Question 1

Simon Anderson, a 42-year-old patient undergoing treatment for cancer of the colon, mentions to Kathy that he wants to investigate alternative treatment therapies. Explain the three primary alternative therapies discussed in your text as a way of responding to this patient's needs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Simon Anderson, a 42-year-old patient undergoing treatment...

Question 2

Where are most oral medications absorbed?

Accepted Answer

Most oral medications are absorbed by the small intestine. After absorption into the bloodstream from the small intestine, drugs are carried to the liver.

Question 3

Metabolism for oral medications begins in which organ before distribution?

Accepted Answer

For oral medications that are absorbed in the small intestine, the metabolism process begins in the liver before distribution.

Question 4

A(n) __________ is used for the treatment of allergic reactions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) __________ is used for the treatment...

Question 5

Which of the following parenteral routes of administration are outside the unlicensed medical assistant's scope of practice?

Accepted Answer

Parenteral routes that are outside the medical assistant's scope of practice include:
Intravenous, Intrathecal, or intraspinal, injections are used for spinal anesthesia and to administer certain medications into the spinal column. Intra-articular injections are used to administer corticosteroids into joints. Intralesional medications are injected directly into a lesion, such as an anticancer drug that is administered into a cancerous tumor.

Question 6

Drugs used to increase urinary output and to reduce blood pressure are __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Drugs used to increase urinary output and...

Question 7

To safeguard patients from potentially negative drug interactions, it is important to

Accepted Answer

To safeguard patients from potentially negative drug interactions, it is important at each visit to record a complete list of all drugs the patient is taking, including OTC medications and herbal products.

Question 8

The FDA has established standards that must be followed by generic drug manufacturers. Explain at least three of these.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The FDA has established standards that must...

Question 9

A drug that has affinity for a target cell recipient and produces a functional change in the cell is classified as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The target cell recipient is called a receptor, and the drug that has the affinity for it and produces a functional change in the cell is called an agonist. Not all drugs that bind to specific cells cause a functional change in the cell. These drugs act as an antagonist to the natural process and work by blocking a sequence of biochemical events.

Question 10

If a patient has previously responded to an orally administered drug but is no longer responding, what is an important question to ask?

Accepted Answer

It is important to remember these absorption factors when administering medication by the oral route. If a patient has previously responded to a drug but is no longer responding, it may be important to question the patient's food-medication cycle. It could be that the patient is no longer taking the medication on an empty stomach as directed.

Question 11

Which type of drugs alters the function of a cell by affecting the physical properties of the cell membrane rather than altering biochemical processes within the cell?

Accepted Answer

Some drugs alter the function of a cell by affecting the physical properties of the cell membrane rather than altering biochemical processes within the cell. This is especially true of drugs that affect nerve cells, such as anesthetics and alcohol.

Question 12

Kathy has been asked to train a new medical assistant in office procedures aimed at preventing drug abuse. Summarize at least three instructions she should include.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kathy has been asked to train a...

Question 13

Kathy is responsible for orienting a new medical assistant to the practice. Summarize the important points about government regulation of controlled substance prescriptions that she should include in the orientation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kathy is responsible for orienting a new...

Question 14

Which type of drug administration route is chosen in an emergency for fast action or when larger amounts of medication must be absorbed?

Accepted Answer

The intramuscular (IM) route is chosen in an emergency for fast action or when larger amounts of the medication must be absorbed. The subcutaneous (SC) route is chosen when a slower, prolonged effect is desired.

Question 15

Using your understanding of common prescription abbreviations, define the following physician orders.
1. atenolol bid * 10 days
2. Lunesta hs prn
3. cephalexin ac tid
4. NPO p midnight
5. prednisone 20 mg PO pc
6. Humalog SC stat

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using your understanding of common prescription abbreviations,...

Question 16

Kathy is taking a medication history from an elderly patient who has been prescribed multiple medications by his PCP as well as several specialists. During the history, Kathy discovers the patient also takes a number of OTC drugs. What patient education information about OTC drugs should Kathy share with this patient?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kathy is taking a medication history from...

Question 17

Which type of absorption occurs when a nitroglycerin tablet is dissolved under the tongue to dilate coronary arteries and relieve the pain of angina pectoris?

Accepted Answer

Drugs may be absorbed by the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, nose, eyes, rectum, vagina, and respiratory tracts. Some applications, such as nasal sprays, eye drops, and rectal suppositories for constipation, have a local effect. Others have a systemic effect, such as nitroglycerin tablet dissolved under the tongue (sublingual) to dilate coronary arteries and relieve the pain of angina pectoris. Inhalation is used to concentrate drugs locally in the lower respiratory passages or to produce systemic effects, such as general anesthesia.

Question 18

__________ medications are used to delay or block blood clot formation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ medications are used to delay or...

Question 19

A list of drugs compiled by a health insurance company that identifies the drugs the insurance company will cover under benefits is called a ________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A list of drugs compiled by a...

Question 20

What occurs when a patient has a reduced responsiveness to one drug and becomes resistant to other, similar drugs?

Accepted Answer

Cross-tolerance occurs when a patient acquires a tolerance to one drug and becomes resistant to other, similar drugs. Physical dependence, such as occurs with narcotic addictions, often accompanies tolerance. Tolerance is the phenomenon of reduced responsiveness to a drug. Acquired tolerance occurs after a particular drug has been taken for a period of time.

Quiz 26: Principles of Pharmacology