NURS126 Pharmacology in Nursing General
Exam Study Guide – Practice Questions &
Verified Answers
Looking for a reliable way to ace your exams with confidence? This comprehensive study
guide is designed to help students fully understand course material, sharpen critical thinking
skills, and perform at their best in assessments.
Unlike basic revision notes, this resource focuses on exam-style practice questions that mirror
the structure, difficulty, and expectations of real exams. Every question is paired with clear,
accurate answers and detailed explanations, ensuring you understand why an answer is
correct—not just what to memorize.
What You’ll Get Inside:
✔ Extensive coverage of essential and frequently tested topics
✔ Exam-level practice questions aligned with course objectives
✔ Step-by-step explanations to simplify complex concepts
✔ Clean, structured formatting for fast and effective revision
✔ Updated content based on current academic standards
Why Students Love This Guide:
This study resource is perfect for last-minute revision, structured study planning, and
strengthening weak areas. It helps you identify knowledge gaps, improve test-taking
strategies, and approach exams with clarity and confidence.
Ideal For:
• Final exam preparation
• Midterm reviews
• Weekly study sessions
• Catching up on difficult topics
• Boosting grades and overall academic performance
,Whether you’re preparing days or weeks in advance, this guide provides the support, clarity,
and practice needed to succeed. It is a powerful supplementary tool designed to help you
study smarter, not harder.
A must-have resource for students who want results.
What are the types of CNS drugs?
Able to produce full range of CNS depression
Sedatives: relax or sedate a patient (calm/soothe)
Hypnotics: induce sleep
Sedative-hypnotic: doses (low = calm, or high = sleep) determine effects
May cause physical (body) & psychological (mind) dependence
What drugs are benzodiazepines?
insomnia: temazepam & triazolam
sedation: diazepam & midazolam
What is the action of benzodiazepines?
Binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors
-> Intensifies effect of GABA (chief neuroinhibitor)
What are the uses of benzodiazepines?
Sedation
Short-term treatment of insomnia
-> ↑ total sleep time (quantity); may reduce stage IV & REM sleep (quality) = still feeling tired
when waking
What are the adverse effects of benzodiazepines?
CNS depression: dizziness & drowsiness
"Hangover" effect (i.e. daytime sleepiness)
What is a contraindication of benzodiazepines?
,Patients with narrow-angle glaucoma
-> IOP changes from altered neurotransmitter activity
What are nursing considerations for benzodiazepines?
Monitor for overdose
-> Administer flumazenil (a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist) if present
What is important to teach about benzodiazepines?
Avoid driving or other activities requiring mental alertness / physical coordination
Avoid alcohol & other CNS depressants
Do not stop drug abruptly
-> Withdrawal symptoms may occur = rebound insomnia
What drugs are barbiturates?
phenobarbital
secobarbital
What is the action of barbiturates?
Binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors
-> Intensifies effect of GABA
**Older version of benzodiazepines with more adverse effects
What are the uses of barbiturates?
Anesthesia & sedation
Rarely prescribed because of significant adverse effects & more effective drugs available
What are the adverse effects of barbiturates?
Agitation from deprived REM sleep
High risk for physical & psychological dependence
Severe withdrawal syndrome that may be fatal
Overdose: hypotension, respiratory depression, & shock
-> Maintain adequate (patent) airway, assist with ventilation, & administer oxygen
, What are contraindications of barbiturates?
Pregnancy (teratogenic effects)
Patients with significant respiratory difficulties
Patients with severe kidney/liver disease (impaired excretion and metabolism = drug buildup =
toxicity)
What are drug interactions with barbiturates?
Additive CNS depression (sedation) with alcohol, antihistamines, & opioids
↓ effectiveness of anticoagulants & oral contraceptives
-> Patients develop blood clots and get pregnant
What drugs are miscellaneous CNS depressants?
eszopiclone
ramelteon
zolpidem
What are the uses of eszopiclone, ramelteon, and zolpidem?
eszopiclone: long-term treatment of insomnia
-> Maintain sleep & ↓ early morning awakening
ramelteon: treat chronic insomnia in people who have problems falling asleep
zolpidem: long-term treatment of insomnia
-> Rapid onset in less than 30 minutes; taken immediately before bedtime (no other activities)
What are the adverse effects of eszopiclone, ramelteon, and zolpidem?
zolpidem: n/d, dizziness, & drowsiness; rebound insomnia may occur when discontinued
What are the contraindications of eszopiclone, ramelteon, and zolpidem?
ramelteon: patients with severe liver dysfunction (drug metabolism)
zolpidem: patients with impaired kidney/liver function (excretion/metabolism); cautious use in
older adults (CNS depression + already have decreased mobility = fall and injury risk)
What drugs are centrally-acting skeletal muscle relaxants?
