WGU D441 PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM NEWEST
(2025-2026) COMPLETE 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS 100%)
|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!!
WGU D441
Dopaminergics (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism: Affect dopamine content in the
brain. Levodopa converts to dopamine in nerve cells.
Examples: Levodopa (with carbidopa), Carbidopa-levodopa
Nurse Teaching: Administer with food to enhance absorption. Monitor for involuntary
movements.
Dopamine Agonists (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism: Stimulate dopamine
receptors in the brain.
Examples: Amantadine, Bromocriptine, Pramipexole, Ropinirole HCl
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)-B Inhibitors (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism: Inhibit
enzyme that breaks down dopamine, increasing dopamine availability.
Examples: Selegiline HCl, Rasagiline
,Catechol-o-methyl Transferase (COMT) Inhibitors (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism:
Block enzyme that breaks down dopamine, prolonging levodopa effects.
Examples: Entacapone, Tolcapone
Anticholinergics (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism: Inhibit acetylcholine activity to
balance dopamine.
Examples: Trihexyphenidyl, Benztropine, Biperiden
Carbidopa-Levodopa (Parkinsons) side effects - - ANS - -Side Effects:
CNS: Involuntary movements of face, tongue, arms, and upper body; depression;
anxiety
CV: Orthostatic hypotension
GI: Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, dry mouth, flatulence
Adverse Effects:
CNS: Involuntary movements, psychosis, depression with suicidal tendencies
CV: Cardiac dysrhythmias
HEMA: Thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, agranulocytosis
GI: Urinary retention
Contraindications/Cautions:
Contraindications: Glaucoma, malignant melanoma
Cautions: History of myocardial infarction (MI), dysrhythmias, asthma, emphysema,
renal/hepatic impairment, pulmonary impairment, seizure disorder, peptic ulcer
disease, depression.
Laboratory Tests:
,Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
levels could show an increase.
Carbidopa-Levodopa (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Doses:
Immediate Release:PO: Three to four times a dayMaximum: Eight tablets or 80 mg
carbidopa/800 mg levodopa per dayInitial Dose: One tablet of 10 or 25 mg
carbidopa/100 mg levodopaMaintenance: 25/250 mg
Extended-Release Capsules:PO: Two times a dayMaximum: 1600 mg/dayInitial Dose: 50
mg carbidopa/200 mg levodopa
Enteral Suspension:2000 mg/day over 16 hours
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption: Well-absorbed orally
Distribution: Carbidopa: 36% protein-bound; Levodopa: Unknown
Metabolism: Metabolized in the periphery by decarboxylase enzymes and COMT
Excretion: In urine as metabolites
Onset: Immediate release: 30 minutes; extended release: 4-5 hours
Peak: Immediate release: 1-3 hours; extended release: 2-3 hours
Duration: Unknown
Half-life: 1-2 hours
Mechanism of Action:
Carbidopa enhances the effects of levodopa by preventing its decarboxylation,
allowing more levodopa to cross the blood-brain barrier and be converted into
dopamine.
Drug-Drug Interactions:
Anticholinergics and antipsychotics may reduce the effect of levodopa.
, Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) may cause dyskinesia and hypertension.
Methyldopa may cause psychosis.
MAO inhibitors can result in severe hypertension.
Food Interactions:
Foods high in protein may reduce levodopa absorption from the intestine.
Nurse Teaching/Considerations:
Dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movement) may occur with high levodopa dosages
and should be reported to the healthcare provider for potential medication dosage
adjustment.
Patients with heart disease, mental disorders, or those on MAO-B inhibitor therapy
should use with caution.
Alzheimer's Disease
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Inhibitors - - ANS - -Mechanism: Inhibit breakdown of
acetylcholine, increasing its availability.
Examples: Rivastigmine, Tacrine, Donepezil
Rivastigmine Alzheimer's Disease - - ANS - -Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Inhibitor
Doses:
Oral:Initial Dose: 1.5-mg tablet or 0.75-mL solution twice dailyMaximum Dose: 6 mg
twice daily
Transdermal:Initial Dose: 4.6-mg patchMaintenance Dose: 9.5-mg patch
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption (Oral): Gastrointestinal (GI) tract; faster absorption on an empty stomach
Distribution: Protein binding: 40%
(2025-2026) COMPLETE 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS 100%)
|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!!
