ATI CMS PHARMACOLOGY RETAKE EXAM
2 ACTUAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
GRADED A+
⩥ Medications for Infection: Carbapenems. Answer: Meropenem,
Imipenem - fights infection
- C: Penicillin allergy, renal issues
- AE: GI upset, superinfection, allergies
- NC: Monitor for allergic reactions
⩥ Medications for Infection: Penicillins. Answer: Penicillin,
Amoxicillin, Ampicillin - fights infection
- C: Allergic to penicillin, renal issues
- AE: Allergies, renal issues, hyperkalemia, hypernatremia,
dysrhythmias
- NC: Take with food, use additional contraceptive, complete entire
course of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Cephalosporins. Answer: Cefazolin,
Ceftriaxone =- fights infection
- C: Penicillin or cephalosporin allergy, renal issues
- AE: Renal issues, pain with IM injections, superinfection
,- NC: take with food, store oral's in refrigerator
⩥ Medications for Infection: Cell wall inhibitor. Answer: Vancomycin:
fights infection
- C: hearing loss, renal issues
- AE: Red mans syndrome, otoxicity, renal toxicity
- NC: Give slowly over 60 mins IV to help prevent red mans syndrome,
complete entire course of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Tetracyclines. Answer: Doxycycline: fights
infection, acne, lyme disease
- C: pregnancy, liver/kidney disease
- AE: If given to children <8 - causes tooth discoloration,
photosensitivity, GI upset, superinfection
- NC: use additional contraceptive, complete entire course of therapy
even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Macrolides. Answer: Erythromycin,
Azithromycin (z-pak) - fights infections, pneumonia, pertussis,
chlamydia (is an alt. med. for those who are allergic to penicillin)
- C: Liver disease, prolonged QT
- AE: GI upset, ototoxicity, prolonged QT
- NC: Use additional contraceptive, if treating an STD - treat partner as
well.
,⩥ Medications for Infection: Sulfonamides & Trimethoprim. Answer:
Trimethoprim-silfamethoxazole - treats UTI's
- C: Pregnancy/lactation, folate deficiency, renal issues
- AE: Agranulocytosis, hyperkalemia, hypersensitivity
- NC: Take on an empty stomach! Use additional contraceptive,
complete entire course of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Urinary tract antiseptic. Answer:
Nitrofurantoin: treats UTI's
- C: pregnancy/lactation, renal issues
- AE: GI upset, peripheral neuropathy
- NC: turns urine rust-yellow to brown, can stain teeth, complete entire
course of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Fluoroquinolones. Answer: Ciprofloxacin -
fights infection
- C: Can cause spontaneous tendon rupture in children <18,
pregnancy/lactation
- AE: GI upset, tendon rupture, superinfection, phototoxicity
- NC: Low doses in pt's with renal impairment, complete entire course
of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
, ⩥ Medications for Infection: UT analgesic. Answer: Phenazopyridine:
treats UTI's (is a dye that functions as a local anesthetic on the mucosa
of the urinary tract)
⩥ Medications for Infection: Antiprotozoals. Answer: Metronidazole:
treats protozoal infections
- C: pregnancy, kidney/cardiac/fungal/candida infection, seizure
disorder
- AE: GI upset, darkening of urine, neurotoxicity, superinfection
- NC: Use additional birth control
⩥ Medications for Infection: Antimycobacterials. Answer: Isoniazid:
treats tuberculosis
- C: older adults, people with diabetes, alcoholism
- AE: hepatotoxicity, hyperglycemia, peripheral neuropathy
- NC: Use additional birth control
Rifampin: treats infection & TB
- C: hepatic impairment
- AE: Can turn excretory fluids orange, GI upset, superinfection,
hepatotoxicity
- NC: Full glass of water, non-hormonal contraception
⩥ Medications for Infection: Antifungals. Answer: Amphotericin B,
Ketoconazole: treats fungal infections
