N352 PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 4: CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS | NURSING STUDY
GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Lipid and cholesterol lowering drugs (general knowledge) - correct answer ✔✔- The liver is responsible
for lipid/cholesterol metabolism. These actions generally occur at night.
- Cholesterol and lipid difficulties can be genetic, lifestyle, or both. Labs can determine.
- The greater the amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood, the greater the risk of cardiovascular
disease.
- Circulating cholesterol bind to vessel walls, increasing plaque buildup as years pass.
- Medications should be aimed at what type of cholesterol/lipids abnormality the patient has.
What do HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins) do? - correct answer ✔✔- most effective drugs for
lowering LDL
- reduction of LDL cholesterol
- elevation of HDL cholesterol
- reduction of triglyceride levels
What are nonlipid beneficial cardiovascular actions of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct
answer ✔✔- Promote plaque stability
- Reduce the risk for cardiovascular (CV) events
- increased bone formation
What are the therapeutic uses of HMG-CoA Reducatase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct answer ✔✔-
hypercholesterolemia
- primary and secondary prevention of CV events
- post-MI therapy
- Diabetes
- PVD/PAD
What are the adverse effects of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct answer ✔✔-
myopathy/rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown, muscle pain)
- hepatotoxicity
- hepatitis
What are the side effects of HMG-CoA Reducatase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct answer ✔✔- headache
- rash
- GI disturbances: dyspepsia, gas
- Muscle and joint pain
- flushing
How do you determine for HMG-CoA Reducatase Inhibitors (statins) if muscle pain developed by a
patient is a side effect of the start of rhabdomyolysis? - correct answer ✔✔Ask how severe the muscle
and joint pain is...if severe stop the med
What are the nursing considerations for HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct answer ✔✔-
teach dietary methods/lifestyle to reduce cholesterol/lipid levels
- Monitor cholesterol profile (should be fasting lab)
, - Monitor liver function tests
- Take with food, most effective if given in evening or at HS
- Avoid alcohol
Indications for Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - correct answer ✔✔- reduction of blood cholesterol and lipids
- PO
Adverse effects of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - correct answer ✔✔- dizziness
- bronchitis
- muscle and joint pain
- flushing
- pancreatitis
- elevated LFT's
Drug interactions of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - correct answer ✔✔- Increase serum digoxin levels
- increase warfarin effectiveness
- increase levels of anti-diabetic medication
Nursing Implications of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - correct answer ✔✔- monitor LFT's and serum cholesterol
levels
- give at night or HS (don't have to but works better at night)
- avoid use with grapefruit juice
Other Medications for Antilipemic Effects - correct answer ✔✔- Bile Acid Sequestrants: Cholestyramine
(Questran) - decreases LBL through loss of bile acids
- Cholesterol Absorbing inhibitors: Ezetimibe (Zetia) - for dietary cholesterol, given with meal to prevent
dietary cholesterol from being absorbed from food
- Nicotonic Acid: Niacin (Vitamin B3) - decreases total cholesterol, take with aspirin to decrease side
effects, causes flushing
- Folic acid: Fenobibrate (Tricor) - decreases total cholesterol
The patient is prescribed atorvastatin (Lipitor). The nurse will teach the patient to take the medication at
which time?
A. at any meal
B. at bedtime
C. 1 hour before breakfast
D. 2 hours after a meal - correct answer ✔✔B. at bedtime
The nurse will teach a patient who is prescribed niacin (Niacor) to prevent flushing of the face by doing
what?
A. Drinking a full glass of water after taking the medication
B. Taking 325 mg of aspirin 30 min. before each dose
C. Ingesting a meal before taking the medication
D. Increasing dietary fiber before and after each dose - correct answer ✔✔B. taking 325 mg of aspirin 30
min. before each dose
Action of Amiodarone (Cordarone) - correct answer ✔✔- prolongs myocardial action potential
- blocks alpha and beta
GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Lipid and cholesterol lowering drugs (general knowledge) - correct answer ✔✔- The liver is responsible
for lipid/cholesterol metabolism. These actions generally occur at night.
- Cholesterol and lipid difficulties can be genetic, lifestyle, or both. Labs can determine.
- The greater the amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood, the greater the risk of cardiovascular
disease.
- Circulating cholesterol bind to vessel walls, increasing plaque buildup as years pass.
- Medications should be aimed at what type of cholesterol/lipids abnormality the patient has.
What do HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins) do? - correct answer ✔✔- most effective drugs for
lowering LDL
- reduction of LDL cholesterol
- elevation of HDL cholesterol
- reduction of triglyceride levels
What are nonlipid beneficial cardiovascular actions of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct
answer ✔✔- Promote plaque stability
- Reduce the risk for cardiovascular (CV) events
- increased bone formation
What are the therapeutic uses of HMG-CoA Reducatase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct answer ✔✔-
hypercholesterolemia
- primary and secondary prevention of CV events
- post-MI therapy
- Diabetes
- PVD/PAD
What are the adverse effects of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct answer ✔✔-
myopathy/rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown, muscle pain)
- hepatotoxicity
- hepatitis
What are the side effects of HMG-CoA Reducatase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct answer ✔✔- headache
- rash
- GI disturbances: dyspepsia, gas
- Muscle and joint pain
- flushing
How do you determine for HMG-CoA Reducatase Inhibitors (statins) if muscle pain developed by a
patient is a side effect of the start of rhabdomyolysis? - correct answer ✔✔Ask how severe the muscle
and joint pain is...if severe stop the med
What are the nursing considerations for HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)? - correct answer ✔✔-
teach dietary methods/lifestyle to reduce cholesterol/lipid levels
- Monitor cholesterol profile (should be fasting lab)
, - Monitor liver function tests
- Take with food, most effective if given in evening or at HS
- Avoid alcohol
Indications for Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - correct answer ✔✔- reduction of blood cholesterol and lipids
- PO
Adverse effects of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - correct answer ✔✔- dizziness
- bronchitis
- muscle and joint pain
- flushing
- pancreatitis
- elevated LFT's
Drug interactions of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - correct answer ✔✔- Increase serum digoxin levels
- increase warfarin effectiveness
- increase levels of anti-diabetic medication
Nursing Implications of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - correct answer ✔✔- monitor LFT's and serum cholesterol
levels
- give at night or HS (don't have to but works better at night)
- avoid use with grapefruit juice
Other Medications for Antilipemic Effects - correct answer ✔✔- Bile Acid Sequestrants: Cholestyramine
(Questran) - decreases LBL through loss of bile acids
- Cholesterol Absorbing inhibitors: Ezetimibe (Zetia) - for dietary cholesterol, given with meal to prevent
dietary cholesterol from being absorbed from food
- Nicotonic Acid: Niacin (Vitamin B3) - decreases total cholesterol, take with aspirin to decrease side
effects, causes flushing
- Folic acid: Fenobibrate (Tricor) - decreases total cholesterol
The patient is prescribed atorvastatin (Lipitor). The nurse will teach the patient to take the medication at
which time?
A. at any meal
B. at bedtime
C. 1 hour before breakfast
D. 2 hours after a meal - correct answer ✔✔B. at bedtime
The nurse will teach a patient who is prescribed niacin (Niacor) to prevent flushing of the face by doing
what?
A. Drinking a full glass of water after taking the medication
B. Taking 325 mg of aspirin 30 min. before each dose
C. Ingesting a meal before taking the medication
D. Increasing dietary fiber before and after each dose - correct answer ✔✔B. taking 325 mg of aspirin 30
min. before each dose
Action of Amiodarone (Cordarone) - correct answer ✔✔- prolongs myocardial action potential
- blocks alpha and beta
