CMA Pharmacology for Medical Assistants 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When reconstituting a powdered antibiotic for injection, which step must be performed first?
- Draw up the medication and administer immediately
- Verify the diluent type and volume specified in the package insert (Correct answer)
- Shake the vial vigorously for 60 seconds
- Refrigerate the vial for 30 minutes before reconstitution
Correct answer: Verify the diluent type and volume specified in the package insert
The package insert specifies the correct diluent (e.g., sterile water, normal saline) and volume to ensure proper concentration and stability.
Question 2: Which of the following is the correct interpretation of the prescription abbreviation 'gtt'?
- Drops (Correct answer)
- Grams
- Grains
- Tablets
Correct answer: Drops
GTT (guttae) is the Latin abbreviation for drops, commonly used for ophthalmic or otic medications.
Question 3: A patient taking lithium for bipolar disorder reports nausea, tremors, and confusion. What should the medical assistant suspect?
- An allergic reaction to lithium
- Signs of lithium toxicity (Correct answer)
- Normal side effects that do not require action
- A therapeutic drug response
Correct answer: Signs of lithium toxicity
Nausea, tremors, and confusion are classic early signs of lithium toxicity, which can progress to seizures and cardiac arrhythmias if untreated.
Question 4: Which type of drug interaction occurs when one drug blocks the receptor site of another drug, reducing its effect?
- Synergism
- Pharmacokinetic interaction
- Antagonism (Correct answer)
- Additive effect
Correct answer: Antagonism
Antagonism occurs when one drug occupies a receptor and blocks another drug from binding, reducing or eliminating the second drug's effect.
Question 5: An elderly patient is prescribed a new medication. Why should the medical assistant alert the physician to review the dosage carefully?
- Elderly patients always need higher doses to achieve the same effect
- Elderly patients have decreased kidney/liver function and may require lower doses (Correct answer)
- Age has no impact on drug dosing requirements
- Elderly patients metabolize drugs faster than younger adults
Correct answer: Elderly patients have decreased kidney/liver function and may require lower doses
Aging decreases hepatic and renal function, slowing drug metabolism and excretion, which increases the risk of drug accumulation and toxicity.
Question 6: Which of the following vaccines is given subcutaneously (SQ) rather than intramuscularly (IM)?
- Influenza (inactivated)
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) (Correct answer)
- Hepatitis B
- Tdap
Correct answer: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
The MMR vaccine is given subcutaneously because it is a live-attenuated vaccine and subcutaneous injection is the recommended route for this type.
Question 7: What is the medical term for an unexpected, abnormal drug reaction that is unique to an individual and not related to the drug's known pharmacology?
- Tolerance
- Anaphylaxis
- Idiosyncratic reaction (Correct answer)
- Cumulative effect
Correct answer: Idiosyncratic reaction
An idiosyncratic reaction is an abnormal, unpredictable drug response that is individual-specific and cannot be explained by the drug's known mechanism of action.
CMA Pharmacology for Medical Assistants 5
When reconstituting a powdered antibiotic for injection, which step must be performed first?