WGU D398 Pharmacology Exam
UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Digoxin (Lanoxin)- cardiac glycosides - CORRECT ANSWER treats heart failure
Side effects: irritability, tremors, seizures, double vision, visual halos, and inability to sleep
Cautions: severe kidney or lung damage (doses may need to be adjusted), sudden heart attacks
Amiodarone (Cordarone)- Antiarrhythmic - CORRECT ANSWER treats arrhythmia (irregular
heartbeats)
Side effects: tremors, numbness, visual disturbances, lung scarring, or thickness (known as pulmonary
fibrosis)
Cautions: patients with underlying heart block diseases; thyroid disease; allergic reactions to iodine
Metoprolol (Toprol)- Beta Blocker - CORRECT ANSWER lower blood pressure by blocking
the beta receptors
Side effects: dizziness, fatigue, confusion, low blood sugar
Caution:
Amlodipine (Norvasc)- Calcium Channel blocker - CORRECT ANSWER reduce blood
pressure by preventing calcium from entering the cells of the heart and arteries
Side effects: edema (swelling), abdominal discomfort, and headache
,Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)- Diuretic - CORRECT ANSWER decrease blood pressure by
ridding the body of sodium and water through increase urine
Side effects: frequent urination, low potassium, and low magnesium (supplements are sometimes
given to maintain electrolyte levels)
Lisinopril (Zestril)- Angio-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE) - CORRECT ANSWER reduce
blood pressure by relaxing veins and arteries
Side effects: dry cough, rash, and high potassium
Caution: angioedema (swelling under the skin); pregnancy and lactation (can cause birth defects)
Losartan (Cozaar) & Valsartan (Diovan) Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) - CORRECT ANSWER
inhibit the angiotensin receptor directly
Side effects: dizziness, high potassium levels
Caution: caution in pregnancy and lactation (can cause birth defects)
Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat)-Coronary Vasodilator - CORRECT ANSWER Treat angina (chest
pain) by widen the blood arteries
Side effects: headaches, flushing (redness and warmth to the face), blurred vision, and dry mouth
Caution:
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)- Antilipemic - CORRECT ANSWER used for controlling high
cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood
Side effects: muscle weakness, rhabdomyolysis (severe injury to the muscle tissue), and an increase in
liver enzyme markers
,Cautions: liver or kidney disease, existing muscle weakness, pregnancy, and breastfeeding
Fenofibrate (Tricor)- Fibrate - CORRECT ANSWER modest LDL-lowering potential for
severely excessive triglyceride and cholesterol levels
Side effects: GI complaints (diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain), stones in
the gallbladder, and muscle pain
Cautions: gallbladder disease, liver disease
Warfarin (Jantoven)- Antithrombotic - CORRECT ANSWER interfere with or prevent
thrombosis (blood clots) or blood coagulation
Side effects: bleeding complications, bloody stool, and red urine
Cautions:
Albuterol (ProAir)- Bronchodilator (SABA) - CORRECT ANSWER treatments for acute
asthma attacks because they are short-acting and taken as needed
Formoterol (Foradil)- Bronchodilator (LABA) - CORRECT ANSWER utilized as preventative
medications and are usually taken daily on a maintenance schedule
Side effects: throat irritation, hoarseness, and sinusitis; nervousness, tremor, dizziness, and headache
Caution: may cause or worsen cardiac irregularities (tachycardia, palpitations, arrhythmias, and
angina)
Ipratropium (Atrovent)- Anticholinergic - CORRECT ANSWER blocking receptors in the
smooth muscle of the airway;
, Side effects: cardiac effects (changes in heart rate and palpitations), CNS stimulation (headache,
drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and agitation), thickened secretions and mucus plugging, dry mouth
and metallic taste, constipation and abdominal pain
Cautions: anticholinergics are not indicated for patients with unstable cardiac status, history of heart
attacks, glaucoma, drug sensitivity, or prostatic hypertrophy
Theophylline (Theo 24)- Xanthine Derivatives - CORRECT ANSWER prevent and treat
wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness in the lungs and respiratory passages; relaxes the
smooth muscle of the bronchial airways and pulmonary blood vessels
Side effects: nervousness, insomnia, irritability, headache, tremors, seizures, cardiac effects
(palpitation, tachycardia, arrhythmias), and urinary frequency
Cautions: sudden cessation of tobacco smoking (may result in reduced clearance of theophylline and
increased serum theophylline concentrations)
Fluticasone (Flovent)- Inhaled Corticosteroids - CORRECT ANSWER inhibit the release of
chemicals that cause asthma symptoms by specific cells in the lungs and airways
Side effects: throat irritation and dry mouth, oral fungal infections (patient should be encouraged to
rinse mouth with mouthwash or water after administration), and increased susceptibility to pneumonia
Cautions: with corticosteroids applied to viral, bacterial, or fungal infections, hypertension or
congestive heart failure, diabetes hypothyroidism or cirrhosis renal failure
Guaifenesin (Mucinex)- Expectorant (OTC) - CORRECT ANSWER decrease thickness and
aid in the expulsion of sputum and phlegm; in cough syrups; treats wet coughs
Side effects: weariness, sleeplessness, and pain in the lower back due to excessive coughing
Dextromethorphan (Delsym)- Antitussives - CORRECT ANSWER used to stop dry coughs
UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Digoxin (Lanoxin)- cardiac glycosides - CORRECT ANSWER treats heart failure
Side effects: irritability, tremors, seizures, double vision, visual halos, and inability to sleep
Cautions: severe kidney or lung damage (doses may need to be adjusted), sudden heart attacks
Amiodarone (Cordarone)- Antiarrhythmic - CORRECT ANSWER treats arrhythmia (irregular
heartbeats)
Side effects: tremors, numbness, visual disturbances, lung scarring, or thickness (known as pulmonary
fibrosis)
Cautions: patients with underlying heart block diseases; thyroid disease; allergic reactions to iodine
Metoprolol (Toprol)- Beta Blocker - CORRECT ANSWER lower blood pressure by blocking
the beta receptors
Side effects: dizziness, fatigue, confusion, low blood sugar
Caution:
Amlodipine (Norvasc)- Calcium Channel blocker - CORRECT ANSWER reduce blood
pressure by preventing calcium from entering the cells of the heart and arteries
Side effects: edema (swelling), abdominal discomfort, and headache
,Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)- Diuretic - CORRECT ANSWER decrease blood pressure by
ridding the body of sodium and water through increase urine
Side effects: frequent urination, low potassium, and low magnesium (supplements are sometimes
given to maintain electrolyte levels)
Lisinopril (Zestril)- Angio-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE) - CORRECT ANSWER reduce
blood pressure by relaxing veins and arteries
Side effects: dry cough, rash, and high potassium
Caution: angioedema (swelling under the skin); pregnancy and lactation (can cause birth defects)
Losartan (Cozaar) & Valsartan (Diovan) Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) - CORRECT ANSWER
inhibit the angiotensin receptor directly
Side effects: dizziness, high potassium levels
Caution: caution in pregnancy and lactation (can cause birth defects)
Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat)-Coronary Vasodilator - CORRECT ANSWER Treat angina (chest
pain) by widen the blood arteries
Side effects: headaches, flushing (redness and warmth to the face), blurred vision, and dry mouth
Caution:
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)- Antilipemic - CORRECT ANSWER used for controlling high
cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood
Side effects: muscle weakness, rhabdomyolysis (severe injury to the muscle tissue), and an increase in
liver enzyme markers
,Cautions: liver or kidney disease, existing muscle weakness, pregnancy, and breastfeeding
Fenofibrate (Tricor)- Fibrate - CORRECT ANSWER modest LDL-lowering potential for
severely excessive triglyceride and cholesterol levels
Side effects: GI complaints (diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain), stones in
the gallbladder, and muscle pain
Cautions: gallbladder disease, liver disease
Warfarin (Jantoven)- Antithrombotic - CORRECT ANSWER interfere with or prevent
thrombosis (blood clots) or blood coagulation
Side effects: bleeding complications, bloody stool, and red urine
Cautions:
Albuterol (ProAir)- Bronchodilator (SABA) - CORRECT ANSWER treatments for acute
asthma attacks because they are short-acting and taken as needed
Formoterol (Foradil)- Bronchodilator (LABA) - CORRECT ANSWER utilized as preventative
medications and are usually taken daily on a maintenance schedule
Side effects: throat irritation, hoarseness, and sinusitis; nervousness, tremor, dizziness, and headache
Caution: may cause or worsen cardiac irregularities (tachycardia, palpitations, arrhythmias, and
angina)
Ipratropium (Atrovent)- Anticholinergic - CORRECT ANSWER blocking receptors in the
smooth muscle of the airway;
, Side effects: cardiac effects (changes in heart rate and palpitations), CNS stimulation (headache,
drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and agitation), thickened secretions and mucus plugging, dry mouth
and metallic taste, constipation and abdominal pain
Cautions: anticholinergics are not indicated for patients with unstable cardiac status, history of heart
attacks, glaucoma, drug sensitivity, or prostatic hypertrophy
Theophylline (Theo 24)- Xanthine Derivatives - CORRECT ANSWER prevent and treat
wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness in the lungs and respiratory passages; relaxes the
smooth muscle of the bronchial airways and pulmonary blood vessels
Side effects: nervousness, insomnia, irritability, headache, tremors, seizures, cardiac effects
(palpitation, tachycardia, arrhythmias), and urinary frequency
Cautions: sudden cessation of tobacco smoking (may result in reduced clearance of theophylline and
increased serum theophylline concentrations)
Fluticasone (Flovent)- Inhaled Corticosteroids - CORRECT ANSWER inhibit the release of
chemicals that cause asthma symptoms by specific cells in the lungs and airways
Side effects: throat irritation and dry mouth, oral fungal infections (patient should be encouraged to
rinse mouth with mouthwash or water after administration), and increased susceptibility to pneumonia
Cautions: with corticosteroids applied to viral, bacterial, or fungal infections, hypertension or
congestive heart failure, diabetes hypothyroidism or cirrhosis renal failure
Guaifenesin (Mucinex)- Expectorant (OTC) - CORRECT ANSWER decrease thickness and
aid in the expulsion of sputum and phlegm; in cough syrups; treats wet coughs
Side effects: weariness, sleeplessness, and pain in the lower back due to excessive coughing
Dextromethorphan (Delsym)- Antitussives - CORRECT ANSWER used to stop dry coughs
