NCLEX Pharmacology - High Yield:
Final Examination with Actual Detailed
Answers 2026/2027 Edition.
What is the antidote for tricyclic antidepressant overdose? - Answer sodium bicarbonate
infusion - you want to make the body more alkaline
what is a serious/deadly side effect of tricyclic antidepressants? - Answer Cardiac toxicity
Manifested by ECG abnormalities, arrhythmias and hypotension
What diet modification should be made when taking MAOIs? - Answer Avoid food high in
tyramine
Tyramine is an amino acid that regulates blood pressure ― food examples: aged cheeses,
sauerkraut, cured meats, draft beer and fermented soy products (for example, soy sauce, miso
and tofu).
The interaction of tyramine with MAOIs can cause dangerously high blood pressure.
what type of medication is used as an adjunct for Parkinsons - Answer MAO-B
what is the most important diet modification one has to make when taking Levodopa-
Carbidopa? - Answer decreasing high protein foods
Protein interferes with the absorption of levodopa
tip: LEAVE the protein and CARB up
What symptom can be seen when the dose of levodopa-carbidopa is too high? - Answer
dyskinesia - involuntary writhing movement
This should be reported to the provider
,What is a common symptom of levodopa-carbidopa that can be alarming to patients but is not
of any concern? - Answer red/brown urine, sweat, and saliva
what Parkinsonian drug is the most effective but has a "wearing off" effect after about 5 years of
use - Answer levodopa-carbidopa
what type of medication is bromociptine and what are the draw backs - Answer an ergot
derivative used in treatment of PD.
It is poorly tolerated and has a high incidence of valvular heart injury. Hence, it is administered
less frequently as compared to other PD medications
Common COMT inhibitor used in the treatment of PD - Answer entacapone
what type of drugs are considered first line for the treatment of PD - Answer MAO-B
ex: selegiline, rasagiline
what is the therapeutic range for phenytoin - Answer 10-20 mg/L
Easy signs of phenytoin toxicity to report to HCP - Answer ataxia
hand tremor
slurred speech
what are expected side effects of phenytoin that would not require it to be discontinued -
Answer bradycardia and hypotension
gingival hyperplasia (this is expected!!)
which of the following medications causes a metallic taste
phenytoin
metronidazole
naloxone
buspirone - Answer metronidazole
T/F: phenytoin causes photosensitivity - Answer false
,50% of students get this wrong on the NCLEX
What anticonvulsants are given to treat bipolar? - Answer valproic acid, carbamazepine,
lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine
Which anticonvulsant is preferred over phenytoin - Answer levetiracetam
Phenytoin and Levetiracetam share what similar adverse effects - Answer suicidal thoughts
and SJS
Overdose on neostigmine or pyridostigmine puts patient at risk for what - Answer cholinergic
crisis
what medication is used to differentiate between cholinergic crisis and an myasthenic crisis -
Answer edrophonium
- edrophonium is given during a tensilon test. If the symptoms worsen, the patient is having a
cholinergic crisis. This would be a negative tensilon test.
- A person in an myasthenic crisis will have symptomatic improvement with edrophonium. This
would be a positive tensilon test.
what is the antidote for cholinergics (ex: neostigmine or pyridostigmine) - Answer Atropine
what should a nurse screen a patient for before starting them on sumatriptan - Answer
history of uncontrolled HTN - this should be reported to HCP
When should ergotamine be taken? - Answer immediately at onset of headaches
what is a priority finding in patients with ergotamine (migraine med) - Answer pale
extremities
ergotamine causes vasoconstriction not only in the brain but throughout the whole body. Look
for signs of poor perfusion like pale extremities
Atropine may precipitate which disease - Answer glaucoma
, anticholinergic medications like benztropine and atropine is contraindicated in patients with
which medical problems - Answer patients with h/o bowel obstructions, glaucoma, and BPH
what medication is an osmotic diuretic used to treat migraines - Answer mannitol
what is the mechanism of mannitol - Answer Withdraws fluid from extracellular space or
parenchyma into the plasma, lowering ICP
can mannitol be administered PO - Answer No. IV is the only method of administration
what is a side effect of mannitol - Answer edema, heart failure
while mannitol is a diuretic, it still causes edema because of an initial intravascular hypertonic
phase.
What is succinylcholine used for? - Answer intubation
what is the primary result of succinylcholine - Answer flaccid paralysis - NOT a loss of
consciousness
what is a deadly adverse effect of succinylcholine - Answer malignant hyperthermia
what is the antidote for malignant hyperthermia - Answer Dantrolene
secondary interventions: O2 and cooling
which patients are at high risk of malignant hyperthermia from succinylcholine - Answer 1.
Patients who have had a prior reaction to general anesthesia (MOST CRITICAL)
2. Patients with blood relatives with significant reaction to general anesthesia
3. Alcoholics
Which nursing action(s) are appropriate for a nurse preparing to administer phenytoin via a
nasogastric (NG) tube? SATA
A) Hold tube feedings for at least one hour prior to administration
B) Flush the NG tube with 30 mL tap water before or after administration
C) Monitor blood pressure and heart rate every 15 minutes for two hours after
Final Examination with Actual Detailed
Answers 2026/2027 Edition.
