SAUNDERS FUNDAMENTALS MEDICATIONS 4
2026 COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS ANSWERS UPDATED
REVIEW SET
◉ What does the Durham-Humphrey Amendment of 1952 specify?
Answer: The criteria for prescription medications and OTC
medications.
◉ What is a side effect of a medication?
Answer: An unintended outcome that occurs when a medication is
taken.
◉ What distinguishes an adverse effect from a side effect?
Answer: Adverse effects are more severe or harmful than side
effects.
◉ What are common causes of adverse reactions?
Answer: Chronic illness, drug allergies, liver or renal impairment,
and history of previous drug reactions.
◉ What characterizes a severe adverse effect?
,Answer: It is life-threatening and requires medical intervention to
prevent permanent damage or death.
◉ What is a typical mild allergic reaction to medication?
Answer: A rash, hives, and itching that usually resolves when the
medication is discontinued.
◉ What is an anaphylactic reaction?
Answer: A life-threatening allergic reaction causing airway swelling,
shortness of breath, and circulatory collapse.
◉ What should you do if you suspect an anaphylactic reaction to a
medication?
Answer: Stop the medication at once and follow facility procedure
for responding to anaphylaxis.
◉ Why is it important to check a patient's chart for allergies before
administering medications?
Answer: To avoid administering medications that could cause
allergic reactions.
◉ What is the difference between a medication allergy and an
unpleasant side effect?
, Answer: An allergy typically involves an immune response, while
side effects are common reactions that do not involve the immune
system.
◉ What types of medications commonly cause allergic reactions?
Answer: Antibiotics (especially penicillin and sulfa drugs), iodine
and dyes, vaccines, and anticonvulsants.
◉ What is a therapeutic level of medication?
Answer: The amount of medication in the blood needed to achieve
the desired effects on the target organ.
◉ What can happen if medications accumulate in the body?
Answer: The patient may exhibit symptoms of toxicity, which can
lead to severe effects like organ failure or death.
◉ What are common symptoms of digoxin toxicity?
Answer: Nausea, vomiting, halos of light around objects, blurred
vision, yellow-tinted vision, irregular heartbeat, and bradycardia.
◉ What blood level indicates digoxin toxicity?
Answer: Blood levels greater than 2.0 ng/mL.
2026 COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS ANSWERS UPDATED
REVIEW SET
◉ What does the Durham-Humphrey Amendment of 1952 specify?
Answer: The criteria for prescription medications and OTC
medications.
◉ What is a side effect of a medication?
Answer: An unintended outcome that occurs when a medication is
taken.
◉ What distinguishes an adverse effect from a side effect?
Answer: Adverse effects are more severe or harmful than side
effects.
◉ What are common causes of adverse reactions?
Answer: Chronic illness, drug allergies, liver or renal impairment,
and history of previous drug reactions.
◉ What characterizes a severe adverse effect?
,Answer: It is life-threatening and requires medical intervention to
prevent permanent damage or death.
◉ What is a typical mild allergic reaction to medication?
Answer: A rash, hives, and itching that usually resolves when the
medication is discontinued.
◉ What is an anaphylactic reaction?
Answer: A life-threatening allergic reaction causing airway swelling,
shortness of breath, and circulatory collapse.
◉ What should you do if you suspect an anaphylactic reaction to a
medication?
Answer: Stop the medication at once and follow facility procedure
for responding to anaphylaxis.
◉ Why is it important to check a patient's chart for allergies before
administering medications?
Answer: To avoid administering medications that could cause
allergic reactions.
◉ What is the difference between a medication allergy and an
unpleasant side effect?
, Answer: An allergy typically involves an immune response, while
side effects are common reactions that do not involve the immune
system.
◉ What types of medications commonly cause allergic reactions?
Answer: Antibiotics (especially penicillin and sulfa drugs), iodine
and dyes, vaccines, and anticonvulsants.
◉ What is a therapeutic level of medication?
Answer: The amount of medication in the blood needed to achieve
the desired effects on the target organ.
◉ What can happen if medications accumulate in the body?
Answer: The patient may exhibit symptoms of toxicity, which can
lead to severe effects like organ failure or death.
◉ What are common symptoms of digoxin toxicity?
Answer: Nausea, vomiting, halos of light around objects, blurred
vision, yellow-tinted vision, irregular heartbeat, and bradycardia.
◉ What blood level indicates digoxin toxicity?
Answer: Blood levels greater than 2.0 ng/mL.
