Pharmacology & Medication Management Flashcards
7 cards from real BHP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pharmacology & Medication Management flashcards as text
A BHP observes that a client prescribed risperidone has developed breast enlargement and galactorrhea. This is most likely due to:
Answer: Elevated prolactin from dopamine D2 blockade
Risperidone's strong D2 blockade raises prolactin levels by removing dopamine's inhibitory effect on prolactin secretion.
Which benzodiazepine property makes lorazepam preferred over diazepam for clients with liver impairment?
Answer: Lorazepam undergoes glucuronidation rather than oxidative hepatic metabolism
Lorazepam is conjugated via glucuronidation, a pathway preserved in liver disease, unlike diazepam's oxidative metabolism.
A client on valproate for bipolar disorder becomes pregnant. The BHP's most important immediate action is to:
Answer: Alert the prescriber immediately due to high teratogenicity risk
Valproate carries a high risk of neural tube defects and other fetal harm, requiring urgent prescriber consultation for medication review.
Methylphenidate (Ritalin) works primarily by:
Answer: Blocking reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine
Methylphenidate blocks dopamine and norepinephrine transporters, increasing their synaptic availability in the prefrontal cortex.
A client is prescribed disulfiram (Antabuse) for alcohol use disorder. They must be warned to avoid:
Answer: All alcohol-containing products including mouthwash and cough syrups
Disulfiram blocks aldehyde dehydrogenase, and even small amounts of alcohol from mouthwash or medication can trigger a severe reaction.
Which symptom cluster is most characteristic of serotonin syndrome?
Answer: Hyperthermia, agitation, clonus, and diaphoresis
Serotonin syndrome presents with the triad of neuromuscular abnormalities (clonus), autonomic instability, and altered mental status including agitation.
When a client asks why their psychiatrist prescribed an atypical antipsychotic instead of a typical one, the most accurate explanation is:
Answer: Atypicals have a lower risk of extrapyramidal side effects due to serotonin-dopamine antagonism
Atypical antipsychotics block both D2 and 5-HT2A receptors, reducing the risk of extrapyramidal side effects compared to typical antipsychotics.