Deck 8: Allergy and Respiratory Medications

Question 1

A 17-year-old high school wrestler comes in for his regularly scheduled appointment for asthma.He reports no acute problems now with wheezing,coughing,shortness of breath,or tightness in his chest.Which medication might he be a candidate for prophylactic treatment?

A) Theochron
B) Sus-Phrine
C) Cromolyn sodium
D) Proventil

Answer 1

Cromolyn sodium

Question 2

A patient is scheduled to take the pneumonia vaccination.She has developed nasal congestion and started taking a topical intranasal steroid.What might the nurse expect the physician to tell the patient?

A) Stop taking the intranasal steroid.
B) Decrease the use of the intranasal steroid.
C) Do not take the pneumonia vaccination.
D) There is no effect from the two used together.

Answer 2

Do not take the pneumonia vaccination.

Question 3

Which is an important concept to teach patients who take expectorants,antitussives,decongestants,or bronchodilators?

A) These are all over-the-counter medications that must be used with caution.
B) Medication effectiveness will be enhanced with adequate patient hydration of more than 2 quarts of water per day.
C) These preparations frequently cause adverse effects, and the patient should not take them without consulting a physician.
D) Patients may expect to develop fever, swollen lymph nodes, and tightness in the chest when taking these products.

Answer 3

Medication effectiveness will be enhanced with adequate patient hydration of more than 2 quarts of water per day.

Question 4

A patient comes into the clinic complaining of a nonproductive cough and muscle aches that she has had for 5 days.She has no sore throat,temperature elevation,or swollen lymph nodes.She is coughing so much that she is unable to sleep at night.Which medication might the nurse expect the physician to order?

A) Decongestant
B) Expectorant
C) Antitussive
D) Antibiotic

Question 5

For which reason should patients with hypertension be advised not to take antihistamines?

A) They cause a slow pulse rate.
B) They need to be taken 2 hours apart.
C) There is a 6-hour wait between doses.
D) They can cause blood pressure to rise.

Question 6

The patient on cromolyn for asthma is monitored carefully during reduction of the medication for which reason?

A) An increase in appetite causes weight gain.
B) The asthmatic symptoms may return.
C) Discharge from the nasal passages increases.
D) The patient's eyes will water more.

Question 7

An energetic adult patient,who has had asthma since birth,takes theophylline regularly.What should the nurse be most concerned with regarding care for this patient?

A) The presence of infection and bronchospasm
B) His blood theophylline levels
C) His ability to swallow the medication
D) Adverse reactions

Question 8

A patient is seen regularly for hypertension.When he comes today for his regular appointment,he asks for a decongestant,because he has a bad head cold.What would the nurse expect the physician to do?

A) Order a decongestant.
B) Order an antibiotic because of the possibility of infection.
C) He would not order a decongestant because that medication might increase the patient's hypertension.
D) Order an expectorant and hydrate the patient.

Question 9

Which is true regarding the use of intranasal steroids?

A) Low-grade infection is present and has not responded to the use of antibiotics.
B) Conventional methods of reducing inflammation have been tried and found to be ineffective.
C) The patient is pregnant.
D) The patient is immunocompromised.

Question 10

A young mother tells the nurse that her 6-month-old baby has a cough and that she is giving the baby an OTC cough and decongestant preparation.What should the nurse teach this young mother?

A) Over-the-counter medication is safe for infants.
B) These products are not safe for infants.
C) These products are safe if given diluted.
D) These products are safe in infants over 6 months.

Question 11

The physician has ordered an antihistamine for an elderly patient with allergies.What might the nurse expect the physician to do?

A) Go slow and stay low in dosing.
B) Order the medication according to age and weight.
C) Only give liquid medication.
D) Give medication once a week.

Question 12

A patient with renal failure expresses he prefers to take an herbal drug for relief of his cold.Which herbal drug should the nurse caution the patient about taking?

A) Echinacea
B) Vitamin C
C) Arabinoxylane
D) Grapefruit seed extract

Question 13

A patient asks if he can still drink coffee and cola while on bronchodilators for his COPD.Which is the nurse's best response?

A) "Caffeine-containing drinks can be used in moderation."
B) "You have no restriction when drinking coffee."
C) "Drink plenty of water to counteract the caffeine."
D) "Avoid large amounts of caffeine."

Question 14

A patient is recovering from bronchitis.He is producing large amounts of thick mucus,especially in the mornings.What might the nurse expect the physician to do?

A) Suggest he drink a glass of water with each meal.
B) Suggest he drink two glasses of orange juice daily.
C) Order an expectorant and tell the patient to force fluids.
D) Order an antitussive.

Question 15

What should the nurse teach a patient who is on an antitussive agent?

A) This medication is not habit forming.
B) This medication is for children's use only.
C) This medication can be addictive.
D) This medication comes only in pill form.

Question 16

A patient has been instructed to use a topical decongestant for allergic rhinitis.Which information is important for the nurse to include when teaching the patient about the use of this medicine?

A) There are no risks for rebound congestion with this medicine.
B) It is safe to take this drug with other MAO inhibitors.
C) Topical decongestants have a slower onset of action.
D) You should use this medication no more than 3 to 5 days.

Question 17

A patient has had asthma since childhood but is now an active teenager with few symptoms as long as she takes her medication regularly.Lately she reports a lack of appetite,difficulty falling asleep,vague feelings of anxiety,and restlessness.She also notices a little tremor of her hands and feels pounding in her chest.Which drugs may cause these symptoms?

A) Sympathomimetic drugs
B) Xanthine derivatives
C) Cromolyn sodium
D) Both sympathomimetic and xanthine derivative agents

Question 18

A patient has recently recovered from pneumonia.She is on an expectorant for a cough she developed with her pneumonia.She discovers that she now wheezes after jogging in the morning.What might the nurse expect the physician to suggest?

A) Taking an oral bronchodilator before running
B) Using an intranasal steroid nebulizer before running
C) Taking a spray decongestant before running
D) Drinking 2 quarts of water daily

Question 19

A patient is experiencing severe headaches and pressure over her eyes.She feels congested but has no temperature elevation.There is a past history of sinus infection with this patient.What might the nurse expect the physician to order?

A) Expectorant
B) Antibiotic
C) Antitussive
D) Decongestant

Question 20

Cromolyn is effective in which situations? (Select all that apply.)

A) Prophylaxis for asthma
B) Management of an acute exacerbation of asthma
C) Management of allergic rhinitis
D) Management of eczema
E) Management of postexercise bronchospasm

Question 21

The therapeutic level of theophylline is directly related to the blood levels achieved from the administration of the medication on a regular schedule.Which factors affect therapeutic levels? (Select all that apply.)

A) Variance in rates of absorption
B) Fluid intake
C) Metabolism
D) Age of the patient
E) Elimination

Question 22

Xanthine derivatives are bronchodilators with which actions in the body? (Select all that apply.)

A) Smooth-muscle relaxation
B) Kidney diuresis
C) Stimulation of the myocardium
D) Decrease in respiratory rate
E) Decrease in heart rate