What is the antidote for tricyclic antidepressant overdose? - Answer sodium bicarbonate
infusion - you want to make the body more alkaline
what is a serious/deadly side effect of tricyclic antidepressants? - Answer Cardiac toxicity
Manifested by ECG abnormalities, arrhythmias and hypotension
What diet modification should be made when taking MAOIs? - Answer Avoid food high in
tyramine
Tyramine is an amino acid that regulates blood pressure ― food examples: aged cheeses,
sauerkraut, cured meats, draft beer and fermented soy products (for example, soy sauce, miso
and tofu).
The interaction of tyramine with MAOIs can cause dangerously high blood pressure.
what type of medication is used as an adjunct for Parkinsons - Answer MAO-B
what is the most important diet modification one has to make when taking Levodopa-
Carbidopa? - Answer decreasing high protein foods
Protein interferes with the absorption of levodopa
tip: LEAVE the protein and CARB up
What symptom can be seen when the dose of levodopa-carbidopa is too high? - Answer
dyskinesia - involuntary writhing movement
This should be reported to the provider
,What is a common symptom of levodopa-carbidopa that can be alarming to patients but is not
of any concern? - Answer red/brown urine, sweat, and saliva
what Parkinsonian drug is the most effective but has a "wearing off" effect after about 5 years of
use - Answer levodopa-carbidopa
what type of medication is bromociptine and what are the draw backs - Answer an ergot
derivative used in treatment of PD.
It is poorly tolerated and has a high incidence of valvular heart injury. Hence, it is administered
less frequently as compared to other PD medications
Common COMT inhibitor used in the treatment of PD - Answer entacapone
what type of drugs are considered first line for the treatment of PD - Answer MAO-B
ex: selegiline, rasagiline
what is the therapeutic range for phenytoin - Answer 10-20 mg/L
Easy signs of phenytoin toxicity to report to HCP - Answer ataxia
hand tremor
slurred speech
what are expected side effects of phenytoin that would not require it to be discontinued -
Answer bradycardia and hypotension
gingival hyperplasia (this is expected!!)
which of the following medications causes a metallic taste
phenytoin
metronidazole
naloxone
buspirone - Answer metronidazole
T/F: phenytoin causes photosensitivity - Answer false
,50% of students get this wrong on the NCLEX
What anticonvulsants are given to treat bipolar? - Answer valproic acid, carbamazepine,
lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine
Which anticonvulsant is preferred over phenytoin - Answer levetiracetam
Phenytoin and Levetiracetam share what similar adverse effects - Answer suicidal thoughts
and SJS
Overdose on neostigmine or pyridostigmine puts patient at risk for what - Answer cholinergic
crisis
what medication is used to differentiate between cholinergic crisis and an myasthenic crisis -
Answer edrophonium
- edrophonium is given during a tensilon test. If the symptoms worsen, the patient is having a
cholinergic crisis. This would be a negative tensilon test.
- A person in an myasthenic crisis will have symptomatic improvement with edrophonium. This
would be a positive tensilon test.
what is the antidote for cholinergics (ex: neostigmine or pyridostigmine) - Answer Atropine
what should a nurse screen a patient for before starting them on sumatriptan - Answer
history of uncontrolled HTN - this should be reported to HCP
When should ergotamine be taken? - Answer immediately at onset of headaches
what is a priority finding in patients with ergotamine (migraine med) - Answer pale
extremities
ergotamine causes vasoconstriction not only in the brain but throughout the whole body. Look
for signs of poor perfusion like pale extremities
Atropine may precipitate which disease - Answer glaucoma
, anticholinergic medications like benztropine and atropine is contraindicated in patients with
which medical problems - Answer patients with h/o bowel obstructions, glaucoma, and BPH
what medication is an osmotic diuretic used to treat migraines - Answer mannitol
what is the mechanism of mannitol - Answer Withdraws fluid from extracellular space or
parenchyma into the plasma, lowering ICP
can mannitol be administered PO - Answer No. IV is the only method of administration
what is a side effect of mannitol - Answer edema, heart failure
while mannitol is a diuretic, it still causes edema because of an initial intravascular hypertonic
phase.
What is succinylcholine used for? - Answer intubation
what is the primary result of succinylcholine - Answer flaccid paralysis - NOT a loss of
consciousness
what is a deadly adverse effect of succinylcholine - Answer malignant hyperthermia
what is the antidote for malignant hyperthermia - Answer Dantrolene
secondary interventions: O2 and cooling
which patients are at high risk of malignant hyperthermia from succinylcholine - Answer 1.
Patients who have had a prior reaction to general anesthesia (MOST CRITICAL)
2. Patients with blood relatives with significant reaction to general anesthesia
3. Alcoholics
Which nursing action(s) are appropriate for a nurse preparing to administer phenytoin via a
nasogastric (NG) tube? SATA
A) Hold tube feedings for at least one hour prior to administration
B) Flush the NG tube with 30 mL tap water before or after administration
C) Monitor blood pressure and heart rate every 15 minutes for two hours after
