CKE Pharmacology Fundamentals 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is an adverse drug reaction (ADR)?
- An expected response to the correct dose of a medication
- An unintended harmful response to a drug given at normal doses (Correct answer)
- A missed dose of medication
- A patient's refusal to take medication
Correct answer: An unintended harmful response to a drug given at normal doses
An adverse drug reaction is an unintended, harmful response that occurs at normal therapeutic doses of a medication.
Question 2: What does 'therapeutic index' measure?
- How quickly a drug is absorbed
- The range between the effective dose and the toxic dose (Correct answer)
- The number of drug interactions possible
- The patient's tolerance level
Correct answer: The range between the effective dose and the toxic dose
The therapeutic index is the ratio between the toxic dose and the effective dose, indicating how safely a drug can be administered.
Question 3: Which class of medications is commonly used to reduce blood pressure by blocking calcium in blood vessels?
- Beta-blockers
- ACE inhibitors
- Calcium channel blockers (Correct answer)
- Diuretics
Correct answer: Calcium channel blockers
Calcium channel blockers reduce blood pressure by preventing calcium from entering smooth muscle cells in blood vessel walls, causing them to relax.
Question 4: What is polypharmacy?
- The use of a single high-dose medication
- The concurrent use of multiple medications, increasing risk of interactions (Correct answer)
- A pharmacy that serves multiple hospitals
- An electronic prescription system
Correct answer: The concurrent use of multiple medications, increasing risk of interactions
Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent use of five or more medications, which significantly increases the risk of drug interactions and adverse effects.
Question 5: What does 'PRN' mean in medication orders?
- Prescribed Regularly Nightly
- As needed (Correct answer)
- Per Routine Notification
- Patient Requires Nourishment
Correct answer: As needed
PRN (from Latin 'Pro Re Nata') means 'as needed,' indicating a medication should be given only when a specific condition arises.
Question 6: What is the purpose of an antidote?
- To enhance the effects of a drug
- To counteract the toxic effects of a poison or drug overdose (Correct answer)
- To prevent drug absorption
- To increase drug half-life
Correct answer: To counteract the toxic effects of a poison or drug overdose
An antidote is a substance that counteracts the toxic or harmful effects of a poison or drug overdose.
CKE Pharmacology Fundamentals 2
What is an adverse drug reaction (ADR)?