2026 WGU D116 OA EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
1. 1st line weight loss: Diet and exercise
2. 1st line Panic attack medication: SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors): Often first choice
for many anxiety disorders, increasing serotonin.
Examples: Sertraline (Zoloft), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine (Prozac).
SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors): Also common first-line, attecting serotonin and norepineph-rine.
Examples: Venlafaxine (Ettexor XR), Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
3. Zidovudine side effect: aplastic anemia
Blood and Bone Marrow Problems: Symptoms such as unusual bleeding or bruising, persistent fever or chills, sore throat, or pale skin
may indicate low red or white blood cell counts (anemia or neutropenia). Regular blood tests are recommended to monitor for these
issues.
Muscle Damage (Myopathy): Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with long-term use, should be reported to
a doctor.
Lactic Acidosis and Liver Problems: This is a rare but serious condition involving a buildup of lactic acid in the blood, which can be fatal.
Symptoms include unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or yellowing of the skin or
eyes (jaundice).
Fat Redistribution (Lipoatrophy): Zidovudine use may lead to a loss of subcutaneous fat in the face, arms, legs, or buttocks, and/or an
increase of fat in other areas like the upper back or stomach.
Immune Reconstitution Syndrome: As the immune system gets stronger after starting treatment, it may begin fighting existing but
previously unnoticed infections, causing new symptoms.
4. Sildenafil contraindicated with which meds: Nitrates, such as nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) and
isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket)
Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators, such as riociguat (Adempas)
Alpha blockers, such as tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatral), and doxazosin (Cardura)
Blood pressure medications, such as lisinopril (Zestril Qbrelis), losartan (Cozaar, Arbli), and amlodipine (Norvasc) Alcohol
Ritonavir (Norvir)
Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir)
Clarithromycin
, Ketoconazole Rifampin
(Rifadin)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol) St.
John's wort
Grapefruit juice
5. Atropine MOA for a patient being treated for asystole: Atropine, a cholinergic blocking drug, competes with
acetyl-choline for cholinergic receptor sites on the SA and AV nodes.
By blocking acetylcholine, atropine speeds up the heart rate. It blocks vagal (parasympathetic) action on the heart's sinoatatrial (SA) and
atrioventricular (AV) nodes, increasing the heart rate and conduction velocity. By blocking ACh, atropine removes the "brake," letting the
SA node fire faster and the AV node conduct signals quicker, resulting in a faster heart rate (tachycardia) and better electrical flow.
6. Hydralazine increases blood flow in: arterioles (arteries) vasodilation
7. Child 8 years old with a UTI has been unsuccessfully treated with azithromycin,
what antibiotic should be administered next? a)vancomycin
b)penicillin g c)clindamycin
d) ?: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
8. Urine and bile are excreted through which pharmacological process: Elimination
9. Care Coordination and Transition Management (CCTM): American Academy of Ambu-
latory Care Nursing (AAACN)
10. Eye drops for allergy: Ketotifen
11. Myxedema coma, why use liothyronine over levothyroxine: Impaired Conversion:
Severe illness (like myxedema coma) slows down the conversion of T4 (storage hormone) to T3 (active hormone), so giving T3 directly
bypasses this bottleneck.
Quicker Action: T3 is the active hormone, providing a more immediate biological ettect than T4, which needs conversion first.
Life-Threatening Urgency: Myxedema coma requires rapid restoration of thyroid function, and T3's speed helps address the critical
metabolic slowdown quickly. Combination Therapy: Many guidelines suggest starting with intravenous levothyroxine (T4) and
adding liothyronine (T3) in lower doses (e.g., 5-20 mcg loading dose) to speed up recovery
12. Contraindication for bowel obstruction: Senna
ANSWERS
1. 1st line weight loss: Diet and exercise
2. 1st line Panic attack medication: SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors): Often first choice
for many anxiety disorders, increasing serotonin.
Examples: Sertraline (Zoloft), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine (Prozac).
SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors): Also common first-line, attecting serotonin and norepineph-rine.
Examples: Venlafaxine (Ettexor XR), Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
3. Zidovudine side effect: aplastic anemia
Blood and Bone Marrow Problems: Symptoms such as unusual bleeding or bruising, persistent fever or chills, sore throat, or pale skin
may indicate low red or white blood cell counts (anemia or neutropenia). Regular blood tests are recommended to monitor for these
issues.
Muscle Damage (Myopathy): Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with long-term use, should be reported to
a doctor.
Lactic Acidosis and Liver Problems: This is a rare but serious condition involving a buildup of lactic acid in the blood, which can be fatal.
Symptoms include unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or yellowing of the skin or
eyes (jaundice).
Fat Redistribution (Lipoatrophy): Zidovudine use may lead to a loss of subcutaneous fat in the face, arms, legs, or buttocks, and/or an
increase of fat in other areas like the upper back or stomach.
Immune Reconstitution Syndrome: As the immune system gets stronger after starting treatment, it may begin fighting existing but
previously unnoticed infections, causing new symptoms.
4. Sildenafil contraindicated with which meds: Nitrates, such as nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) and
isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket)
Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators, such as riociguat (Adempas)
Alpha blockers, such as tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatral), and doxazosin (Cardura)
Blood pressure medications, such as lisinopril (Zestril Qbrelis), losartan (Cozaar, Arbli), and amlodipine (Norvasc) Alcohol
Ritonavir (Norvir)
Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir)
Clarithromycin
, Ketoconazole Rifampin
(Rifadin)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol) St.
John's wort
Grapefruit juice
5. Atropine MOA for a patient being treated for asystole: Atropine, a cholinergic blocking drug, competes with
acetyl-choline for cholinergic receptor sites on the SA and AV nodes.
By blocking acetylcholine, atropine speeds up the heart rate. It blocks vagal (parasympathetic) action on the heart's sinoatatrial (SA) and
atrioventricular (AV) nodes, increasing the heart rate and conduction velocity. By blocking ACh, atropine removes the "brake," letting the
SA node fire faster and the AV node conduct signals quicker, resulting in a faster heart rate (tachycardia) and better electrical flow.
6. Hydralazine increases blood flow in: arterioles (arteries) vasodilation
7. Child 8 years old with a UTI has been unsuccessfully treated with azithromycin,
what antibiotic should be administered next? a)vancomycin
b)penicillin g c)clindamycin
d) ?: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
8. Urine and bile are excreted through which pharmacological process: Elimination
9. Care Coordination and Transition Management (CCTM): American Academy of Ambu-
latory Care Nursing (AAACN)
10. Eye drops for allergy: Ketotifen
11. Myxedema coma, why use liothyronine over levothyroxine: Impaired Conversion:
Severe illness (like myxedema coma) slows down the conversion of T4 (storage hormone) to T3 (active hormone), so giving T3 directly
bypasses this bottleneck.
Quicker Action: T3 is the active hormone, providing a more immediate biological ettect than T4, which needs conversion first.
Life-Threatening Urgency: Myxedema coma requires rapid restoration of thyroid function, and T3's speed helps address the critical
metabolic slowdown quickly. Combination Therapy: Many guidelines suggest starting with intravenous levothyroxine (T4) and
adding liothyronine (T3) in lower doses (e.g., 5-20 mcg loading dose) to speed up recovery
12. Contraindication for bowel obstruction: Senna
