Pharmaceutical Therapeutics Flashcards
7 cards from real Physician Assistant practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pharmaceutical Therapeutics flashcards as text
A child with otitis media has a penicillin allergy documented as hives. Which antibiotic is most appropriate?
Answer: Cefdinir
Cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins is low (<2%); cefdinir is acceptable for non-anaphylactic penicillin allergy in otitis media.
Which drug used for HIV is a protease inhibitor known to cause hyperlipidemia, lipodystrophy, and hyperglycemia as metabolic side effects?
Answer: Ritonavir
Ritonavir and other protease inhibitors are associated with significant metabolic complications including dyslipidemia, fat redistribution, and insulin resistance.
A patient on SSRIs is started on tramadol. Which serious drug interaction could result?
Answer: Serotonin syndrome
Tramadol inhibits serotonin reuptake; combined with SSRIs this can precipitate serotonin syndrome presenting with hyperthermia, agitation, and clonus.
A patient with gout and hyperuricemia is started on allopurinol. When should urate-lowering therapy ideally begin relative to an acute gout flare?
Answer: Only after the acute flare has resolved, typically 2-4 weeks later
Initiating urate-lowering therapy during an acute flare can prolong or worsen symptoms; it is generally started 2-4 weeks after resolution.
Which pharmacological mechanism accounts for the anticoagulant action of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as apixaban?
Answer: Direct inhibition of factor Xa
Apixaban and rivaroxaban are direct factor Xa inhibitors that prevent conversion of prothrombin to thrombin without requiring a cofactor like antithrombin.
A patient is prescribed doxycycline for Lyme disease. Which counseling point is most important?
Answer: Avoid prolonged sun exposure due to photosensitivity
Tetracyclines including doxycycline cause photosensitivity reactions; patients should use sunscreen and avoid prolonged UV exposure.
Which inhaled corticosteroid side effect is most concerning for long-term use in pediatric patients?
Answer: Growth suppression
Long-term systemic absorption of inhaled corticosteroids, even at low doses, may suppress growth hormone and reduce linear growth velocity in children.