Pharmacology Flashcards
7 cards from real NCCPA 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 flashcards as text
Which antiepileptic drug inhibits sodium channels AND is a first-line agent for trigeminal neuralgia?
Answer: Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine is the drug of choice for trigeminal neuralgia and works by stabilizing inactivated sodium channels.
A patient receiving aminoglycoside therapy should be monitored for which two major adverse effects?
Answer: Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity
Aminoglycosides are directly toxic to renal proximal tubule cells and cochlear/vestibular hair cells, causing nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
A patient with type 2 diabetes develops lactic acidosis while on metformin. Which condition most likely precipitated this complication?
Answer: Acute kidney injury
Metformin-associated lactic acidosis occurs when renal failure allows metformin to accumulate, inhibiting hepatic lactate clearance.
Which anticoagulant's effect can be reversed by protamine sulfate?
Answer: Heparin
Protamine sulfate binds and neutralizes heparin through ionic interactions, reversing its anticoagulant effect.
Which immunosuppressant inhibits calcineurin, thereby blocking IL-2 transcription and T-cell activation?
Answer: Cyclosporine
Cyclosporine binds cyclophilin to inhibit calcineurin, preventing NFAT dephosphorylation and IL-2 gene transcription.
A patient on SSRIs is started on tramadol. What serious interaction should be anticipated?
Answer: Serotonin syndrome
Tramadol inhibits serotonin reuptake and combined with SSRIs can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome.
Which antihypertensive drug class is contraindicated in bilateral renal artery stenosis?
Answer: ACE inhibitors
ACE inhibitors dilate the efferent arteriole and can cause acute renal failure in bilateral renal artery stenosis by dropping GFR.