NCLEX-PN : Drug Identification

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for NCLEX-PN

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Drug Identification

You are the nurse taking care of a patient who is experiencing a panic attack. You are instructed to give the patient a dose of lorazepam. Which of the drug classes below describes lorazepam?

Possible Answers:

Barbiturate

Alpha-blocker

Amphetamine

Benzodiazepine

Beta-blocker

Correct answer:

Benzodiazepine

Explanation:

The correct answer is "benzodiazepine," as lorazepam, also known as Ativan, is a benzodiazepine drug. Benzodiazepines act by increasing the efficacy of the neurotransmitter, GABA, when it acts upon its particular receptors. They have potent anti-anxiety properties, among other properties, and are frequently given during the initial phase of a panic attack to calm the patient.

On the other hand, the other choices are incorrect. Phenobarbital is an example of a barbiturate. Proproanolol is an example of a beta-blocker. Tamsulosin is an example of an alpha-blocker. Methamphetamine is an example of an amphetamine.

Example Question #32 : Drug Identification

Metoclopramide is used in the treatment for which of the following conditions?
Possible Answers:
Tuberculosis
Ulcer disease
Chronic bronchitis
Vomiting after chemotherapy
Correct answer: Vomiting after chemotherapy
Explanation: Metoclopramide is an antiemetic and gastroprokinetic agent commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting, to facilitate gastric emptying in people with gastroparesis, and as a treatment for the gastric stasis often associated with migraine headaches.

Example Question #33 : Drug Identification

5-fluouracil is used to treat which of the following conditions?

Possible Answers:

Myasthenia gravis

Ulcerative colitis

Colorectal, breast, and ovarian cancer

Rheumatoid arthritis

Correct answer:

Colorectal, breast, and ovarian cancer

Explanation:

5-fluouracil is a fluoropyrimidine analog which inhibits translation, synthesis, and function of RNA and DNA, thus slowing down cellular metabolism. It is used in treatment of colorectal, breast, and ovarian cancer, in addition to cancers of the GI and head and neck.

Example Question #34 : Drug Identification

Which of the following laboratory values would indicate toxicity in the client taking acetaminophen daily?

Possible Answers:

Direct bilirubin level of 2mg/dL

Prothrombin time of 12 seconds

Sodium level of 140 mEq/L

Platelet count of 400,000/mm3

Correct answer:

Direct bilirubin level of 2mg/dL

Explanation:

A direct bilirubin level of 2mg/dL or greater indicates acetaminophen toxicity.

Example Question #31 : Drug Identification

The purpose of misoprostol in a client who chronically uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is:

Possible Answers:

Increased white blood cell count

Decrease in serum phosphorus level

Relief of epigastric pain

Reduction of steatorrhea

Correct answer:

Relief of epigastric pain

Explanation:

Misoprostol is used for the prevention of non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) induced gastric ulcers. Taking this drug will prevent gastric ulcers and relieve epigastric pain.

Example Question #3 : Anti Inflammatory And Pain Treatments

Which of the following analgesics is available in "lollipop" form?

Possible Answers:

Oxycodone

Hydrocodone

Tramadol

Fentanyl

Correct answer:

Fentanyl

Explanation:

Fentanyl citrate comes in solid form on a stick (often referred to as a "fentanyl lollipop"). This form is 80-100 times more potent than morphine and intended for use by cancer patients and patients that have become tolerant to opioids. 

Example Question #32 : Drug Identification

Celecoxib is what class of drug?
Possible Answers:

Narcotic

Muscle relaxant

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

Corticosteroid

Correct answer:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

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.

Example Question #2 : Anti Inflammatory And Pain Treatments

Which of the following is an antidote to opioid overdose?

Possible Answers:

Glucagon

Flumazenil

N-acetylcysteine

Naloxone

Correct answer:

Naloxone

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.

Example Question #35 : Drug Identification

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

Possible Answers:

Aspirin

Ibuprofen

Acetaminophen

Naproxen

Correct answer:

Acetaminophen

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.

Example Question #6 : Anti Inflammatory And Pain Treatments

Levodopa is not generally given alone due to what side effects?

Possible Answers:

Heart palpitations

Nausea, vomiting, and anorexia

Delirium

Tremor

Correct answer:

Nausea, vomiting, and anorexia

Explanation:

Levodopa (L-DOPA), a common treatment for Parkinson's disease, is generally given in combination with carbidopa or another peripheral dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor. This is because levodopa alone will stimulate dopamine receptors in the GI tract and the chemotrigger receptor zone (CTZ) in the brain, resulting in nausea, vomiting and anorexia. A peripheral dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor prevents levodopa from being prematurely converted into dopamine in the adrenal glands or other peripheral tissues.

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