Practice Test Geeks(PSA) Prescribing Safety Assessment Practice Test
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Medication Safety Flashcards

7 cards from real PSA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Medication Safety flashcards as text

  1. Before initiating amiodarone therapy, which baseline investigations are most essential?

    Answer: Thyroid function tests, liver function tests, and chest X-ray

    Amiodarone is iodine-rich and can cause thyroid dysfunction, hepatotoxicity, and pulmonary toxicity, so TFTs, LFTs, and CXR are mandatory at baseline.

  2. A patient on lithium presents with coarse tremor, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion. What is the most likely cause?

    Answer: Lithium toxicity

    Coarse tremor, GI upset, and neurotoxicity are hallmarks of lithium toxicity requiring urgent assessment and management.

  3. A patient on long-term methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis requires regular monitoring. Which combination of tests is most important?

    Answer: Full blood count and liver function tests at regular intervals

    Methotrexate causes bone marrow suppression and hepatotoxicity, making regular FBC and LFTs essential for safe long-term use.

  4. A patient is being initiated on clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Which monitoring is mandatory due to a life-threatening adverse effect?

    Answer: Regular white blood cell count to detect agranulocytosis

    Clozapine carries a mandatory WBC and neutrophil monitoring program because it can cause potentially fatal agranulocytosis in 1-2% of patients.

  5. A patient on ramipril for hypertension develops a persistent dry cough. What is the most appropriate next step?

    Answer: Switch to an angiotensin receptor blocker such as losartan

    ACE inhibitor-induced cough is a class effect caused by bradykinin accumulation; switching to an ARB eliminates the cough while maintaining antihypertensive efficacy.

  6. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a severe mucocutaneous adverse drug reaction most classically associated with which medication?

    Answer: Carbamazepine

    Carbamazepine and other aromatic anticonvulsants, along with allopurinol and sulfonamides, are strongly associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

  7. A patient receiving gentamicin for sepsis should be monitored primarily for which two toxicities?

    Answer: Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity via serum creatinine and drug levels

    Aminoglycosides like gentamicin are dose-dependently nephrotoxic and ototoxic; serum creatinine and trough/peak drug levels must be monitored regularly.