Pharmacology MSN 571 practice questions and
Verified Full Answers
A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates symptoms. What process
informs the provider's response to the patient's concerns? - ✔✔Desensitization of receptor
sites results from continual exposure to the drug.
A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y tablets of the same amount of
the same drug. Which statement informs the prescriber's response when explaining this
phenomenon to the patient? - ✔✔Inactive ingredients used in composition can result in
differing rates of dissolution, which can alter the drug's onset of action.
A patient receiving intravenous gentamicin has a toxic serum drug level. The prescriber
confirms that the dosing is correct. Which possible cause of this situation will the provider
explore? - ✔✔Whether patient is taking a medication that binds to serum albumin.
A patient takes a drug that is metabolized by CYP3A4 isoenzymes. If a CYP3A4 inducing drug is
prescribed, what drug adjustment may be necessary to maintain a therapeutic level of CYP3A4
substrate? - ✔✔Increase dosage of the CYP3A4 substrate
The provider prescribes hydrocodone with acetaminophen for a patient's postsurgical pain.
What instruction will the prescriber include regarding alcohol intake? - ✔✔"You should avoid
drinking alcohol while you are taking the pain medication I've ordered."
Which order for furosemide is written appropriately by the prescriber? - ✔✔Furosemide
[Lasix] 20 mg PO daily
A drug can cause symptoms that resemble those of Parkinson disease. What action should the
prescriber take to minimize the potential patient risk? - ✔✔Thoroughly educate the patient
about recognizing such symptoms and the need to notify the office immediately.
,A patient who has been taking sertraline for depression was prescribed azithromycin to treat an
infection by a provider at an after-hours clinic. What action will the primary care provider take
to address the risk this combination of medication has posed for the patient? -
✔✔Discontinue the azithromycin and write an order for an alternative antibiotic.
A patient reports mild nausea within an hour after taking the first two doses of a newly
approved medication. Nausea is not listed among the known side effects of this drug. What
instructions will the provider give the patient? - ✔✔"Take the next dose with food and call
the office if the nausea reoccurs or if other symptoms develop."
A patient develops shortness of breath shortly after taking the initial dose of a newly prescribed
medication. The patient's heart rate is 86 beats/minute, the respiratory rate is 24
breaths/minute, and the blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg. The prescriber will discontinue the
drug based on the assumption the patient experienced what medication induced effect? -
✔✔A side effect
A provider recommends genetic testing of a patient before prescribing a medication. What
response should the provider give when asked by the patient about the purpose of genetic
testing? - ✔✔"Such testing will tell us how quickly your body is likely to metabolize, or
process, the drug."
A patient is prescribed digoxin. Which screening will the provider order to monitor for potential
adverse effects from this drug? - ✔✔Serum electrolytes
A provider considers prescribing tamoxifen for a woman with breast cancer. Upon reviewing
results of genetic testing, the prescriber notes that the patient has variations in the CYP2Dy
allele resulting in a deficiency of the CYP2D6 isoenzymes. What action will this deficiency
warrant in the prescribing of tamoxifen, a CYP2D6 substrate? - ✔✔The tamoxifen will not be
prescribed.
A patient has taken a narcotic analgesic for chronic pain for several months. At a follow-up
appointment, the provider notes that the patient has been taking more than the prescribed
dosage. The patient has normal vital signs, is awake and alert, and reports mild pain. What does
the provider suspect is responsible for the patient's response? - ✔✔This patient has
, developed pharmacodynamic tolerance, which has increased the minimal effective
concentration (MEC) needed for analgesic effect
Which patient ethnic ancestry creates a risk factor that may result in minimal beneficial
response to tamoxifen therapy? - ✔✔French
Before initiating cetuximab therapy, the provider will order epidermal growth factor receptor
(EGFR) testing for the patient having which condition? - ✔✔Colorectal cancer
When considering the benefit of pharmacogenomics, what information should the prescriber
include when prescribing a new medication? - ✔✔Provide definitions and possible examples
of related idiosyncratic responses to this medication
1. A provider has prescribed a female patient a medication that induces P-glycoprotein (PGP).
The provider will be particularly concerned about which aspects of the patient's medical
history? - ✔✔Intestinal problems, Kidney function, Liver function
When prescribing medications to infants, it is important for the provider to consider which
fact? - ✔✔Breast-feeding infants are more likely to develop toxicity when the mother is
taking lipid-soluble drugs, Immaturity of renal function in infancy causes infants to excrete
drugs less efficiently. Infants have immature livers, which slows drug metabolism, Infants are
more sensitive to medications that act on the central nervous system (CNS).
What will the provider consider when prescribing two drugs that compete for plasma albumin
receptor sites? - ✔✔Binding of one or both agents will be reduced, Plasma levels of free drug
will rise, Plasma levels of free drug will fall
Which actions occur in most of the fatal medication errors? - ✔✔Giving a drug intravenously
instead of intramuscularly, Administering a drug that sounds like the prescribed drug, Writing a
prescription illegibly
Verified Full Answers
A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates symptoms. What process
informs the provider's response to the patient's concerns? - ✔✔Desensitization of receptor
sites results from continual exposure to the drug.
