Chapter 23: Antihypertensive Drugs
Sealock: Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The physician has ordered doxazosin mesylate (Cardura®) for a female patient. What important
information should the nurse give this patient?
a. She should weigh herself daily and report any weight loss to the physician.
b. She must increase her potassium intake by eating more bananas and apricots.
c. The impaired taste associated with the medication usually goes away in 2 to 3 weeks.
d. She should take her first dose while lying down, because prazosin has a first-dose effect.
ANS: D
When a patient is starting doxazosin mesylate, the first dose should be taken while lying down, because
this drug has a first-dose effect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
2. Which is the best angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor for a patient who has liver
dysfunction in addition to an acute myocardial infarction?
a. quinapril (Accupril®) because it is a prodrug
b. captopril (Capoten®) because it is not a prodrug
c. lisinopril (Prinivil®) because it can be dosed only once a day
d. enalapril (Vasotec®) because it is also available in a parenteral form
ANS: B
A prodrug relies on a functioning liver to be converted to its active form. Captopril is not a prodrug. DIF:
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
3. Why does a physician examine the fundus of a patient’s eyes during antihypertensive therapy?
a. To monitor for drug toxicity
, b. To assess for increased intraocular pressure
c. To assess for visual changes that may occur with drug therapy d. To evaluate the long-term
effectiveness of the treatment
ANS: D
The physician examines the fundus of a patient’s eyes during antihypertensive therapy because it is a
more reliable indicator of the long-term effectiveness of treatment than blood pressure readings are.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
4. Which parameters determine the regulation of arterial blood pressure?
a. Cardiac output and vascular resistance b. Heart rate and peripheral resistance
c. Blood volume and renal blood flow
d. Myocardial contractility and arteriolar constriction
ANS: A
Blood pressure is determined by the product of cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance. DIF:
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
5. Which adverse effect commonly occurs in male patients who are taking antihypertensive
medications?
a. Erectile dysfunction b. Bradycardia
c. Increased libido
d. Increased weight
ANS: A
Sexual dysfunction is a common adverse effect of antihypertensive medications and may be manifested
in males as decreased libido or as impotence.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
Sealock: Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The physician has ordered doxazosin mesylate (Cardura®) for a female patient. What important
information should the nurse give this patient?
a. She should weigh herself daily and report any weight loss to the physician.
b. She must increase her potassium intake by eating more bananas and apricots.
c. The impaired taste associated with the medication usually goes away in 2 to 3 weeks.
d. She should take her first dose while lying down, because prazosin has a first-dose effect.
ANS: D
When a patient is starting doxazosin mesylate, the first dose should be taken while lying down, because
this drug has a first-dose effect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
2. Which is the best angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor for a patient who has liver
dysfunction in addition to an acute myocardial infarction?
a. quinapril (Accupril®) because it is a prodrug
b. captopril (Capoten®) because it is not a prodrug
c. lisinopril (Prinivil®) because it can be dosed only once a day
d. enalapril (Vasotec®) because it is also available in a parenteral form
ANS: B
A prodrug relies on a functioning liver to be converted to its active form. Captopril is not a prodrug. DIF:
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
3. Why does a physician examine the fundus of a patient’s eyes during antihypertensive therapy?
a. To monitor for drug toxicity
, b. To assess for increased intraocular pressure
c. To assess for visual changes that may occur with drug therapy d. To evaluate the long-term
effectiveness of the treatment
ANS: D
The physician examines the fundus of a patient’s eyes during antihypertensive therapy because it is a
more reliable indicator of the long-term effectiveness of treatment than blood pressure readings are.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
4. Which parameters determine the regulation of arterial blood pressure?
a. Cardiac output and vascular resistance b. Heart rate and peripheral resistance
c. Blood volume and renal blood flow
d. Myocardial contractility and arteriolar constriction
ANS: A
Blood pressure is determined by the product of cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance. DIF:
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
5. Which adverse effect commonly occurs in male patients who are taking antihypertensive
medications?
a. Erectile dysfunction b. Bradycardia
c. Increased libido
d. Increased weight
ANS: A
Sexual dysfunction is a common adverse effect of antihypertensive medications and may be manifested
in males as decreased libido or as impotence.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
