Clinical Pharmacy and Patient Care Flashcards
6 cards from real Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Clinical Pharmacy and Patient Care flashcards as text
Which antiepileptic drug requires therapeutic drug monitoring due to its nonlinear (Michaelis-Menten) pharmacokinetics?
Answer: Phenytoin
Phenytoin exhibits nonlinear pharmacokinetics because its metabolizing enzymes become saturated at therapeutic doses, making small dose changes produce large plasma level changes.
A clinical pharmacist performing SOAP notes documents the patient's subjective complaints under which section?
Answer: Subjective
The 'S' in SOAP stands for Subjective data — information provided by the patient such as symptoms, pain level, and medication history.
Which drug class is considered first-line for treatment of type 2 diabetes in the absence of contraindications?
Answer: Metformin (biguanides)
Metformin is the recommended first-line pharmacotherapy for type 2 diabetes due to its efficacy, safety profile, low cost, and cardiovascular benefits.
Which counseling point is MOST important when dispensing bisphosphonates like alendronate to a patient?
Answer: Take with 8 oz of water and remain upright for 30 minutes
Bisphosphonates must be taken with a full glass of water and the patient must remain upright for at least 30 minutes to prevent esophageal irritation and ulceration.
Vancomycin AUC/MIC-guided dosing is now preferred over trough-only monitoring primarily to:
Answer: Reduce nephrotoxicity while maintaining efficacy
AUC/MIC-guided vancomycin monitoring is now recommended over trough-only monitoring because it better predicts efficacy and significantly reduces nephrotoxicity.
Which sign/symptom distinguishes serotonin syndrome from neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)?
Answer: Neuromuscular hyperactivity and clonus (more prominent in serotonin syndrome)
Serotonin syndrome is characterized by neuromuscular hyperactivity including clonus, tremor, and hyperreflexia, while NMS typically features 'lead-pipe' rigidity and is more gradual in onset.