Deck 2: Principles of Drug Action and Drug Interactions

Question 1

Which best describes when drug interactions occur?

A) On administration of toxic dosages of a drug
B) On an increase in the pharmacodynamics of bound drugs
C) On the alteration of the effect of one drug by another drug
D) On increase of drug excretion

Answer 1

On the alteration of the effect of one drug by another drug

Question 2

A patient developed hives and itching after receiving a drug for the first time. Which instruction by the nurse is accurate?

A) Stop the medication and encourage the patient to wear a medical alert bracelet that explains the allergy.
B) Explain to the patient that these are signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction.
C) Emphasize to the patient the importance to inform medical personnel that in the future a lower dosage of this drug is necessary.
D) Instruct the patient that it would be safe to take the drug again because this instance was a mild reaction.

Answer 2

Stop the medication and encourage the patient to wear a medical alert bracelet that explains the allergy.

Question 3

Which statements about liberation of drugs are true? (Select all that apply.)

A) A drug must be dissolved in body fluids before it can be absorbed into body tissues.
B) A solid drug taken orally must disintegrate and dissolve in GI fluids to allow for absorption into the bloodstream for transport to the site of action.
C) The process of converting the drug into a soluble form can be controlled to a certain degree by the dosage form.
D) Converting the drug to a soluble form can be influenced by administering the drug with or without food in the patient's stomach.
E) Elixirs take longer to be liberated from the dosage form.

Answer 3

A drug must be dissolved in body fluids before it can be absorbed into body tissues.
A solid drug taken orally must disintegrate and dissolve in GI fluids to allow for absorption into the bloodstream for transport to the site of action.
The process of converting the drug into a soluble form can be controlled to a certain degree by the dosage form.
Converting the drug to a soluble form can be influenced by administering the drug with or without food in the patient's stomach.

Question 4

Which patient, when compared with the general population, would require a larger dose or more frequent administration of a drug to attain a therapeutic response?

A) A 29-year-old who has been diagnosed with kidney failure
B) A 35-year-old obese male who is being evaluated for an exercise program
C) A 52-year-old diagnosed with hypothyroidism and decreased metabolic rate
D) A 72-year-old with decreased circulatory status

Question 5

The nurse recognizes that which factors would contribute to digoxin toxicity in a 92-year-old patient? (Select all that apply.)

A) Taking the medication with meals
B) Prolonged half-life of the drug digoxin
C) Impaired renal function
D) Diminished mental capacity

Question 6

What occurs when two drugs compete for the same receptor site, resulting in increased activity of the first drug?

A) Desired action
B) Synergistic effect
C) Carcinogenicity
D) Displacement

Question 7

Which routes enable drug absorption more rapidly than the subcutaneous route? (Select all that apply.)

A) Intravenous route
B) Intramuscular route
C) Inhalation/sublingual
D) Intradermal route
E) Enteral route

Question 8

When obtaining a patient's health history, which assessment data would the nurse identify as having the most effect on drug metabolism?

A) History of liver disease
B) Intake of a vegetarian diet
C) Sedentary lifestyle
D) Teacher as an occupation

Question 9

The nurse administers 50 mg of a drug at 6:00 AM that has a half-life of 8 hours. What time will it be when 25 mg of the drug has been eliminated from the body?

A) 8:00 AM
B) 11:00 AM
C) 2:00 PM
D) 6:00 PM

Question 10

What do drug blood levels indicate?

A) Confirm if the patient is taking a generic form of a drug
B) Determine if the patient has sufficient body fat to metabolize the drug
C) Verify if the patient is taking someone else's medications
D) Determine if the amount of drug in the body is in a therapeutic range

Question 11

What is the process by which a drug is transported by circulating body fluids to receptor sites?

A) Osmosis
B) Distribution
C) Absorption
D) Biotransformation

Question 12

The nurse administers an initial dose of a steroid to a patient with asthma. A half hour after administration, the nurse finds the patient agitated and stating that "everyone is out to get me." What is the term for this unusual reaction?

A) Desired action
B) Adverse effect
C) Idiosyncratic reaction
D) Allergic reaction

Question 13

What is the definition of cumulative effect of a drug?

A) Drug toxicity related to overmedication
B) Drug buildup related to decreased metabolism
C) The inability to control the ingestion of drugs
D) The need for higher dosage to produce the same effect as previous lower dosages

Question 14

Which factors affect drug actions? (Select all that apply.)

A) Teratogenicity
B) Age
C) Body weight
D) Metabolic rate
E) Illness

Question 15

Which statements about variables that influence drug action are true? (Select all that apply.)

A) An older adult will require increased dosage of a drug to achieve the same therapeutic effect as that seen in a younger person.
B) Body weight can affect the therapeutic response of a medication.
C) Chronic smokers may metabolize drugs more rapidly than nonsmokers.
D) A patient's attitude and expectations affect the response to medication.
E) Reduced circulation causes drugs to absorb more rapidly.

Question 16

What will the nurse need to determine first in order to mix two drugs in the same syringe?

A) Absorption rate of the drugs
B) Compatibility of the drugs
C) Drug blood level of each drug
D) Medication adverse effects

Question 17

The nurse assesses which blood level to determine the amount of circulating medication in a patient?

A) Peak
B) Trough
C) Drug
D) Therapeutic

Question 18

Which are routes of drug excretion? (Select all that apply.)

A) Gastrointestinal (GI) tract; feces
B) Genitourinary (GU) tract; urine
C) Lymphatic system
D) Circulatory system; blood/plasma
E) Respiratory system; exhalation

Question 19

The nurse assesses hives in a patient started on a new medication. What is the nurse's best action?

A) Notify physician of allergic reaction.
B) Notify physician of idiosyncratic reaction.
C) Notify physician of potential teratogenicity.
D) Notify physician of potential tolerance.