CMT CMT Adverse Drug Reactions and Side Effects 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which signs indicate possible digoxin toxicity requiring immediate reporting?
- Increased appetite and improved energy
- Nausea, yellow-green visual disturbances, and irregular heartbeat (Correct answer)
- Mild headache and dry mouth
- Decreased blood pressure only
Correct answer: Nausea, yellow-green visual disturbances, and irregular heartbeat
Digoxin toxicity classically presents with nausea, characteristic yellow-green visual changes, and cardiac arrhythmias due to its narrow therapeutic window.
Question 2: What is a 'black box warning' on a medication label?
- A standard dosing reminder
- The FDA's strongest warning about serious or life-threatening risks (Correct answer)
- A label indicating the medication requires refrigeration
- A reminder that the medication is a controlled substance
Correct answer: The FDA's strongest warning about serious or life-threatening risks
A black box warning is the FDA's most severe safety alert, indicating the medication carries serious or potentially life-threatening risks.
Question 3: Which common side effects of opioid medications require close monitoring?
- Hypertension and hyperactivity
- Constipation and respiratory depression (Correct answer)
- Increased urination and elevated heart rate
- Excessive salivation and diarrhea
Correct answer: Constipation and respiratory depression
Opioids routinely cause constipation and, particularly at higher doses, can cause life-threatening respiratory depression requiring close monitoring.
Question 4: A resident develops sudden difficulty breathing, throat swelling, and low blood pressure after a new antibiotic injection. This presentation is most consistent with:
- A mild allergic reaction
- Anaphylaxis (Correct answer)
- A common expected side effect
- Drug tolerance
Correct answer: Anaphylaxis
The combination of respiratory distress, throat swelling, and hypotension is the classic presentation of anaphylaxis, a severe life-threatening allergic reaction.
Question 5: What information should be included when reporting an adverse drug reaction?
- Only the resident's name
- Resident name, medication name and dose, time given, symptoms observed, and actions taken (Correct answer)
- Only the medication name and symptoms
- Nurse's name and medication name only
Correct answer: Resident name, medication name and dose, time given, symptoms observed, and actions taken
A complete ADR report documents the resident's name, medication details, timing, symptoms observed, and all actions taken to ensure continuity of care.
Question 6: Which group of side effects is characteristic of anticholinergic medications?
- Increased salivation and diarrhea
- Dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, and blurred vision (Correct answer)
- Nausea and vomiting only
- Decreased heart rate and low blood pressure
Correct answer: Dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, and blurred vision
Anticholinergic drugs block acetylcholine receptors, causing the classic ABCD effects: Anhidrosis, Blurred vision, Constipation/urinary retention, Dry mouth.
CMT CMT Adverse Drug Reactions and Side Effects 2
Which signs indicate possible digoxin toxicity requiring immediate reporting?