QMAP Medication Classifications and Effects — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident is prescribed Furosemide (Lasix), which is a diuretic. When planning for the resident's day, which common and expected side effect should the QMAP anticipate?
- Dry, hacking cough
- Increased frequency of urination (Correct answer)
- Constipation
- Increased appetite
Correct answer: Increased frequency of urination
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that works by helping the kidneys remove excess salt and water from the body through urine. Therefore, an increased frequency of urination is the most direct and expected effect after administration.
Question 2: An antihypertensive medication is primarily prescribed for what purpose?
- To relieve moderate to severe pain
- To lower high blood pressure (Correct answer)
- To treat bacterial infections
- To prevent the formation of blood clots
Correct answer: To lower high blood pressure
The term 'antihypertensive' directly relates to its function. 'Anti-' means against, and 'hypertension' is the medical term for high blood pressure. These drugs are used to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications like stroke and heart attack.
Question 3: A resident has a PRN order for an analgesic. For which of the following complaints would it be appropriate to administer this class of medication?
- High blood sugar reading
- A complaint of a headache (Correct answer)
- A bacterial skin infection
- Difficulty sleeping
Correct answer: A complaint of a headache
Analgesics are a class of medications also known as pain relievers or painkillers. They are used to treat various types of pain, including headaches.
Question 4: A resident who is taking a prescribed opioid medication for pain reports having difficult and infrequent bowel movements. The QMAP should recognize this as which very common side effect of this drug class?
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Drowsiness
- Constipation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Constipation
Opioids affect the gastrointestinal tract by decreasing motility, which leads to hard, dry stools and infrequent bowel movements. Constipation is one of the most common side effects of chronic opioid use, and tolerance to this effect rarely develops.
Question 5: Medications such as amoxicillin and penicillin are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. To which major drug classification do they belong?
- Antibiotics (Correct answer)
- Antihistamines
- Antidepressants
- Anticoagulants
Correct answer: Antibiotics
Amoxicillin and penicillin are part of the penicillin family of antibiotics. Antibiotics are specifically designed to treat infections by killing bacteria or preventing them from multiplying.
Question 6: Which of the following statements best describes the primary therapeutic effect of an anticoagulant, such as Warfarin (Coumadin)?
- It dissolves existing blood clots that have already formed.
- It interferes with the blood clotting process to help prevent new clots from forming. (Correct answer)
- It lowers cholesterol to prevent plaque buildup in arteries.
- It increases the production of red blood cells to treat anemia.
Correct answer: It interferes with the blood clotting process to help prevent new clots from forming.
Anticoagulants, often called 'blood thinners,' work by disrupting the coagulation cascade, which is the process the body uses to form blood clots. Their main purpose is to prevent the formation or growth of dangerous clots.
QMAP Medication Classifications and Effects
A resident is prescribed Furosemide (Lasix), which is a diuretic.
When planning for the resident's day, which common and expected side effect should the QMAP anticipate?