A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y tablets of the same amount of
the same drug. Which statement informs the prescriber's response when explaining this
phenomenon to the patient? - ✔✔Inactive ingredients used in composition can result in
differing rates of dissolution, which can alter the drug's onset of action.
A patient receiving intravenous gentamicin has a toxic serum drug level. The prescriber
confirms that the dosing is correct. Which possible cause of this situation will the provider
explore? - ✔✔Whether patient is taking a medication that binds to serum albumin.
A patient takes a drug that is metabolized by CYP3A4 isoenzymes. If a CYP3A4 inducing drug is
prescribed, what drug adjustment may be necessary to maintain a therapeutic level of CYP3A4
substrate? - ✔✔Increase dosage of the CYP3A4 substrate
The provider prescribes hydrocodone with acetaminophen for a patient's postsurgical pain.
What instruction will the prescriber include regarding alcohol intake? - ✔✔"You should avoid
drinking alcohol while you are taking the pain medication I've ordered."
Which order for furosemide is written appropriately by the prescriber? - ✔✔Furosemide
[Lasix] 20 mg PO daily
A drug can cause symptoms that resemble those of Parkinson disease. What action should the
prescriber take to minimize the potential patient risk? - ✔✔Thoroughly educate the patient
about recognizing such symptoms and the need to notify the office immediately.
,A patient who has been taking sertraline for depression was prescribed azithromycin to treat an
infection by a provider at an after-hours clinic. What action will the primary care provider take
to address the risk this combination of medication has posed for the patient? -
✔✔Discontinue the azithromycin and write an order for an alternative antibiotic.
A patient reports mild nausea within an hour after taking the first two doses of a newly
approved medication. Nausea is not listed among the known side effects of this drug. What
instructions will the provider give the patient? - ✔✔"Take the next dose with food and call
the office if the nausea reoccurs or if other symptoms develop."
A patient develops shortness of breath shortly after taking the initial dose of a newly prescribed
medication. The patient's heart rate is 86 beats/minute, the respiratory rate is 24
breaths/minute, and the blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg. The prescriber will discontinue the
drug based on the assumption the patient experienced what medication induced effect? -
✔✔A side effect
A provider recommends genetic testing of a patient before prescribing a medication. What
response should the provider give when asked by the patient about the purpose of genetic
testing? - ✔✔"Such testing will tell us how quickly your body is likely to metabolize, or
process, the drug."
A patient is prescribed digoxin. Which screening will the provider order to monitor for potential
adverse effects from this drug? - ✔✔Serum electrolytes
A provider considers prescribing tamoxifen for a woman with breast cancer. Upon reviewing
results of genetic testing, the prescriber notes that the patient has variations in the CYP2Dy
allele resulting in a deficiency of the CYP2D6 isoenzymes. What action will this deficiency
warrant in the prescribing of tamoxifen, a CYP2D6 substrate? - ✔✔The tamoxifen will not be
prescribed.
A patient has taken a narcotic analgesic for chronic pain for several months. At a follow-up
appointment, the provider notes that the patient has been taking more than the prescribed
dosage. The patient has normal vital signs, is awake and alert, and reports mild pain. What does
the provider suspect is responsible for the patient's response? - ✔✔This patient has
, developed pharmacodynamic tolerance, which has increased the minimal effective
concentration (MEC) needed for analgesic effect
Which patient ethnic ancestry creates a risk factor that may result in minimal beneficial
response to tamoxifen therapy? - ✔✔French
Before initiating cetuximab therapy, the provider will order epidermal growth factor receptor
(EGFR) testing for the patient having which condition? - ✔✔Colorectal cancer
When considering the benefit of pharmacogenomics, what information should the prescriber
include when prescribing a new medication? - ✔✔Provide definitions and possible examples
of related idiosyncratic responses to this medication
1. A provider has prescribed a female patient a medication that induces P-glycoprotein (PGP).
The provider will be particularly concerned about which aspects of the patient's medical
history? - ✔✔Intestinal problems, Kidney function, Liver function
When prescribing medications to infants, it is important for the provider to consider which
fact? - ✔✔Breast-feeding infants are more likely to develop toxicity when the mother is
taking lipid-soluble drugs, Immaturity of renal function in infancy causes infants to excrete
drugs less efficiently. Infants have immature livers, which slows drug metabolism, Infants are
more sensitive to medications that act on the central nervous system (CNS).
What will the provider consider when prescribing two drugs that compete for plasma albumin
receptor sites? - ✔✔Binding of one or both agents will be reduced, Plasma levels of free drug
will rise, Plasma levels of free drug will fall
Which actions occur in most of the fatal medication errors? - ✔✔Giving a drug intravenously
instead of intramuscularly, Administering a drug that sounds like the prescribed drug, Writing a
prescription illegibly
