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100 Common NCLEX Pharmacology Questions: Play & Learn Flashcards to memorize

Major adverse effect of narcotics such as morphine and fentanyl

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Respiratory Depression. Respiratory rate of < 12 /minute is an immediate concern

Electrolyte imbalance that can lead to lithium toxicity

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Hyponatremia

Antidote for Magnesium Sulfate

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Calcium Gluconate

Adverse effect of Aspirin in Children

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Reye's Syndrome. Affects brain and liver

Avoid this drug in sickle cell anemia to prevent seizures

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Meperidine (Demerol)

Tuberculosis medication that turns bodily fluids reddish/orange

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Rifampin

Major adverse effects of antipsychotics such as Haloperidol

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Extrapyramidal Symptoms. Monitor for abnormal movements such as lip smacking

Adverse effects of Digoxin (Toxicity)

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Visual and GI disturbances (yellow halos and diarrhea)

Major adverse effects of TCA antidepressants such as Amitriptyline

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Anticholinergic effects: Urinary retention, constipation, dry mouth, and blurry vision. Can't see, can't shit, can't spit, & can't pee.

Major adverse effect of statins (Cholesterol Medications)

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Rhabdomyolysis (Muscle Breakdown). Monitor Patient for Muscle Weakness.

Side effect of Atropine

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Blurry Vision. It's an anticholinergic. Side effects: Can't pee, can't shit, can't see, & can't spit.

Best time to take statins (Cholesterol medications)

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In the evening since cholesterol is synthesized between midnight to 3 AM

Adverse effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics such as Gentamicin

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Ototoxicity and Nephrotoxicity. Hearing and kidney function are a priority concern.

Adverse effects of Ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic

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Kidney damage and tendon rupture (report pain/swelling in tendon areas such as heels, elbows, & knees)

Adverse (dangerous) effects of ACE inhibitors (the -prils)

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Hyperkalemia and angioedema (watch for swelling of lips/face)

Side effects of ACE inhibitors (the -prils)

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Cough. Not dangerous. May go away over time. If not change ACE inhibitor to another medication

Food that decreases iron absorption

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Foods with calcium such as milk

Food that decreases iron absorption

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Foods with calcium such as milk

Food that increases iron absorption

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Foods with vitamin C such as orange juice and tomato juice.

What is the antidote of Digoxin

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DigiFab

What is the antidote of Warfarin (Coumadin)

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Vitamin K

What is the antidote of Heparin

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Protamine Sulfate

What is the antidote of Benzodiazepines such as Lorazepam (the -pams or -lams)

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Flumazenil

What is the antidote of Tylenol (Acetaminophen)?

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Acetylcysteine

Important side effects of Phenytoin (Dilantin)

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Gingival Hyperplasia and Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis (Report rash and fever)

Important side effects of steroids such as Prednisone

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Hyperglycemia, infection (report fever/sore throats), hypertension, osteoporosis, & poor wound healing.

Side effects of potassium-wasting diuretics such as furosemide

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Hypokalemia, dehydration, and orthostatic hypotension

Important side effect of Clozapine, an antipsychotic

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Agranulocytosis (or low neutrophils) which leads for increased risk for infection. Report fever & sore throat

Vitamin that must be taken along with Isoniazid to prevent peripheral neuropathy

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Vitamin B 6 (Pyridoxine)

Isoniazid causes toxicity to this organ

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Liver. Watch for elevated liver enzymes and jaundice

Side effects of Methylphenidate (Ritalin for Attention Deficit Disorder) are mostly related to which organ

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The heart. It causes tachycardia and hypertension. It can lead to a heart attack

Medication for symptomatic bradycardia

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Atropine

Medication for supraventricular tachycardia

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Adenosine. Give as a super rapid IV push, followed by saline bolus. It has very short half-life.

Calcium channel blockers that are effective in tachydysrhythmias

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Verapamil and Diltiazem

Medication that increases uterine contractions

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Oxytocin. Remember to monitor fetal heart rate and contractions. Given as an IV infusion

Asthma patients must rinse mouth and spit water when taking these medications

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Inhaled corticosteroids to prevent oral thrush/candida

Common Side effect of Nitroglycerin

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Headache

Must avoid this if taking Metrodinazole to prevent disulfiram-like reaction

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Alcohol. Disulfiram is a medication that makes drinking alcohol unpleasant. Used to treat alcoholism

Medications that are usually stopped prior to surgery to prevent bleeding

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Anticoagulants, including aspirin

Medications used to treat extrapyramidal symptoms, which are motor (movement) side effects of many antipsychotics.

