Pharmacology Drug Cards
Review Questions with Answers for
Your Quick Revision
What is Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) used for?
✓✓ Acetaminophen is used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever.
How does Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) work?
✓✓ It works by inhibiting prostaglandin production in the central nervous system, reducing pain
and fever.
What are the common side effects of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)?
✓✓ Nausea, rash, and, rarely, liver damage when taken in excessive doses.
What nursing consideration is important when administering Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)?
✓✓ Assess total daily intake to ensure the maximum recommended dose is not exceeded.
What is Ibuprofen used for?
✓✓ Ibuprofen is used to treat pain, inflammation, and fever.
How does Ibuprofen work?
✓✓ It blocks cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis.
What are common side effects of Ibuprofen?
✓✓ Stomach irritation, heartburn, nausea, and increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
What patient teaching should accompany Ibuprofen therapy?
✓✓ Take the medication with food or milk to reduce stomach irritation.
What is Aspirin primarily used for?
✓✓ Aspirin is used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, lower fever, and prevent blood clot
formation.
How does Aspirin prevent blood clots?
✓✓ It irreversibly inhibits platelet aggregation by blocking thromboxane A₂ production.
What is an important adverse effect of Aspirin?
✓✓ Gastrointestinal bleeding and stomach ulcers.
Who should generally avoid Aspirin?
✓✓ Children with viral infections because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.
1
,What is Amoxicillin used to treat?
✓✓ Amoxicillin treats susceptible bacterial infections such as respiratory, ear, and urinary tract
infections.
How does Amoxicillin work?
✓✓ It destroys bacteria by interfering with bacterial cell wall synthesis.
What are common side effects of Amoxicillin?
✓✓ Diarrhea, nausea, and allergic skin rash.
What should be assessed before administering Amoxicillin?
✓✓ Ask whether the patient has a history of penicillin allergy.
What is Metformin used for?
✓✓ Metformin is used to control blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.
How does Metformin lower blood sugar?
✓✓ It decreases glucose production in the liver and improves insulin sensitivity.
What are common side effects of Metformin?
✓✓ Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and metallic taste.
What serious adverse effect is associated with Metformin?
✓✓ Lactic acidosis, although it is rare.
What is Insulin Lispro used for?
✓✓ Insulin Lispro controls blood glucose levels after meals.
How does Insulin Lispro work?
✓✓ It helps glucose move from the bloodstream into body cells for energy.
What is the most common side effect of Insulin Lispro?
✓✓ Hypoglycemia.
What nursing action is important before administering Insulin Lispro?
✓✓ Check the patient's blood glucose level and ensure food is available.
What is Furosemide used for?
✓✓ Furosemide is used to treat edema and hypertension.
How does Furosemide work?
✓✓ It increases the excretion of sodium and water by the kidneys.
What are common side effects of Furosemide?
✓✓ Frequent urination, dehydration, low potassium, and dizziness.
2
, What laboratory value should be monitored during Furosemide therapy?
✓✓ Serum potassium level.
What is Lisinopril used for?
✓✓ Lisinopril treats hypertension, heart failure, and protects kidney function in some patients.
How does Lisinopril work?
✓✓ It inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme, causing blood vessels to relax.
What are common side effects of Lisinopril?
✓✓ Dry cough, dizziness, and elevated potassium levels.
What serious adverse effect can occur with Lisinopril?
✓✓ Angioedema, which requires immediate medical attention.
What is Atorvastatin used for?
✓✓ Atorvastatin lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
How does Atorvastatin work?
✓✓ It inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, reducing cholesterol production in the liver.
What are common side effects of Atorvastatin?
✓✓ Muscle pain, headache, and mild digestive upset.
What should patients report while taking Atorvastatin?
✓✓ Unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or dark-colored urine.
What is Omeprazole used for?
✓✓ Omeprazole treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and stomach ulcers.
How does Omeprazole work?
✓✓ It blocks the proton pumps in the stomach, reducing acid production.
What are common side effects of Omeprazole?
✓✓ Headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
When should Omeprazole ideally be taken?
✓✓ Before meals, preferably before breakfast.
What is Salbutamol (Albuterol) used for?
✓✓ Salbutamol relieves bronchospasm in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
How does Salbutamol work?
✓✓ It stimulates beta₂ receptors, relaxing the smooth muscles of the airways.
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Review Questions with Answers for
Your Quick Revision
What is Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) used for?
✓✓ Acetaminophen is used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever.
How does Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) work?
✓✓ It works by inhibiting prostaglandin production in the central nervous system, reducing pain
and fever.
What are the common side effects of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)?
✓✓ Nausea, rash, and, rarely, liver damage when taken in excessive doses.
What nursing consideration is important when administering Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)?
✓✓ Assess total daily intake to ensure the maximum recommended dose is not exceeded.
What is Ibuprofen used for?
✓✓ Ibuprofen is used to treat pain, inflammation, and fever.
How does Ibuprofen work?
✓✓ It blocks cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis.
What are common side effects of Ibuprofen?
✓✓ Stomach irritation, heartburn, nausea, and increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
What patient teaching should accompany Ibuprofen therapy?
✓✓ Take the medication with food or milk to reduce stomach irritation.
What is Aspirin primarily used for?
✓✓ Aspirin is used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, lower fever, and prevent blood clot
formation.
How does Aspirin prevent blood clots?
✓✓ It irreversibly inhibits platelet aggregation by blocking thromboxane A₂ production.
What is an important adverse effect of Aspirin?
✓✓ Gastrointestinal bleeding and stomach ulcers.
Who should generally avoid Aspirin?
✓✓ Children with viral infections because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.
1
,What is Amoxicillin used to treat?
✓✓ Amoxicillin treats susceptible bacterial infections such as respiratory, ear, and urinary tract
infections.
How does Amoxicillin work?
✓✓ It destroys bacteria by interfering with bacterial cell wall synthesis.
What are common side effects of Amoxicillin?
✓✓ Diarrhea, nausea, and allergic skin rash.
What should be assessed before administering Amoxicillin?
✓✓ Ask whether the patient has a history of penicillin allergy.
What is Metformin used for?
✓✓ Metformin is used to control blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.
How does Metformin lower blood sugar?
✓✓ It decreases glucose production in the liver and improves insulin sensitivity.
What are common side effects of Metformin?
✓✓ Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and metallic taste.
What serious adverse effect is associated with Metformin?
✓✓ Lactic acidosis, although it is rare.
What is Insulin Lispro used for?
✓✓ Insulin Lispro controls blood glucose levels after meals.
How does Insulin Lispro work?
✓✓ It helps glucose move from the bloodstream into body cells for energy.
What is the most common side effect of Insulin Lispro?
✓✓ Hypoglycemia.
What nursing action is important before administering Insulin Lispro?
✓✓ Check the patient's blood glucose level and ensure food is available.
What is Furosemide used for?
✓✓ Furosemide is used to treat edema and hypertension.
How does Furosemide work?
✓✓ It increases the excretion of sodium and water by the kidneys.
What are common side effects of Furosemide?
✓✓ Frequent urination, dehydration, low potassium, and dizziness.
2
, What laboratory value should be monitored during Furosemide therapy?
✓✓ Serum potassium level.
What is Lisinopril used for?
✓✓ Lisinopril treats hypertension, heart failure, and protects kidney function in some patients.
How does Lisinopril work?
✓✓ It inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme, causing blood vessels to relax.
What are common side effects of Lisinopril?
✓✓ Dry cough, dizziness, and elevated potassium levels.
What serious adverse effect can occur with Lisinopril?
✓✓ Angioedema, which requires immediate medical attention.
What is Atorvastatin used for?
✓✓ Atorvastatin lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
How does Atorvastatin work?
✓✓ It inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, reducing cholesterol production in the liver.
What are common side effects of Atorvastatin?
✓✓ Muscle pain, headache, and mild digestive upset.
What should patients report while taking Atorvastatin?
✓✓ Unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or dark-colored urine.
What is Omeprazole used for?
✓✓ Omeprazole treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and stomach ulcers.
How does Omeprazole work?
✓✓ It blocks the proton pumps in the stomach, reducing acid production.
What are common side effects of Omeprazole?
✓✓ Headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
When should Omeprazole ideally be taken?
✓✓ Before meals, preferably before breakfast.
What is Salbutamol (Albuterol) used for?
✓✓ Salbutamol relieves bronchospasm in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
How does Salbutamol work?
✓✓ It stimulates beta₂ receptors, relaxing the smooth muscles of the airways.
3
