MN 553 ACTUAL 2026 TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Precautions that should be taken when prescribing controlled substances include:
Question options:
Faxing the prescription for a Schedule II drug directly to the pharmacy
Using tamper-proof paper for all prescriptions written for controlled drugs
Keeping any pre-signed prescription pads in a locked drawer in the clinic
Using only numbers to indicate the amount of drug to be prescribed - ✔✔Using tamper-
proof paper for all prescriptions written for controlled drugs
✔✔Howard is a 72-year-old male who occasionally takes diphenhydramine for his
seasonal allergies. Monitoring for this patient taking diphenhydramine would include
assessing for:
Question options:
Urinary retention
Cardiac output
Peripheral edema
Skin rash - ✔✔Urinary retention
✔✔Larry is taking allopurinol to prevent gout. Monitoring of a patient who is taking
allopurinol includes:
Question options:
Complete blood count
Blood glucose
C-reactive protein
BUN, creatinine, and creatinine clearance - ✔✔BUN, creatinine, and creatinine
clearance
✔✔Education for patients who use an inhaled beta-agonist and an inhaled
corticosteroid includes:
Question options:
,Use the inhaled corticosteroid first, followed by the inhaled beta-agonists.
Use the inhaled beta-agonist first, followed by the inhaled corticosteroid.
Increase fluid intake to 3 liters per day.
Avoid use of aspirin or ibuprofen while using inhaled medications. - ✔✔Use the inhaled
beta-agonist first, followed by the inhaled corticosteroid.
✔✔The drug of choice for type 2 diabetics is metformin. Metformin:
Question options:
Decreases glycogenolysis by the liver
Increases the release of insulin from beta cells
Increases intestinal uptake of glucose
Prevents weight gain associated with hyperglycemia - ✔✔Decreases glycogenolysis by
the liver
✔✔Sook has been prescribed gabapentin to treat neuropathic pain and is complaining
of feeling depressed and having "strange" thoughts. The appropriate initial action would
be:
Question options:
Increase her dose
Assess for suicidal ideation
Discontinue the medication immediately
Decrease her dose to half then slowly titrate up the dose - ✔✔Assess for suicidal
ideation
✔✔Harold, a 42-year-old African American, has moderate persistent asthma. Which of
the following asthma medications should be used cautiously, if at all?
Question options:
Betamethasone, an inhaled corticosteroid
Salmeterol, an inhaled long-acting beta-agonist
Albuterol, a short-acting beta-agonist
, Montelukast, a leukotriene modifier - ✔✔Salmeterol, an inhaled long-acting beta-agonist
✔✔There is often cross-sensitivity and cross-resistance between penicillins and
cephalosporins because:
Question options:
Renal excretion is similar in both classes of drugs.
When these drug classes are metabolized in the liver they both produce resistant
enzymes.
Both drug classes contain a beta-lactam ring that is vulnerable to beta-lactamase-
producing organisms.
There is not an issue with cross-resistance between the penicillins and cephalosporins.
- ✔✔Both drug classes contain a beta-lactam ring that is vulnerable to beta-lactamase-
producing organisms.
✔✔Patients who are treated with greater than 100 grams per week of topical
calcipotriene for psoriasis need to be monitored for:
Question options:
High vitamin D levels
Hyperkalemia
Hypercalcemia
Hyperuricemia - ✔✔Hypercalcemia
✔✔A potentially life-threatening adverse response to angiotensin-converting enzyme
inhibitors is angioedema. Which of the following statements is true about this adverse
response?
Question options:
Swelling of the tongue or hoarseness are the most common symptoms.
It appears to be related to the decrease in aldosterone production.
Presence of a dry, hacky cough indicates a high risk for this adverse response.
Because it takes time to build up a blood level, it occurs after being on the drug for
about 1 week. - ✔✔Swelling of the tongue or hoarseness are the most common
symptoms.
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Precautions that should be taken when prescribing controlled substances include:
Question options:
Faxing the prescription for a Schedule II drug directly to the pharmacy
Using tamper-proof paper for all prescriptions written for controlled drugs
Keeping any pre-signed prescription pads in a locked drawer in the clinic
Using only numbers to indicate the amount of drug to be prescribed - ✔✔Using tamper-
proof paper for all prescriptions written for controlled drugs
✔✔Howard is a 72-year-old male who occasionally takes diphenhydramine for his
seasonal allergies. Monitoring for this patient taking diphenhydramine would include
assessing for:
Question options:
Urinary retention
Cardiac output
Peripheral edema
Skin rash - ✔✔Urinary retention
✔✔Larry is taking allopurinol to prevent gout. Monitoring of a patient who is taking
allopurinol includes:
Question options:
Complete blood count
Blood glucose
C-reactive protein
BUN, creatinine, and creatinine clearance - ✔✔BUN, creatinine, and creatinine
clearance
✔✔Education for patients who use an inhaled beta-agonist and an inhaled
corticosteroid includes:
Question options:
,Use the inhaled corticosteroid first, followed by the inhaled beta-agonists.
Use the inhaled beta-agonist first, followed by the inhaled corticosteroid.
Increase fluid intake to 3 liters per day.
Avoid use of aspirin or ibuprofen while using inhaled medications. - ✔✔Use the inhaled
beta-agonist first, followed by the inhaled corticosteroid.
✔✔The drug of choice for type 2 diabetics is metformin. Metformin:
Question options:
Decreases glycogenolysis by the liver
Increases the release of insulin from beta cells
Increases intestinal uptake of glucose
Prevents weight gain associated with hyperglycemia - ✔✔Decreases glycogenolysis by
the liver
✔✔Sook has been prescribed gabapentin to treat neuropathic pain and is complaining
of feeling depressed and having "strange" thoughts. The appropriate initial action would
be:
Question options:
Increase her dose
Assess for suicidal ideation
Discontinue the medication immediately
Decrease her dose to half then slowly titrate up the dose - ✔✔Assess for suicidal
ideation
✔✔Harold, a 42-year-old African American, has moderate persistent asthma. Which of
the following asthma medications should be used cautiously, if at all?
Question options:
Betamethasone, an inhaled corticosteroid
Salmeterol, an inhaled long-acting beta-agonist
Albuterol, a short-acting beta-agonist
, Montelukast, a leukotriene modifier - ✔✔Salmeterol, an inhaled long-acting beta-agonist
✔✔There is often cross-sensitivity and cross-resistance between penicillins and
cephalosporins because:
Question options:
Renal excretion is similar in both classes of drugs.
When these drug classes are metabolized in the liver they both produce resistant
enzymes.
Both drug classes contain a beta-lactam ring that is vulnerable to beta-lactamase-
producing organisms.
There is not an issue with cross-resistance between the penicillins and cephalosporins.
- ✔✔Both drug classes contain a beta-lactam ring that is vulnerable to beta-lactamase-
producing organisms.
✔✔Patients who are treated with greater than 100 grams per week of topical
calcipotriene for psoriasis need to be monitored for:
Question options:
High vitamin D levels
Hyperkalemia
Hypercalcemia
Hyperuricemia - ✔✔Hypercalcemia
✔✔A potentially life-threatening adverse response to angiotensin-converting enzyme
inhibitors is angioedema. Which of the following statements is true about this adverse
response?
Question options:
Swelling of the tongue or hoarseness are the most common symptoms.
It appears to be related to the decrease in aldosterone production.
Presence of a dry, hacky cough indicates a high risk for this adverse response.
Because it takes time to build up a blood level, it occurs after being on the drug for
about 1 week. - ✔✔Swelling of the tongue or hoarseness are the most common
symptoms.
