CCMA Pharmacology and Medications 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin sublingual tablets for chest pain. Which instruction is most important to teach the patient?
- Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water
- Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to dissolve (Correct answer)
- Chew the tablet for faster absorption
- Apply the tablet to the skin on the chest
Correct answer: Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to dissolve
Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets must be placed under the tongue to dissolve, allowing rapid absorption through the sublingual mucosa.
Question 2: Which of the following medications is classified as an NSAID?
- Acetaminophen
- Codeine
- Ibuprofen (Correct answer)
- Diphenhydramine
Correct answer: Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces pain, fever, and inflammation.
Question 3: When transcribing a medication order, a medical assistant notices the dose is written as '1.0 mg' instead of '1 mg.' This trailing zero is considered dangerous because:
- It looks like 10 mg if the decimal point is missed (Correct answer)
- It makes the dose appear smaller than intended
- It changes the medication class
- It indicates the dose should be split
Correct answer: It looks like 10 mg if the decimal point is missed
A trailing zero (1.0 mg) can be misread as 10 mg if the decimal point is overlooked, which is a tenfold overdose risk.
Question 4: A patient is taking an ACE inhibitor and develops a persistent dry cough. The medical assistant should:
- Advise the patient to take an antacid with the medication
- Document the symptom and notify the provider (Correct answer)
- Tell the patient the cough will go away on its own
- Recommend the patient stop the medication immediately
Correct answer: Document the symptom and notify the provider
A persistent dry cough is a well-known side effect of ACE inhibitors; the medical assistant should document it and report it to the provider for possible medication change.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a beta-blocker medication?
- Lisinopril
- Metoprolol (Correct answer)
- Amlodipine
- Furosemide
Correct answer: Metoprolol
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL) is a beta-blocker used to treat hypertension, angina, and heart failure.
Question 6: A patient is prescribed a transdermal patch. The medical assistant should instruct the patient to:
- Apply the new patch over the old patch site to maintain consistent levels
- Rotate application sites and remove the old patch before applying a new one (Correct answer)
- Cut the patch in half if the dose seems too strong
- Apply lotion to the skin before placing the patch for better adhesion
Correct answer: Rotate application sites and remove the old patch before applying a new one
Old patches must be removed before applying a new one at a rotated site to prevent drug accumulation and skin irritation.
Question 7: Which abbreviation on a prescription means 'four times a day'?
- BID
- TID
- QID (Correct answer)
- QHS
Correct answer: QID
QID stands for 'quater in die,' the Latin term meaning four times a day.
CCMA Pharmacology and Medications 5
A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin sublingual tablets for chest pain.
Which instruction is most important to teach the patient?