lOMoARcPSD|26582732
Pharmacology Final exam
Review 2025
Black box warnings: the FDA's most stringent warning for drugs and medical devices on the market that alert
the public and health care providers to serious side effects, such as injury or death.
Tardive dyskinesia: characterized by unusual tongue and face movements, such as lip smacking and pill rolling
motions in hands and tongue; is involuntary so movements are uncontrollable; painless movements but
cannot get rid of TD; (TD is an adverse reaction to taking antipsychotics) bactericidal: medication that
eliminate a pathogen by killing bacteria bacteriostatic: slows the growth of microorganisms insulin: onset,
peak, duration
- Peak: when the medication has reached its highest concentration in the blood stream
- Onset: the amount of time it takes to produce a therapeutic effect after drug administration
- Duration: the amount of time a drug maintains its therapeutic effect
First-pass effect: oral drugs is metabolized to an inactive form before it has an opportunity to reach target
cells (oral or inhalation) *usually happens in the liver* pharmacokinetics: the study of drug movement
through the body pharmacodynamics: how the medication changes in the body paradoxical reaction: an
effect of a chemical substance, typically a medical drug, that is opposite to what would usually be expected
peak/trough nursing interventions
- Trough is pulled before the next dose of the antibiotic is administered cross-sensitivity: when a patient
displays sensitivity to one drug class, they can display the similar sensitivity to a different (but related)
drug
- I.e.: penicillin cross sensitivity with cephalosporins
IV infiltration: infiltration of a nonvesicant solution/ medication IV extravasation: infiltration of a vesicant
solution/ medication non-vesicant solution/ medication: IV solutions or medications that do not damage tissue
vesicant solution/ medication: IV solutions or medications that damage the tissue (burns, swelling, etc) culture
+ sensitivity (to find most effective antibiotic)
- Draw prior to antibiotic administration
- Wrong antibiotic can lead to antibiotic resistance
Therapeutic index: the measurement of a drugs’ safety margin (the higher the value, the safer the drug) the
ratio of a drugs median lethal dose to the median effective dose – how much can I give and reach a
therapeutic effect while not being lethal?
When doing a med. Reconciliation, always ask about allergies & ask for drugs AND herbal medications taken
Loading dose: used to build up levels in the plasma (bloodstream) so the body can get used to the medication
faster
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Estrogen pulls calcium from the bones & puts it into the bloodstream (causes serum hypercalcemia)
Gout: the buildup of uric acid that crystalizes and causes inflammation (and pain!) Appropriate treatments:
prednisone, ibuprofen, colchicine, allopurinol
Do not take aspirin for gout – it can thin the blood, causing a crystal (uric acid crystal) to break off and cause a
stroke
Antagonist: drug will occupy a receptor and prevent the endogenous chemical from acting
Methotrexate
Therapeutic class: antineoplastics, antirheumatics (dmards), immunosuppressants pharmacologic class:
antimetabolites
Indication: rheumatoid arthritis
Action: inhibits DNA synthesis & replication (of cells) and interferes with folic acid metabolism
Patient education:
› avoid alcohol when on this drug
› avoid nsaids (can cause myelosuppression – low WBC, low RBC, low platelets and can ultimately lead to
death)
› do not take when pregnant or breastfeeding
› avoid crowds
Nursing interventions/ implications:
› monitor labs: AST, ALT, & LFT’s
› put patient on neutropenic precautions (safe for the patient since this is an immunosuppressant)
Raloxifene
Class: selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)
Indication: osteoporosis caused by menopause
Action: decreases bone resorption & increases bone mass and density by acting through the estrogen receptor
Adverse reaction:
› DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
› hot flashes *most important due to the contraindication of women in menopause – they can’t take this
medication!* › stroke (likely caused by the DVT
Patient education:
› pregnant women can NOT take this medication, it’s a pregnancy category x (harmful to the fetus)
Allopurinol
Class: xanthine oxidase inhibitor & therapeutic class: drug for gout
Indication: chronic gout
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Action/ mechanism of action: ›
prevents uric acid buildup
Patient teaching:
› avoid triggers (red meat & beer)
› this medication is not used for pain – use ibuprofen or prednisone › this
medication is not for an acute gout attack
What medications can you take for gout?
- Colchicine
- Prednisone
- Ibuprofen
- Allopurinol
What medications should you NOT take for gout?
- Aspirin
Hydroxychloroquine
Class: nonbiologic DMARD (tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist)
Indication: inflammation & pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Adverse reaction:
› blurred vision – causes inability to read or see – causing visual field disturbances – therefore the patient
cannot drive/ care for self
Patient education:
› get eye exam every 6 months
Alendronate (Fosamax)
Class: bisphosphonate; bone resorption inhibitor
Indication: osteoporosis after menopause
Action/ mechanism of action:
› lowers alkaline phosphatase (ALP) – AKA suppresses osteoclast hyperactivity adverse reaction:
› muscle spasms (due to decreased calcium) leading to seizures, which can lead to falls, leading to fractures &
so on etc.
Patient education:
› take in the morning on an empty stomach with a full glass of water before the first meal of the day
› stay upright for at least 30 minutes – can cause esophagitis if you lay flat › do not take
antacids (decreases effectiveness)
Fat soluble vitamins
› must be ingested with lipids to be absorbed in small intestine
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
Pharmacology Final exam
Review 2025
Black box warnings: the FDA's most stringent warning for drugs and medical devices on the market that alert
the public and health care providers to serious side effects, such as injury or death.
