MACE Pharmaceutical Knowledge 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following medications is commonly used to treat Type 2 diabetes by stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas?
- Glipizide (a sulfonylurea) (Correct answer)
- Metformin (a biguanide)
- Sitagliptin (a DPP-4 inhibitor)
- Canagliflozin (an SGLT2 inhibitor)
Correct answer: Glipizide (a sulfonylurea)
Sulfonylureas like glipizide stimulate the pancreatic beta cells to release more insulin.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a 'black box warning' on a medication package insert?
- To alert healthcare providers to serious or life-threatening risks associated with the drug (Correct answer)
- To indicate the drug is available without a prescription
- To show the drug has been recalled
- To highlight common but minor side effects
Correct answer: To alert healthcare providers to serious or life-threatening risks associated with the drug
A black box warning is the FDA's strongest safety warning, indicating serious or potentially fatal risks that require careful monitoring.
Question 3: A resident is prescribed alendronate (Fosamax) 70 mg weekly. What special instruction must be followed after administration?
- Resident must remain upright and not eat or drink (except water) for at least 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- Resident must lie down for 30 minutes to enhance absorption
- Give with a full glass of milk to prevent GI upset
- Administer with breakfast for best absorption
Correct answer: Resident must remain upright and not eat or drink (except water) for at least 30 minutes
Alendronate must be taken with plain water on an empty stomach, and the resident must remain upright for at least 30 minutes to prevent esophageal irritation.
Question 4: Which of the following describes a 'drug-food interaction' that medication aides should know about with MAOIs?
- Tyramine-rich foods like aged cheese and cured meats can cause a dangerous hypertensive crisis (Correct answer)
- Grapefruit juice increases drug metabolism making MAOIs less effective
- High-fat foods delay absorption of MAOIs significantly
- Vitamin C-rich foods cause MAOIs to be excreted too quickly
Correct answer: Tyramine-rich foods like aged cheese and cured meats can cause a dangerous hypertensive crisis
MAOIs inhibit the enzyme that breaks down tyramine; eating tyramine-rich foods can cause a sudden, severe hypertensive crisis.
Question 5: When administering eye drops to a resident, where should the drop be placed?
- In the lower conjunctival sac (pocket) while the resident looks up (Correct answer)
- Directly on the center of the cornea (pupil)
- On the inner corner of the eye near the nose
- On the eyelid margin so it drips in naturally
Correct answer: In the lower conjunctival sac (pocket) while the resident looks up
Eye drops should be instilled into the lower conjunctival sac to allow the medication to spread across the eye without touching the cornea.
Question 6: A resident taking a statin medication (e.g., atorvastatin) reports new muscle pain and weakness. What is the priority action?
- Withhold the next dose and notify the nurse immediately, as this may indicate myopathy (Correct answer)
- Reassure the resident that muscle aches are a normal minor side effect
- Give an OTC pain reliever and continue the statin as scheduled
- Document the complaint and report it at the next scheduled nurse visit
Correct answer: Withhold the next dose and notify the nurse immediately, as this may indicate myopathy
Statins can cause myopathy or, rarely, rhabdomyolysis; new muscle pain or weakness is a serious adverse effect requiring immediate nurse notification.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the term 'therapeutic effect' of a medication?
- The desired, intended outcome of the drug that treats or manages a condition (Correct answer)
- An unexpected harmful reaction to the medication
- The drug's ability to be absorbed through the skin
- The time it takes for the drug to reach peak blood concentration
Correct answer: The desired, intended outcome of the drug that treats or manages a condition
The therapeutic effect is the primary goal of medication administration — the intended benefit that treats or controls the resident's condition.
MACE Pharmaceutical Knowledge 5
Which of the following medications is commonly used to treat Type 2 diabetes by stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas?