Pharmacology and Therapeutics Flashcards
7 cards from real KAPS 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 and Therapeutics flashcards as text
Which antihypertensive class is first-line therapy for a hypertensive patient with diabetes and microalbuminuria?
Answer: ACE inhibitors or ARBs
ACE inhibitors and ARBs reduce intraglomerular pressure and have proven nephroprotective effects in diabetic nephropathy beyond blood pressure control.
A patient presents with bradycardia, hypotension, and hyperkalemia after a calcium channel blocker overdose. Which treatment is most appropriate?
Answer: High-dose insulin and dextrose to overcome calcium channel blockade
High-dose insulin (hyperinsulinemia-euglycemia therapy) improves myocardial glucose utilization and is a mainstay of severe calcium channel blocker toxicity management.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are thought to exert antidepressant effects through which primary mechanism?
Answer: Gradual desensitization of presynaptic autoreceptors following serotonin reuptake blockade
Although SSRIs immediately block the serotonin transporter, the therapeutic delay reflects time needed for desensitization of presynaptic 5-HT1A autoreceptors, allowing sustained serotonin increases.
Which pharmacokinetic parameter is most useful for calculating a loading dose?
Answer: Volume of distribution (Vd)
Loading dose = (target concentration × Vd) / F; the volume of distribution determines how much drug is needed to achieve the desired plasma level rapidly.
A patient with gout is started on allopurinol. Which mechanism explains its urate-lowering effect?
Answer: Inhibition of xanthine oxidase, blocking uric acid synthesis
Allopurinol and its active metabolite oxypurinol inhibit xanthine oxidase, preventing conversion of hypoxanthine and xanthine to uric acid.
Which adverse effect is most associated with long-term corticosteroid use and is caused by suppression of the HPA axis?
Answer: Addisonian crisis upon abrupt withdrawal
Chronic exogenous corticosteroids suppress CRH and ACTH, causing adrenal atrophy; abrupt discontinuation can precipitate an Addisonian crisis due to insufficient cortisol production.
A patient on lithium is started on ibuprofen for arthritis pain. What interaction should be anticipated?
Answer: Increased lithium levels due to reduced renal prostaglandin-dependent excretion
NSAIDs reduce renal prostaglandin synthesis, decreasing renal blood flow and lithium clearance, potentially causing lithium toxicity.