl has been diagnosed with true pituitary dwarfism. She is being treated with
somatropin (Humatrope).
Which change is an expected outcome of using somatropin?
a. An increase in growth
b. Decreased urinary output c. Increased muscle strength
d. An increase in height when she reaches puberty
Sealock Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how to administer desmopressin 10 mcg intranasal. The nurse instructs
the patient to press the spray pump how many times to deliver a 10-mcg dose?
a. Once b. Twice
c. Five times d. Ten times
ANS A
The spray pump for desmopressin delivers a 10-mcg dose of the drug each time it is pressed. DIF
Cognitive Level Application
2. A 16-year-old boy who is taking somatropin (Humatrope®) has a growth on the back of his hand. When
the nurse asks him about it, he says that he has had it several weeks, but it has recently started to get
bigger. What should be the next intervention?
a. The growth should be tested.
b. The somatropin dosage should be increased.
c. The somatropin should be stopped immediately.
d. The growth should be documented and monitored for changes.
ANS C
Somatropin should not be used in any patient showing evidence of an active tumour. DIF Cognitive Level
Analysis
3. A patient is taking desmopressin (DDAVP®) nasal spray. What important information should the nurse
tell the patient about this nasal spray?
a. The spray should not be inhaled.
b. Inhale deeply after each spray is administered.
c. The spray should be taken only if symptoms are present.
d. Nasal passages should be cleared after the spray is administered. ANS A
, The spray should not be inhaled. The nasal spray should be used according to the instructions and only
after the patient’s nasal passages have been cleared.
DIF Cognitive Level Application
4. A patient is receiving vasopressin (Pressyn®). Which therapeutic response should the nurse expect
to see?
a. Improved appetite
b. Increased serum albumin levels
c. Increased serum potassium levels d. Decreased urinary output
ANS D
Decreased severe thirst and decreased urinary output are the expected therapeutic responses. DIF
Cognitive Level Application
5. A patient is taking desmopressin. What important information should the nurse give the patient
about this drug therapy?
a. It cannot be taken while the patient is taking a glucocorticoid. b. It has an enhanced effect if taken
with lithium carbonate.
c. It has a reduced effect if taken with carbamazepine.
d. The patient should avoid consuming alcohol during therapy.
ANS D
Alcohol should not be consumed during therapy. A glucocorticoid will not interact with desmopressin.
Carbamazepine causes an enhanced effect, and lithium carbonate causes a reduced effect.
DIF Cognitive Level Analysis
6. An 8-year-old girl has been diagnosed with true pituitary dwarfism. She is being treated with
somatropin (Humatrope).
Which change is an expected outcome of using somatropin?
a. An increase in growth
b. Decreased urinary output c. Increased muscle strength
d. An increase in height when she reaches puberty