Exam Study Guide – Practice Questions &
Verified Answers
Looking for a reliable way to ace your exams with confidence? This comprehensive study
guide is designed to help students fully understand course material, sharpen critical thinking
skills, and perform at their best in assessments.
Unlike basic revision notes, this resource focuses on exam-style practice questions that mirror
the structure, difficulty, and expectations of real exams. Every question is paired with clear,
accurate answers and detailed explanations, ensuring you understand why an answer is
correct—not just what to memorize.
What You’ll Get Inside:
✔ Extensive coverage of essential and frequently tested topics
✔ Exam-level practice questions aligned with course objectives
✔ Step-by-step explanations to simplify complex concepts
✔ Clean, structured formatting for fast and effective revision
✔ Updated content based on current academic standards
Why Students Love This Guide:
This study resource is perfect for last-minute revision, structured study planning, and
strengthening weak areas. It helps you identify knowledge gaps, improve test-taking
strategies, and approach exams with clarity and confidence.
Ideal For:
• Final exam preparation
• Midterm reviews
• Weekly study sessions
• Catching up on difficult topics
• Boosting grades and overall academic performance
,Whether you’re preparing days or weeks in advance, this guide provides the support, clarity,
and practice needed to succeed. It is a powerful supplementary tool designed to help you
study smarter, not harder.
A must-have resource for students who want results.
What are the types of CNS drugs?
Able to produce full range of CNS depression
Sedatives: relax or sedate a patient (calm/soothe)
Hypnotics: induce sleep
Sedative-hypnotic: doses (low = calm, or high = sleep) determine effects
May cause physical (body) & psychological (mind) dependence
What drugs are benzodiazepines?
insomnia: temazepam & triazolam
sedation: diazepam & midazolam
What is the action of benzodiazepines?
Binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors
-> Intensifies effect of GABA (chief neuroinhibitor)
What are the uses of benzodiazepines?
Sedation
Short-term treatment of insomnia
-> ↑ total sleep time (quantity); may reduce stage IV & REM sleep (quality) = still feeling tired
when waking
What are the adverse effects of benzodiazepines?
CNS depression: dizziness & drowsiness
"Hangover" effect (i.e. daytime sleepiness)
What is a contraindication of benzodiazepines?
,Patients with narrow-angle glaucoma
-> IOP changes from altered neurotransmitter activity
What are nursing considerations for benzodiazepines?
Monitor for overdose
-> Administer flumazenil (a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist) if present
What is important to teach about benzodiazepines?
Avoid driving or other activities requiring mental alertness / physical coordination
Avoid alcohol & other CNS depressants
Do not stop drug abruptly
-> Withdrawal symptoms may occur = rebound insomnia
What drugs are barbiturates?
phenobarbital
secobarbital
What is the action of barbiturates?
Binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors
-> Intensifies effect of GABA
**Older version of benzodiazepines with more adverse effects
What are the uses of barbiturates?
Anesthesia & sedation
Rarely prescribed because of significant adverse effects & more effective drugs available
What are the adverse effects of barbiturates?
Agitation from deprived REM sleep
High risk for physical & psychological dependence
Severe withdrawal syndrome that may be fatal
Overdose: hypotension, respiratory depression, & shock
-> Maintain adequate (patent) airway, assist with ventilation, & administer oxygen
, What are contraindications of barbiturates?
Pregnancy (teratogenic effects)
Patients with significant respiratory difficulties
Patients with severe kidney/liver disease (impaired excretion and metabolism = drug buildup =
toxicity)
What are drug interactions with barbiturates?
Additive CNS depression (sedation) with alcohol, antihistamines, & opioids
↓ effectiveness of anticoagulants & oral contraceptives
-> Patients develop blood clots and get pregnant
What drugs are miscellaneous CNS depressants?
eszopiclone
ramelteon
zolpidem
What are the uses of eszopiclone, ramelteon, and zolpidem?
eszopiclone: long-term treatment of insomnia
-> Maintain sleep & ↓ early morning awakening
ramelteon: treat chronic insomnia in people who have problems falling asleep
zolpidem: long-term treatment of insomnia
-> Rapid onset in less than 30 minutes; taken immediately before bedtime (no other activities)
What are the adverse effects of eszopiclone, ramelteon, and zolpidem?
zolpidem: n/d, dizziness, & drowsiness; rebound insomnia may occur when discontinued
What are the contraindications of eszopiclone, ramelteon, and zolpidem?
ramelteon: patients with severe liver dysfunction (drug metabolism)
zolpidem: patients with impaired kidney/liver function (excretion/metabolism); cautious use in
older adults (CNS depression + already have decreased mobility = fall and injury risk)
What drugs are centrally-acting skeletal muscle relaxants?