2 ACTUAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
GRADED A+
⩥ Medications for Infection: Carbapenems. Answer: Meropenem,
Imipenem - fights infection
- C: Penicillin allergy, renal issues
- AE: GI upset, superinfection, allergies
- NC: Monitor for allergic reactions
⩥ Medications for Infection: Penicillins. Answer: Penicillin,
Amoxicillin, Ampicillin - fights infection
- C: Allergic to penicillin, renal issues
- AE: Allergies, renal issues, hyperkalemia, hypernatremia,
dysrhythmias
- NC: Take with food, use additional contraceptive, complete entire
course of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Cephalosporins. Answer: Cefazolin,
Ceftriaxone =- fights infection
- C: Penicillin or cephalosporin allergy, renal issues
- AE: Renal issues, pain with IM injections, superinfection
,- NC: take with food, store oral's in refrigerator
⩥ Medications for Infection: Cell wall inhibitor. Answer: Vancomycin:
fights infection
- C: hearing loss, renal issues
- AE: Red mans syndrome, otoxicity, renal toxicity
- NC: Give slowly over 60 mins IV to help prevent red mans syndrome,
complete entire course of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Tetracyclines. Answer: Doxycycline: fights
infection, acne, lyme disease
- C: pregnancy, liver/kidney disease
- AE: If given to children <8 - causes tooth discoloration,
photosensitivity, GI upset, superinfection
- NC: use additional contraceptive, complete entire course of therapy
even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Macrolides. Answer: Erythromycin,
Azithromycin (z-pak) - fights infections, pneumonia, pertussis,
chlamydia (is an alt. med. for those who are allergic to penicillin)
- C: Liver disease, prolonged QT
- AE: GI upset, ototoxicity, prolonged QT
- NC: Use additional contraceptive, if treating an STD - treat partner as
well.
,⩥ Medications for Infection: Sulfonamides & Trimethoprim. Answer:
Trimethoprim-silfamethoxazole - treats UTI's
- C: Pregnancy/lactation, folate deficiency, renal issues
- AE: Agranulocytosis, hyperkalemia, hypersensitivity
- NC: Take on an empty stomach! Use additional contraceptive,
complete entire course of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Urinary tract antiseptic. Answer:
Nitrofurantoin: treats UTI's
- C: pregnancy/lactation, renal issues
- AE: GI upset, peripheral neuropathy
- NC: turns urine rust-yellow to brown, can stain teeth, complete entire
course of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
⩥ Medications for Infection: Fluoroquinolones. Answer: Ciprofloxacin -
fights infection
- C: Can cause spontaneous tendon rupture in children <18,
pregnancy/lactation
- AE: GI upset, tendon rupture, superinfection, phototoxicity
- NC: Low doses in pt's with renal impairment, complete entire course
of therapy even it pt. is feeling better.
, ⩥ Medications for Infection: UT analgesic. Answer: Phenazopyridine:
treats UTI's (is a dye that functions as a local anesthetic on the mucosa
of the urinary tract)
⩥ Medications for Infection: Antiprotozoals. Answer: Metronidazole:
treats protozoal infections
- C: pregnancy, kidney/cardiac/fungal/candida infection, seizure
disorder
- AE: GI upset, darkening of urine, neurotoxicity, superinfection
- NC: Use additional birth control
⩥ Medications for Infection: Antimycobacterials. Answer: Isoniazid:
treats tuberculosis
- C: older adults, people with diabetes, alcoholism
- AE: hepatotoxicity, hyperglycemia, peripheral neuropathy
- NC: Use additional birth control
Rifampin: treats infection & TB
- C: hepatic impairment
- AE: Can turn excretory fluids orange, GI upset, superinfection,
hepatotoxicity
- NC: Full glass of water, non-hormonal contraception
⩥ Medications for Infection: Antifungals. Answer: Amphotericin B,
Ketoconazole: treats fungal infections