Nursing Pharmacology Questions and Answers 2025/2026 Verified

Nursing Pharmacology Questions and Answers 2025/2026 Verified What are bronchodilators used for? Ans – To relax airway muscles and ease breathing in asthma or COPD patients. What should nurses monitor for patients on bronchodilators? Ans – Heart rate and signs of tremors or nervousness. What are antacids used for? Ans – To neutralize stomach acid and relieve heartburn or indigestion. What is a common side effect of iron supplements? Ans – Constipation and dark stools. What nursing advice is given for patients taking iron supplements? Ans – Take with orange juice to enhance absorption and avoid taking with milk or tea. What are analgesics used for? Ans – To relieve pain. What are NSAIDs and their common side effects? Ans – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; may cause gastric irritation and kidney problems. What are antidepressants used for? Ans – To treat depression, anxiety, and some chronic pain conditions. What are common side effects of antidepressants? Ans – Dry mouth, drowsiness, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. Why is patient education vital in pharmacology? Ans – It promotes medication safety, adherence, and understanding of side effects. What is the purpose of a loading dose? Ans – To quickly achieve therapeutic drug levels in the body. What is a maintenance dose? Ans – The regular dose needed to maintain the desired drug level in the body. What is the therapeutic effect of a drug? Ans – The desired, beneficial effect of a medication on the body. What is an adverse effect? Ans – A harmful or unwanted reaction that occurs after taking a drug at normal doses. What is a side effect? Ans – A secondary, usually mild and predictable, effect of a drug. What is pharmacokinetics? Ans – The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes drugs. What is pharmacodynamics? Ans – The study of how drugs affect the body and produce their effects. What is half-life? Ans – The time it takes for the drug’s concentration in the plasma to reduce by half. What organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism? Ans – The liver. What organ is primarily responsible for drug excretion? Ans – The kidneys. What is drug toxicity? Ans – The harmful effects that occur when drug levels exceed the therapeutic range. What is drug tolerance? Ans – When the body becomes less responsive to a drug, requiring higher doses for the same effect. What is drug dependence? Ans – A condition where the body or mind relies on a drug to function normally. What is drug interaction? Ans – When one drug affects the activity or metabolism of another drug. What is a contraindication? Ans – A situation where a drug should not be used because it could be harmful to the patient. What are controlled substances? Ans – Drugs regulated by law due to their potential for abuse or addiction. What is polypharmacy? Ans – The use of multiple medications by a patient, often increasing the risk of interactions and side effects. What is bioavailability? Ans – The proportion of a drug that reaches the bloodstream and is available for use by the body. What are the routes of drug administration? Ans – Oral, sublingual, topical, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and rectal. Why is patient identification essential before drug administration? Ans – To ensure that the right patient receives the correct medication and dose. What is the main nursing responsibility before giving digoxin? Ans – Check the apical pulse for one full minute; withhold if below 60 bpm. What are common side effects of opioids? Ans – Drowsiness, constipation, nausea, and respiratory depression. What is the antidote for opioid overdose? Ans – Naloxone. What are the nursing considerations for diuretic use? Ans – Monitor electrolytes, fluid balance, and blood pressure regularly.