NURS 5334 ADVANCED
PHARMACOLOGY MODULE 2 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATED 2025
,physiologic changes during pregnancy & drug impact - ANSWER- 3rd trimester = renal
blood doubles, renal excretion accelerated
- tone and mobility of bowel decreases -> prolongation of drug effects
placental drug transfer - ANSWERall drugs can cross the placenta, some cross more
easily than others
adverse reactions during pregnancy - ANSWERcan adversely affect both pregnant pt
and fetus
- heparin -> osteoporosis
- prostaglandins -> stimulate uterine contraction
- some pain relievers can be used during delivery can cause respiratory depression in
baby
teratogenesis birth defects - ANSWERgross malformations = cleft palate, clubfoot,
hydrocephalus
neurobehavioral & metabolic anomalies
3 stages of teratogenesis development - ANSWER1. conception through week 2
2. embryonic period week 3-8 = gross malformations
3. fetal period week 9-delivery = functions disrupted w/ teratogen exposure
embryonic stages - ANSWER
identification of teratogens - ANSWERdifficult to identify, 3 criteria must be met:
1. The agent must be present during the critical stage of development
2. The agent produces a particular pattern of birth defects in animal studies.
3. The agent crosses the placenta and there is a dose-response relationship.
responding to teratogen exposure - ANSWERDetermine when the drug was taken
Determine when the pregnancy began
-Weeks 3-8 (organogenesis) is most crucial time
Determine type of malformation expected
Conduct 2 US and consult FDA to determine severity
how to decrease risk of drug effects during breastfeeding - ANSWER- take drugs
immediately after breastfeeding
, - avoid drugs w/ long half-lives
- choose drugs that tend to be excluded from milk, least likely to affect infant
- avoid hazardous drugs
pediatric response to drugs - ANSWER- more sensitive to drugs
- greater individual variation
- sensitivity d/t organ system immaturity
- increased risk for adverse rxns
determining the intensity of duration of drug response in neonates & infants - ANSWER-
elevated drug levels = more intense response
- delayed elimination = prolonged response
- immaturity of organs = risk for both^
comparison of plasma drug levels in adults and infants - ANSWER
increased sensitivity in infants caused by immature state of... - ANSWERabsorption,
protein binding of drugs, BBB, hepatic metabolism, renal drug excretion
infant absorption: oral administration - ANSWERprolonged and irregular gastric
adult function at 6-8 months
infant absorption: gastric acidity - ANSWER- very low 24 hours after birth
- does not reach adult values for 2 years
- low acidity = absorption of acid-labile drugs is increased
infant absorption: intramuscular admin - ANSWERslow, erratic, delayed absorption as
results of low blood flow in 1st few days of life
in early infancy, absorption of IM drugs more rapid than neonates & adults
infant absorption: transdermal - ANSWERmore rapid & complete for infants than older
children & adults
- stratum corneum of infant's skin is thin
- blood flow to skin is greater in infants than older patients
- infants increased risk for toxicity from topical drugs
infant distribution: BBB - ANSWER- not fully developed at birth
- drugs have easy access to CNS
- infants especially sensitive to drugs that affect CNS function
- dosage should be reduced for drug actions outside the CNS if those drugs are capable
of producing toxicity as a side effect
infant hepatic metabolism - ANSWER- drug-metabolizing capability of newborns is low
- liver's capability to metabolize drugs increases fast @ 1mo
- complete liver maturation occurs at 1yr
PHARMACOLOGY MODULE 2 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATED 2025
,physiologic changes during pregnancy & drug impact - ANSWER- 3rd trimester = renal
blood doubles, renal excretion accelerated
- tone and mobility of bowel decreases -> prolongation of drug effects
placental drug transfer - ANSWERall drugs can cross the placenta, some cross more
easily than others
adverse reactions during pregnancy - ANSWERcan adversely affect both pregnant pt
and fetus
- heparin -> osteoporosis
- prostaglandins -> stimulate uterine contraction
- some pain relievers can be used during delivery can cause respiratory depression in
baby
teratogenesis birth defects - ANSWERgross malformations = cleft palate, clubfoot,
hydrocephalus
neurobehavioral & metabolic anomalies
3 stages of teratogenesis development - ANSWER1. conception through week 2
2. embryonic period week 3-8 = gross malformations
3. fetal period week 9-delivery = functions disrupted w/ teratogen exposure
embryonic stages - ANSWER
identification of teratogens - ANSWERdifficult to identify, 3 criteria must be met:
1. The agent must be present during the critical stage of development
2. The agent produces a particular pattern of birth defects in animal studies.
3. The agent crosses the placenta and there is a dose-response relationship.
responding to teratogen exposure - ANSWERDetermine when the drug was taken
Determine when the pregnancy began
-Weeks 3-8 (organogenesis) is most crucial time
Determine type of malformation expected
Conduct 2 US and consult FDA to determine severity
how to decrease risk of drug effects during breastfeeding - ANSWER- take drugs
immediately after breastfeeding
, - avoid drugs w/ long half-lives
- choose drugs that tend to be excluded from milk, least likely to affect infant
- avoid hazardous drugs
pediatric response to drugs - ANSWER- more sensitive to drugs
- greater individual variation
- sensitivity d/t organ system immaturity
- increased risk for adverse rxns
determining the intensity of duration of drug response in neonates & infants - ANSWER-
elevated drug levels = more intense response
- delayed elimination = prolonged response
- immaturity of organs = risk for both^
comparison of plasma drug levels in adults and infants - ANSWER
increased sensitivity in infants caused by immature state of... - ANSWERabsorption,
protein binding of drugs, BBB, hepatic metabolism, renal drug excretion
infant absorption: oral administration - ANSWERprolonged and irregular gastric
adult function at 6-8 months
infant absorption: gastric acidity - ANSWER- very low 24 hours after birth
- does not reach adult values for 2 years
- low acidity = absorption of acid-labile drugs is increased
infant absorption: intramuscular admin - ANSWERslow, erratic, delayed absorption as
results of low blood flow in 1st few days of life
in early infancy, absorption of IM drugs more rapid than neonates & adults
infant absorption: transdermal - ANSWERmore rapid & complete for infants than older
children & adults
- stratum corneum of infant's skin is thin
- blood flow to skin is greater in infants than older patients
- infants increased risk for toxicity from topical drugs
infant distribution: BBB - ANSWER- not fully developed at birth
- drugs have easy access to CNS
- infants especially sensitive to drugs that affect CNS function
- dosage should be reduced for drug actions outside the CNS if those drugs are capable
of producing toxicity as a side effect
infant hepatic metabolism - ANSWER- drug-metabolizing capability of newborns is low
- liver's capability to metabolize drugs increases fast @ 1mo
- complete liver maturation occurs at 1yr
