PTCB Pharmacology Flashcards

Which of the following side effects is most common when phenazopyridine is used?

Answer: Discoloration of the urine

Phenazopyridine is a urinary analgesic used to relieve pain, burning, and discomfort associated with urinary tract infections. A very common and expected side effect of this medication is the discoloration of urine, typically turning it to an orange or reddish-brown color. Patients should be informed of this harmless but noticeable effect.

Which of the following medications should pregnant women avoid taking?

Answer: Tetracycline

Tetracycline antibiotics are contraindicated during pregnancy because they can cause permanent tooth discoloration and inhibit bone growth in the developing fetus. These adverse effects are due to tetracycline's ability to chelate calcium and deposit in calcifying tissues. Safer antibiotic alternatives are typically chosen for pregnant women.

All of the following drugs are categorized as NSAIDs, with the exception of which one?

Answer: Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is an analgesic and antipyretic, meaning it relieves pain and reduces fever. However, it is not classified as a Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID). NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes to reduce inflammation, pain, and fever, a mechanism distinct from acetaminophen's action.

Which diabetic medicine class does Glyburide belong to?

Answer: Sulfonylurea

Glyburide is an oral antidiabetic medication that belongs to the sulfonylurea class. Sulfonylureas work by stimulating the beta cells in the pancreas to release more insulin, thereby lowering blood glucose levels. This class of drugs is commonly used in the management of type 2 diabetes.

Which of the following SSRls has the generic name fluoxetine?

Answer: Prozac

Prozac is the widely recognized brand name for the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine. Fluoxetine is commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and bulimia nervosa. It was one of the first SSRIs introduced and remains a frequently used antidepressant.

Proton pump inhibitors are drugs that help the body produce less of which of the following substances?

Answer: Stomach acid

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole and lansoprazole, are a class of drugs that significantly reduce the production of stomach acid. They work by irreversibly blocking the proton pump in the parietal cells of the stomach, which is responsible for secreting hydrogen ions (acid). This makes them highly effective in treating conditions like GERD, peptic ulcers, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Antibiotics have been shown to impair the effectiveness of which of the following drug classes?

Answer: Oral contraceptives

Certain antibiotics, particularly broad-spectrum ones like rifampin, can induce liver enzymes that metabolize hormones. This accelerated metabolism reduces the levels of estrogen and progestin in oral contraceptives, thereby decreasing their effectiveness. This interaction increases the risk of unintended pregnancy, so alternative birth control methods are often recommended.

All of the following are examples of antiarrhythmic medications, with the exception of which one?

Answer: Quinapril

Flecainide, amiodarone, and propafenone are all classified as antiarrhythmic medications, used to treat irregular heart rhythms. Quinapril, however, is an ACE inhibitor, a class of drugs primarily used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart failure. It works by relaxing blood vessels and is not used to directly manage arrhythmias.

Which of the following ARBs has the generic name losartan?

Answer: Cozaar

Losartan is the generic name for the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) marketed under the brand name Cozaar. ARBs are a class of medications used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure by blocking the action of angiotensin II, a substance that narrows blood vessels. Micardis, Benicar, and Avapro are also ARBs, but they correspond to different generic names (telmisartan, olmesartan, and irbesartan, respectively).

Which of the following drugs has the generic name enoxaparin?

Answer: Lovenox

Enoxaparin is the generic name for Lovenox, which is a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). It is an anticoagulant medication used to prevent and treat various types of blood clots. Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Heparin (unfractionated heparin), and Arixtra (fondaparinux) are other types of anticoagulants but are distinct drugs with different generic names.

Which of the following antibiotics can be affected by dairy products?

Answer: Tetracycline

Tetracycline antibiotics, such as tetracycline and doxycycline, can form insoluble complexes with calcium, magnesium, and other metal ions found in dairy products. This chelation prevents the antibiotic from being properly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, significantly reducing its effectiveness. Patients are advised to avoid dairy, antacids, and iron supplements for several hours before and after taking these medications.

[Solu-Cortef (hydrocortisone sodium succinate for injection, USP) 250mg (2ml Act-O-vial)] Your scleroderma patient is prescribed Solu-Cortef 0.05g IM every six hours. How many milliliters are you going to use?

Answer: 0.4 ml

First, convert the prescribed dose from grams to milligrams: 0.05 g = 50 mg. The medication is supplied as 250 mg in 2 ml. To find the volume needed for 50 mg, set up a proportion: (250 mg / 2 ml) = (50 mg / X ml). Solving for X, we get X = (50 mg * 2 ml) / 250 mg = 100 ml / 250 = 0.4 ml.

A drug's dose is 250 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. What dosage should be given to a 55-pound child?

Answer: 6.25 mg

First, convert the child's weight from pounds to kilograms: 55 lbs / 2.2 lbs/kg = 25 kg. Next, calculate the total dose in micrograms: 250 mcg/kg * 25 kg = 6250 mcg. Finally, convert micrograms to milligrams: 6250 mcg / 1000 mcg/mg = 6.25 mg.

You're filling an Amoxicillin 125 mg/5 ml, Sig 1 tsp t.i.d Dispense 150 ml prescription. How many milliliters should the patient drink every day?

Answer: 15 ml

The prescription indicates 'Sig 1 tsp t.i.d'. One teaspoon (tsp) is equivalent to 5 ml. 't.i.d' means three times a day. Therefore, the patient takes 5 ml per dose, three times daily. The total daily volume the patient should drink is 5 ml/dose * 3 doses/day = 15 ml/day.

The codeine content of Tylenol #3 is 30 mg. How many grains of codeine are there in each Tylenol #3 table?

Answer: 1/2 grain

To convert milligrams to grains, use the conversion factor 1 grain = 64.8 mg. Given 30 mg of codeine, divide this by the conversion factor: 30 mg / 64.8 mg/grain ≈ 0.4629 grains. This value is approximately equal to 1/2 grain.

You're filling out a prescription for an albuterol inhaler with a 90-mcg dose each actuation. How many mg are delivered in each dose if each container produces 200 actuations and each dose is 2 actuations?

Answer: 0.18 mg

Each actuation delivers 90 mcg of albuterol. Since each dose consists of 2 actuations, one dose delivers 90 mcg/actuation * 2 actuations/dose = 180 mcg. To convert micrograms to milligrams, divide by 1000: 180 mcg / 1000 mcg/mg = 0.18 mg.