Pharmacology Exam 1 NUR 378 Practice
Questions and Correct Answers
What drug class is digoxin? ✅cardiac glycoside
Digoxin mechanism of action ✅1. Inhibits sodium/potassium pump, thereby increasing
intracellular calcium levels
2. Positive inotropic effect, increases cardiac output
3. Decreases chronotropy and dromotropy; slows AV conduction
Indications for digoxin ✅systolic heart failure, atrial fibrillation
Adverse effects of digoxin ✅Dysrhythmias, cardiotoxicity, hypotension, bradycardia, GI
effects (nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain), CNS effects including fatigue,
weakness, vision changes.
Interactions of digoxin ✅Amiodarone, quinidine, cyclosporine, diltiazem, and verapamil
increase serum levels
Diuretic-induced hypokalemia increases effects and toxicity
What drug class is losartan? ✅Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB)
Mechanism of action for losartan ✅It inhibits angiotensin iis vasoconstrictive and
aldosterone-secreting actions by blocking angiotensin II receptor on the surface of
vascular smooth muscle/other tissue cells
Indications for losartan ✅hypertension, heart failure
Adverse effects of losartan ✅chest pain, fatigue, hypoglycemia, diarrhea, UTI,
hyperkalemia (less likely than ACE),angioedema, fetal harm, renal failure
FETAL TOXICITY
Interactions with losartan ✅NSAIDS (decreased ARB effect, potential for renal failure);
Lithium (lithium toxicity); Rifampin (decreased ARB effect); K+ supplements/K+ sparing
diuretics (hyperkalemia)
What drug class is hydralazine? ✅vasodilator
Mechanism of action for hydralazine ✅directly acts on arteriolar and/or venous smooth
muscle to cause relaxation/vasodilation.
,Indications for hydralazine ✅hypertension
Adverse effects of hydralazine ✅dizziness, HA, anxiety, tachycardia, edema, dyspnea,
N/V, SLE, rash, B6 deficiency, hepatitis
Interactions of hydralazine ✅- •Beta Blockers (good)
•Diuretics (good - blood volume)
•Isosorbide (good - HF pt)
Other anti hypertensive agents
What drug class if doxazosin? ✅Alpha-1 blocker
Mechanism of action of doxazosin ✅Selective for Alpha1-adrenergic receptors, thus
causes vasodilation; also cause relaxation of smooth muscle around prostate gland
Indications for doxazosin ✅HTN, BPH, and severe CHF
Adverse effects of doxazosin ✅dizziness, dyspnea, asthenia, headache, hypotension,
orthostatic hypotension, somnolence
Interactions of doxazosin ✅Pregnancy Category C, drug hypersensitivity
What drug class is amlodipine? ✅calcium channel blocker
Mechanism of action for amlodipine ✅cause smooth muscle relaxation by blocking the
binding of calcium to its receptors and prevents contraction
Indications for amlodipine ✅hypertension, angina, sometimes Raynaud's and.or
migraine
Adverse effects of amlodipine ✅edema, flushing, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain
Beta blocker mechanism of action ✅By blocking sympathetic stimulation of heart at
Beta receptors, reduce heart rate and contractility, thus decreasing the metabolic
demands on the heart and reducing risk of ischemia
Examples of beta blockers ✅Metoprolol, Atenolol, Propanolol
Adverse effects of beta blockers ✅Bradycardia, AV block, impotence, dyslipidemia,
exacerbation of COPD
Indications for beta blockers ✅angina, MI, cardiac dysrhythmias, hypertension, and
heart failure, treat migraines, glaucoma
, Contraindications of beta blockers ✅DO NOT USE BETA2 WITH CLIENTS WHO
HAVE ASTHMA, BRONCHOSPASM, AND HEART FAILURE
Pharmacodynamics ✅what the drug does to the body
Pharmacokinetics ✅what the body does to the drug
Absorption of drug ✅The movement of a drug from the site of administration into the
circulatory system
Distribution of drug ✅The movement of a drug by the circulatory system to its intended
site of action
Metabolism of drug ✅The change of a drug into a more or less potent or more soluble
form after it passes through the liver, kidneys, intestinal mucosa, or other body part
Excretion of drug ✅The removal of the drug or its metabolites through the kidneys,
gastrointestinal tract, skin, or lungs
Nursing process ✅Assessment
Diagnosis
Planning
Implementation
Evaluation
Nursing process (assessment) ✅Through the patient's eyes
Gather information, synthesize, apply critical thinking
Physical and emotional factors
Developmental factors
Sociocultural factors
Gender
What drug class is nitroglycerin? ✅Antianginal; nitrate
Mechanism of action for nitroglycerin ✅vasodilation of vascular smooth muscle
Indications for nitrates ✅stable, unstable and vasospastic angina; can prevent angina
Adverse effects of nitrates ✅Reflex tachycardia, hypotension, flushing, and throbbing
headache due to meningeal artery dilation
What is reflex tachycardia? ✅Drop in BP, body compensates by increasing HR