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Anticholinergics such as Benztropine and antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (also has anticholinergic effects)

Major side effect of potassium-sparing diuretics such as spironolactone

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Hyperkalemia

Treatment for alcohol withdrawal symptoms

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Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

Used for alcohol aversion therapy

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Disulfiram (Antabuse)

Avoid foods with tyramine (e.g. aged cheese, fermented foods, & wine) when taking these medications

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MAO inhibitors (a class of antidepressants) . Tyramine foods can lead to hypertensive crisis

Monitor this if on a Magnesium infusion

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Deep tendon reflexes and respirations. A magnesium infusion is used in preeclampsia to prevent seizures

Common side effect of Theophylline/Aminophylline

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Tachycardia and tremors

Important lab to monitor if a patient is taking Aspirin

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Platelets

Important interventions for female patients on isotretinoin

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Birth Control since Isotretinoin causes serious birth defects

Common side effect of Cephalexin, an antibiotic

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Diarrhea

Must avoid this if taking tetracycline antibiotics

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Avoid Sun. Wear good sunscreen. It causes photosensitivity

Contraindicated if taking Sildenafil (Viagra)

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Nitroglycerin

Common side effects of iron supplements

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Constipation and turns stool dark

Must remain upright for a minimum of thirty minutes after taking this medication to prevent esophagitis

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Bisphosphonates such as Alendronate (for osteoporosis)

Indication for Sumatriptan (the -triptans)

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Migraines

Cardiac side effect of Sumatriptan (the -triptans)

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Chest pain due to coronary vasospasms

Expected outcome epoetin alfa

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Increased hemoglobin or improvement of anemia

Side effect of epoetin alfa

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Hypertension

Expected outcome of a dopamine infusion

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Increased blood pressure and cardiac output

Contraindication for non-selective beta blockers such as labetalol

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Asthma

Side effect of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole

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Kidney damage from crystallization

Adverse effect of vancomycin, gentamicin, and ceftazidime

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Kidney damage. Always monitor urine output, potassium, and BUN/creatinine

Expected outcome of baclofen in spinal cord injury

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Decreased muscles spasms

Adverse effect of Diltiazem and Verapamil, calcium channel blockers

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Bradycardia

Adverse effect of Allopurinol

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Renal damage and kidney stones

Indication for Allopurinol

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Long term treatment of gout (decreases uric acid).

Adverse effect of Warfarin and Heparin

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Bleeding. Monitor for bruises and tarry stool.

Indication for Clozapine

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Schizophrenia

Adverse effect of carbamazepine (Tegretol)

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Agranulocytosis (↓ WBC ↓ neutrophils). Monitor for infection

Indication for carbamazepine (Tegretol)

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Seizures

Side effects of Tamoxifen. Used to treat breast cancer

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Menopause-like symptoms such as hot-flushes

Caused by rapid infusion of Vancomycin

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Red man Syndrome (Patient turns red).

The symptoms of this syndrome are tachycardia, hyperreflexia, sweating, mydriasis, & myoclonus.

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Serotonin Syndrome

Adverse effect of SSRIs and MAOIs

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Serotonin Syndrome

If on MAOIs avoid foods high in tyramine to prevent this

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Hypertensive crisis

Acetaminophen causes damage to this organ

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Liver (hepatotoxicity)

Side effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID)

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Gastritis (Also can cause renal damage with prolonged use)

Cardiac adverse effect of haloperidol

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Prolonged QT interval which can lead to lethal ventricular dysrhythmias

What is Reye's Syndrome?

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Swelling of the brain and liver damage in children who get aspirin after a viral infection

Lab that measures the therapeutic effect of Heparin

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PTT

Lab that measures the therapeutic effect of Warfarin

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PT/INR

Class of antihypertensives that decrease heart rate

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Beta blockers such as metoprolol, labetalol, and atenolol. Ok, Calcium channels blockers can also decrease heart rate.

Medication used in asthma as a rescue drug

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Albuterol

Common side effect of albuterol

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Tachycardia and tremors

Expected effect of Digoxin

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Decreased heart rate and improved cardiac contraction

Medication of choice for anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction)

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Epinephrine

What is important to know about Metformin

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It can cause lactic acidosis. Hold 48 hours prior to CT scans with contrast.

Best time to take Levothyroxine, a medication for hypothyroidism

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Early in the morning on an empty stomach to increase its absorption

Important education to provide to patients on antibiotics

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Take the complete course of antibiotics even if symtpoms resolve to prevent future bacterial resistance

Best medication for congestive heart failure

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Diuretics

Medications that patients should be taking when on narcotics such as Vicodin

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Stool softeners such as Docusate sodium since they cause constipation

Medication for nausea which is ok to use in pregnancy

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Zofran (Ondansetron)

Foods to avoid when taking ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril

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Foods high in potassium such as oranges and bananas since ACE inhibitors can cause hyperkalemia

Therapeutic INR for Warfarin in most conditions

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2 to 3

Foods to avoid when taking Statins

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Grapefruit and Grapefruit juice

Common side effect of calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine

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Peripheral edema due to vasodilation effects.

Side effect of long-term use of prednisone (steroids)

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Osteoporosis (bone loss). Take Vitamin D and Calcium

Most important vital sign when administering narcotics and benzodiazepines

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Respiratory rate

What to know about Vancomycin

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Monitor kidney function. Follow up on Vancomcin levels. Never give too fast to prevent Red Man syndrome.

Patients on narcotics or benzodiazepines should avoid:

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Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery. This aplies to all medications that cause sedation.