Chapter 46 Antitubercular Drugs
Sealock Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Patients taking isoniazid (Isotamine®) should watch for and report which potential adverse effect(s)?
a. Rash
b. Headache and nervousness c. Insomnia
d. Numbness and tingling of extremities
ANS D
Patients on isoniazid therapy should report numbness and tingling of extremities. Rash, headache,
nervousness, and insomnia are not adverse effects of isoniazid. Headache and insomnia are adverse
effects of levofloxacin and some of the other antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis.
DIF Cognitive Level Application
2. A patient who has been taking isoniazid (Isotamine) has a new prescription for pyridoxine (vitamin
B6) and asks the nurse why this medication is needed. The nurse explains that pyridoxine is given
concurrently with the isoniazid to prevent which condition?
a. Hair loss
b. Renal failure
c. Neurological adverse effects
d. Heart failure
ANS C
The neurological adverse effects of isoniazid—such as isoniazid-precipitated peripheral neuropathies
and numbness, tingling, or burning of extremities—may be prevented with the administration of
pyridoxine.
DIF Cognitive Level Application
, 3. When assessing patients who are to receive antitubercular therapy, the nurse should monitor for
which sign?
a. Glaucoma
b. Weight gain c. Heart failure
d. Hepatic impairment
ANS D
Isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (Rifadin®) may cause hepatic impairment. Therefore, liver function and
alcohol use should be assessed.
DIF Cognitive Level Comprehension
4. Which antitubercular drug may cause retrobulbar neuritis?
a. rifampin (Rifadin)
b. isoniazid (Isotamine) c. ethambutol (Etibi®) d. streptomycin
ANS C
Ethambutol may cause retrobulbar neuritis and blindness. DIF Cognitive Level Knowledge
5. What indicates a patient’s therapeutic response to antitubercular drugs?
a. Cessation of the chronic cough
b. Two consecutive negative purified protein derivative tuberculin skin test results over 2 months
c. An increased tolerance to the medication therapy and fewer reports of adverse effects
d. A decrease in symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) and improved chest X-rays and sputum cultures
ANS D
A therapeutic response to the therapy is indicated by a decrease in symptoms of TB, supported by
improved chest X-rays, sputum cultures and sensitivities.
Sealock Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Patients taking isoniazid (Isotamine®) should watch for and report which potential adverse effect(s)?
a. Rash
b. Headache and nervousness c. Insomnia
d. Numbness and tingling of extremities
ANS D
Patients on isoniazid therapy should report numbness and tingling of extremities. Rash, headache,
nervousness, and insomnia are not adverse effects of isoniazid. Headache and insomnia are adverse
effects of levofloxacin and some of the other antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis.
DIF Cognitive Level Application
2. A patient who has been taking isoniazid (Isotamine) has a new prescription for pyridoxine (vitamin
B6) and asks the nurse why this medication is needed. The nurse explains that pyridoxine is given
concurrently with the isoniazid to prevent which condition?
a. Hair loss
b. Renal failure
c. Neurological adverse effects
d. Heart failure
ANS C
The neurological adverse effects of isoniazid—such as isoniazid-precipitated peripheral neuropathies
and numbness, tingling, or burning of extremities—may be prevented with the administration of
pyridoxine.
DIF Cognitive Level Application
, 3. When assessing patients who are to receive antitubercular therapy, the nurse should monitor for
which sign?
a. Glaucoma
b. Weight gain c. Heart failure
d. Hepatic impairment
ANS D
Isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (Rifadin®) may cause hepatic impairment. Therefore, liver function and
alcohol use should be assessed.
DIF Cognitive Level Comprehension
4. Which antitubercular drug may cause retrobulbar neuritis?
a. rifampin (Rifadin)
b. isoniazid (Isotamine) c. ethambutol (Etibi®) d. streptomycin
ANS C
Ethambutol may cause retrobulbar neuritis and blindness. DIF Cognitive Level Knowledge
5. What indicates a patient’s therapeutic response to antitubercular drugs?
a. Cessation of the chronic cough
b. Two consecutive negative purified protein derivative tuberculin skin test results over 2 months
c. An increased tolerance to the medication therapy and fewer reports of adverse effects
d. A decrease in symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) and improved chest X-rays and sputum cultures
ANS D
A therapeutic response to the therapy is indicated by a decrease in symptoms of TB, supported by
improved chest X-rays, sputum cultures and sensitivities.
