NCLEX PHARMACOLOGY & MEDICATION REVIEW 2025-2026 – KAPLAN
NCLEX-RN DRUG GUIDE AND HIGH-YIELD STUDY NOTES
Clozapine - CORRECT ANSWER-Class: Atypical Antipsychotic
Use: schizophrenia
Adverse effect: ECG changes - QT prolongation
Nursing considerations: leukopenia (weekly WBC checks), weight gain, drowsiness
Colchicine - CORRECT ANSWER-anti-inflammatory
treatment for gout
Allopurinol - CORRECT ANSWER-Uric acid reducer
treatment for gout and kidney stones
NSAIDS - CORRECT ANSWER-ibuprofen
Watch for interactions with the four "G's"
increases risk of bleeding
ginkgo
garlic
ginger
ginseng
Psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid - CORRECT ANSWER-laxative
,bulk-forming
safest laxative
increases water absorption or retention within the stool
Docusate sodium - CORRECT ANSWER-laxative
emollient laxative of the fecal-softener type
could result in dependency
bowel damage
electrolyte imbalance
Magnesium hydroxide - CORRECT ANSWER-laxative
saline laxative
hypertonic and works osmotically by drawing water into the intestine and surrounding tissues
stool consistency is affected becoming watery
bowel distention causes perstalsis
chronic use = electrolyte imbalance and dependency
Bisacodyl - CORRECT ANSWER-laxative
Stimulant laxative
causes an irritation via nerve stimulation directly on intestine wall
Black Cohosh - CORRECT ANSWER-herb
,useful with menopausal symptoms but interaction with antihypertensive drugs causing
hypotension
Isoprotenerol - CORRECT ANSWER-beta 1 and beta 2 adrenergic receptors
used for bradycardia, torsades de points, beta blocker toxicity (too much of beta blockers lowers
heart rate)
given after maximum dose of atropine given
Adverse effects: raises heart rate so tachycardia, angina, bronchial asthma, pulmonary edema
Norepinephrine - CORRECT ANSWER-vasoconstrictor
used for severe hypotension or cardiogenic shock
NEVER GIVE A CONSTRICTOR TO A DRY HEART, give blood or fluid before giving
Infuse with dextrose solution, not saline
Monitor bp and heart rate
protect from light
Adverse effects: reflex hypotension or bradycardia (need to taper off)
Dopamine - CORRECT ANSWER-vasoconstrictor
, used in renal failure and shock
NEVER GIVE A CONSTRICTOR TO A DRY HEART, give blood or fluid before giving
Adverse effects: reflex hypotension or bradycardia (need to taper off)
Do NOT give with sodium bicarb in same IV line, bicarb will deactivate dopamine
Epinephrine - CORRECT ANSWER-non-selctive adrenergic agonist
stimulates alpha and beta adrenergic receptors
used for anaphylaxis and used for vfib, asystole, PEA
causes bronchodilation, vasoconstriction
Adverse effects: just like having an adrenilane rush so patient can be very jittery, irritable,
fearful, tachycardia, dysrythmias, hypertension
Diphenhydramine - CORRECT ANSWER-antihistamine
given in conjuction with epinephrine to treat anaphylactic shock
will address tissue induced histamine and skin pruitis
IM or IV for shock
NCLEX-RN DRUG GUIDE AND HIGH-YIELD STUDY NOTES
Clozapine - CORRECT ANSWER-Class: Atypical Antipsychotic
Use: schizophrenia
Adverse effect: ECG changes - QT prolongation
Nursing considerations: leukopenia (weekly WBC checks), weight gain, drowsiness
Colchicine - CORRECT ANSWER-anti-inflammatory
treatment for gout
Allopurinol - CORRECT ANSWER-Uric acid reducer
treatment for gout and kidney stones
NSAIDS - CORRECT ANSWER-ibuprofen
Watch for interactions with the four "G's"
increases risk of bleeding
ginkgo
garlic
ginger
ginseng
Psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid - CORRECT ANSWER-laxative
,bulk-forming
safest laxative
increases water absorption or retention within the stool
Docusate sodium - CORRECT ANSWER-laxative
emollient laxative of the fecal-softener type
could result in dependency
bowel damage
electrolyte imbalance
Magnesium hydroxide - CORRECT ANSWER-laxative
saline laxative
hypertonic and works osmotically by drawing water into the intestine and surrounding tissues
stool consistency is affected becoming watery
bowel distention causes perstalsis
chronic use = electrolyte imbalance and dependency
Bisacodyl - CORRECT ANSWER-laxative
Stimulant laxative
causes an irritation via nerve stimulation directly on intestine wall
Black Cohosh - CORRECT ANSWER-herb
,useful with menopausal symptoms but interaction with antihypertensive drugs causing
hypotension
Isoprotenerol - CORRECT ANSWER-beta 1 and beta 2 adrenergic receptors
used for bradycardia, torsades de points, beta blocker toxicity (too much of beta blockers lowers
heart rate)
given after maximum dose of atropine given
Adverse effects: raises heart rate so tachycardia, angina, bronchial asthma, pulmonary edema
Norepinephrine - CORRECT ANSWER-vasoconstrictor
used for severe hypotension or cardiogenic shock
NEVER GIVE A CONSTRICTOR TO A DRY HEART, give blood or fluid before giving
Infuse with dextrose solution, not saline
Monitor bp and heart rate
protect from light
Adverse effects: reflex hypotension or bradycardia (need to taper off)
Dopamine - CORRECT ANSWER-vasoconstrictor
, used in renal failure and shock
NEVER GIVE A CONSTRICTOR TO A DRY HEART, give blood or fluid before giving
Adverse effects: reflex hypotension or bradycardia (need to taper off)
Do NOT give with sodium bicarb in same IV line, bicarb will deactivate dopamine
Epinephrine - CORRECT ANSWER-non-selctive adrenergic agonist
stimulates alpha and beta adrenergic receptors
used for anaphylaxis and used for vfib, asystole, PEA
causes bronchodilation, vasoconstriction
Adverse effects: just like having an adrenilane rush so patient can be very jittery, irritable,
fearful, tachycardia, dysrythmias, hypertension
Diphenhydramine - CORRECT ANSWER-antihistamine
given in conjuction with epinephrine to treat anaphylactic shock
will address tissue induced histamine and skin pruitis
IM or IV for shock