Tardive dyskinesia: characterized by unusual tongue and face movements, such as lip smacking and pill rolling
motions in hands and tongue; is involuntary so movements are uncontrollable; painless movements but
cannot get rid of TD; (TD is an adverse reaction to taking antipsychotics) bactericidal: medication that
eliminate a pathogen by killing bacteria bacteriostatic: slows the growth of microorganisms insulin: onset,
peak, duration
- Peak: when the medication has reached its highest concentration in the blood stream
- Onset: the amount of time it takes to produce a therapeutic effect after drug administration
- Duration: the amount of time a drug maintains its therapeutic effect
First-pass effect: oral drugs is metabolized to an inactive form before it has an opportunity to reach target
cells (oral or inhalation) *usually happens in the liver* pharmacokinetics: the study of drug movement
through the body pharmacodynamics: how the medication changes in the body paradoxical reaction: an
effect of a chemical substance, typically a medical drug, that is opposite to what would usually be expected
peak/trough nursing interventions
- Trough is pulled before the next dose of the antibiotic is administered cross-sensitivity: when a patient
displays sensitivity to one drug class, they can display the similar sensitivity to a different (but related)
drug
- I.e.: penicillin cross sensitivity with cephalosporins
IV infiltration: infiltration of a nonvesicant solution/ medication IV extravasation: infiltration of a vesicant
solution/ medication non-vesicant solution/ medication: IV solutions or medications that do not damage tissue
vesicant solution/ medication: IV solutions or medications that damage the tissue (burns, swelling, etc) culture
+ sensitivity (to find most effective antibiotic)
- Draw prior to antibiotic administration
- Wrong antibiotic can lead to antibiotic resistance
Therapeutic index: the measurement of a drugs’ safety margin (the higher the value, the safer the drug) the
ratio of a drugs median lethal dose to the median effective dose – how much can I give and reach a
therapeutic effect while not being lethal?
When doing a med. Reconciliation, always ask about allergies & ask for drugs AND herbal medications taken
Loading dose: used to build up levels in the plasma (bloodstream) so the body can get used to the medication
faster
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
Estrogen pulls calcium from the bones & puts it into the bloodstream (causes serum hypercalcemia)
Gout: the buildup of uric acid that crystalizes and causes inflammation (and pain!) Appropriate treatments:
prednisone, ibuprofen, colchicine, allopurinol
Do not take aspirin for gout – it can thin the blood, causing a crystal (uric acid crystal) to break off and cause a
stroke
Antagonist: drug will occupy a receptor and prevent the endogenous chemical from acting
Methotrexate
Therapeutic class: antineoplastics, antirheumatics (dmards), immunosuppressants pharmacologic class:
antimetabolites
Indication: rheumatoid arthritis
Action: inhibits DNA synthesis & replication (of cells) and interferes with folic acid metabolism
Patient education:
› avoid alcohol when on this drug
› avoid nsaids (can cause myelosuppression – low WBC, low RBC, low platelets and can ultimately lead to
death)
› do not take when pregnant or breastfeeding
› avoid crowds
Nursing interventions/ implications:
› monitor labs: AST, ALT, & LFT’s
› put patient on neutropenic precautions (safe for the patient since this is an immunosuppressant)
Raloxifene
Class: selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)
Indication: osteoporosis caused by menopause
Action: decreases bone resorption & increases bone mass and density by acting through the estrogen receptor
Adverse reaction:
› DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
› hot flashes *most important due to the contraindication of women in menopause – they can’t take this
medication!* › stroke (likely caused by the DVT
Patient education:
› pregnant women can NOT take this medication, it’s a pregnancy category x (harmful to the fetus)
Allopurinol
Class: xanthine oxidase inhibitor & therapeutic class: drug for gout
Indication: chronic gout
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
Action/ mechanism of action: ›
prevents uric acid buildup
Patient teaching:
› avoid triggers (red meat & beer)
› this medication is not used for pain – use ibuprofen or prednisone › this
medication is not for an acute gout attack
What medications can you take for gout?
- Colchicine
- Prednisone
- Ibuprofen
- Allopurinol
What medications should you NOT take for gout?
- Aspirin
Hydroxychloroquine
Class: nonbiologic DMARD (tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist)
Indication: inflammation & pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Adverse reaction:
› blurred vision – causes inability to read or see – causing visual field disturbances – therefore the patient
cannot drive/ care for self
Patient education:
› get eye exam every 6 months
Alendronate (Fosamax)
Class: bisphosphonate; bone resorption inhibitor
Indication: osteoporosis after menopause
Action/ mechanism of action:
› lowers alkaline phosphatase (ALP) – AKA suppresses osteoclast hyperactivity adverse reaction:
› muscle spasms (due to decreased calcium) leading to seizures, which can lead to falls, leading to fractures &
so on etc.
Patient education:
› take in the morning on an empty stomach with a full glass of water before the first meal of the day
› stay upright for at least 30 minutes – can cause esophagitis if you lay flat › do not take
antacids (decreases effectiveness)
Fat soluble vitamins
› must be ingested with lipids to be absorbed in small intestine
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
