Drug Identification

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NCLEX-PN › Drug Identification

Questions 1 - 10
1

You are the nurse taking care of a patient who is hospitalized for severe lower back pain. The patient also has a medical history significant for multiple gastrointestinal bleeds and peptic ulcer disease. Which of the following medications should be used with extreme caution in this patient given his medical history?

NSAIDs

Acetaminophen

Hydromorphone

Oxycodone

Morphine

Explanation

The correct answer is "NSAIDs." This is the correct answer because NSAIDs are known to be irritants of the gastrointestinal tract, and prolonged and/or extensive use of NSAIDs can increase the risk of developing gastrointestinal ulcers, as well as consequent gastrointestinal bleeds in the setting of ulcers. Given this patient's medical history, which already contains multiple gastrointestinal bleeds and peptic ulcer disease, NSAIDs should be used very, very carefully, if at all, in this patient.

The other choices are incorrect. Acetaminophen is not known to increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding or peptic ulcer formation. Morphine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone are all opioid analgesics and are not known to increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding or peptic ulcer formation.

2

A client has been taking daily doses of Paroxetine for 6 months and has asked for an information with the nurse about going off the medication. What should the nurse emphasize in the information session?

Taper the medication to avoid discontinuation syndrome

Stop taking the medication immediately, increase physical activity level for 2-3 weeks to counteract side effects

Urge the client to continue taking the medication until he consults a psychotherapist

Advise the patient of probable weight gain after going off the medication

Explanation

Clients taking Paroxetine may experience withdrawal and continuation syndrome. To minimize symptoms, taper the medication over a period of 3 or more weeks.

3

A client has been taking daily doses of Paroxetine for 6 months and has asked for an information with the nurse about going off the medication. What should the nurse emphasize in the information session?

Taper the medication to avoid discontinuation syndrome

Stop taking the medication immediately, increase physical activity level for 2-3 weeks to counteract side effects

Urge the client to continue taking the medication until he consults a psychotherapist

Advise the patient of probable weight gain after going off the medication

Explanation

Clients taking Paroxetine may experience withdrawal and continuation syndrome. To minimize symptoms, taper the medication over a period of 3 or more weeks.

4

You are the nurse taking care of a patient who is hospitalized for severe lower back pain. The patient also has a medical history significant for multiple gastrointestinal bleeds and peptic ulcer disease. Which of the following medications should be used with extreme caution in this patient given his medical history?

NSAIDs

Acetaminophen

Hydromorphone

Oxycodone

Morphine

Explanation

The correct answer is "NSAIDs." This is the correct answer because NSAIDs are known to be irritants of the gastrointestinal tract, and prolonged and/or extensive use of NSAIDs can increase the risk of developing gastrointestinal ulcers, as well as consequent gastrointestinal bleeds in the setting of ulcers. Given this patient's medical history, which already contains multiple gastrointestinal bleeds and peptic ulcer disease, NSAIDs should be used very, very carefully, if at all, in this patient.

The other choices are incorrect. Acetaminophen is not known to increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding or peptic ulcer formation. Morphine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone are all opioid analgesics and are not known to increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding or peptic ulcer formation.

5

Celecoxib is what class of drug?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

Narcotic

Corticosteroid

Muscle relaxant

Explanation

Celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). These drugs work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which reduces the synthesis of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and thromboxane.

6

Which of the following is ototoxic and nephrotoxic?

Gentamicin

Ampicillin

Ceftriaxone

Doxycycline

Erythromycin

Explanation

Gentamicin belongs to the aminoglycoside antimicrobial agents. It is a bactericidal agent with a wide spectrum of activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. It irreversibly inhibits protein biosynthesis by acting directly on the ribosome. Gentamicin binds receptors on the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and inhibits protein synthesis through interference with the initiation complex, misreading of the code on the mRNA template, and causing polysomes to dissociate into nonfunctional monosomes.

Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity are the most serious adverse effects of gentamicin. Ototoxicity is manifested as vestibular dysfunction, which may be due to destruction of hair cells. If renal failure is present, the probability of ototoxicity is greater.

Nephrotoxicity is more common with gentamicin than with any of the other aminoglycosides. It can produce acute renal insufficiency and tubular necrosis.

7

Celecoxib is what class of drug?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

Narcotic

Corticosteroid

Muscle relaxant

Explanation

Celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). These drugs work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which reduces the synthesis of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and thromboxane.

8

Which of the following is ototoxic and nephrotoxic?

Gentamicin

Ampicillin

Ceftriaxone

Doxycycline

Erythromycin

Explanation

Gentamicin belongs to the aminoglycoside antimicrobial agents. It is a bactericidal agent with a wide spectrum of activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. It irreversibly inhibits protein biosynthesis by acting directly on the ribosome. Gentamicin binds receptors on the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and inhibits protein synthesis through interference with the initiation complex, misreading of the code on the mRNA template, and causing polysomes to dissociate into nonfunctional monosomes.

Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity are the most serious adverse effects of gentamicin. Ototoxicity is manifested as vestibular dysfunction, which may be due to destruction of hair cells. If renal failure is present, the probability of ototoxicity is greater.

Nephrotoxicity is more common with gentamicin than with any of the other aminoglycosides. It can produce acute renal insufficiency and tubular necrosis.

9

Which of the following is an antidote to opioid overdose?

Naloxone

Flumazenil

Glucagon

N-acetylcysteine

Explanation

Naloxone antidotes opioid overdose by competitively binding to μ-opioid receptors. Flumazenil is an antidote to benzodiazepines. Glucagon is an antidote for beta blocker overdose. N-acetylcysteine is an antidote for acetaminophen.

10

Which of the following over-the-counter analgesics is one of the most common causes of liver failure in the United States?

Acetaminophen

Aspirin

Naproxen

Ibuprofen

Explanation

Acetaminophen in doses over 3000mg per day can result in significant liver damage or liver failure. From 1998 to 2003, acetaminophen was the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States. According to a population-based report in 2007 there are an estimated 1600 cases of acute liver failure in the United States every year, with acetaminophen being the most common etiology.

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