WGU D441
Dopaminergics (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism: Affect dopamine content in the
brain. Levodopa converts to dopamine in nerve cells.
Examples: Levodopa (with carbidopa), Carbidopa-levodopa
Nurse Teaching: Administer with food to enhance absorption. Monitor for involuntary
movements.
Dopamine Agonists (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism: Stimulate dopamine
receptors in the brain.
Examples: Amantadine, Bromocriptine, Pramipexole, Ropinirole HCl
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)-B Inhibitors (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism: Inhibit
enzyme that breaks down dopamine, increasing dopamine availability.
Examples: Selegiline HCl, Rasagiline
,Catechol-o-methyl Transferase (COMT) Inhibitors (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism:
Block enzyme that breaks down dopamine, prolonging levodopa effects.
Examples: Entacapone, Tolcapone
Anticholinergics (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Mechanism: Inhibit acetylcholine activity to
balance dopamine.
Examples: Trihexyphenidyl, Benztropine, Biperiden
Carbidopa-Levodopa (Parkinsons) side effects - - ANS - -Side Effects:
CNS: Involuntary movements of face, tongue, arms, and upper body; depression;
anxiety
CV: Orthostatic hypotension
GI: Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, dry mouth, flatulence
Adverse Effects:
CNS: Involuntary movements, psychosis, depression with suicidal tendencies
CV: Cardiac dysrhythmias
HEMA: Thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, agranulocytosis
GI: Urinary retention
Contraindications/Cautions:
Contraindications: Glaucoma, malignant melanoma
Cautions: History of myocardial infarction (MI), dysrhythmias, asthma, emphysema,
renal/hepatic impairment, pulmonary impairment, seizure disorder, peptic ulcer
disease, depression.
Laboratory Tests:
,Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
levels could show an increase.
Carbidopa-Levodopa (Parkinsons) - - ANS - -Doses:
Immediate Release:PO: Three to four times a dayMaximum: Eight tablets or 80 mg
carbidopa/800 mg levodopa per dayInitial Dose: One tablet of 10 or 25 mg
carbidopa/100 mg levodopaMaintenance: 25/250 mg
Extended-Release Capsules:PO: Two times a dayMaximum: 1600 mg/dayInitial Dose: 50
mg carbidopa/200 mg levodopa
Enteral Suspension:2000 mg/day over 16 hours
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption: Well-absorbed orally
Distribution: Carbidopa: 36% protein-bound; Levodopa: Unknown
Metabolism: Metabolized in the periphery by decarboxylase enzymes and COMT
Excretion: In urine as metabolites
Onset: Immediate release: 30 minutes; extended release: 4-5 hours
Peak: Immediate release: 1-3 hours; extended release: 2-3 hours
Duration: Unknown
Half-life: 1-2 hours
Mechanism of Action:
Carbidopa enhances the effects of levodopa by preventing its decarboxylation,
allowing more levodopa to cross the blood-brain barrier and be converted into
dopamine.
Drug-Drug Interactions:
Anticholinergics and antipsychotics may reduce the effect of levodopa.
, Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) may cause dyskinesia and hypertension.
Methyldopa may cause psychosis.
MAO inhibitors can result in severe hypertension.
Food Interactions:
Foods high in protein may reduce levodopa absorption from the intestine.
Nurse Teaching/Considerations:
Dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movement) may occur with high levodopa dosages
and should be reported to the healthcare provider for potential medication dosage
adjustment.
Patients with heart disease, mental disorders, or those on MAO-B inhibitor therapy
should use with caution.
Alzheimer's Disease
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Inhibitors - - ANS - -Mechanism: Inhibit breakdown of
acetylcholine, increasing its availability.
Examples: Rivastigmine, Tacrine, Donepezil
Rivastigmine Alzheimer's Disease - - ANS - -Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Inhibitor
Doses:
Oral:Initial Dose: 1.5-mg tablet or 0.75-mL solution twice dailyMaximum Dose: 6 mg
twice daily
Transdermal:Initial Dose: 4.6-mg patchMaintenance Dose: 9.5-mg patch
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption (Oral): Gastrointestinal (GI) tract; faster absorption on an empty stomach
Distribution: Protein binding: 40%
