McKenna's Pharmacology, 2e

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P A R T 1  Introduction to nursing pharmacology

C H E C K Y O U R U N D E R S T A N D I N G

7. Jack B. has Parkinson’s disease that has been controlled for several years with levodopa. After he begins a health food regimen with lots of vitamin B 6 , his tremors return, and he develops a rapid heart rate, hypertension and anxiety. The nurse investigating the problem discovers that vitamin B 6 can speed the conversion of levodopa to dopamine in the periphery, leading to these problems. The nurse would consider this problem: a. a drug–laboratory test interaction. b. a drug–drug interaction.

Answers to the questions in this chapter can be found in Appendix A at the back of this book.

MULTIPLE CHOICE Select the best answer to the following. 1. Chemotherapeutic agents are drugs that: a. are used only to treat cancers. b. replace normal body chemicals that are missing because of disease. c. interfere with foreign cell functioning, such as invading microorganisms or neoplasms. d. stimulate the normal functioning of a cell. 2. Receptor sites: a. are a normal part of enzyme substrates. b. are protein areas on cell membranes that react with specific chemicals. c. can usually be stimulated by many different chemicals. d. are responsible for all drug effects in the body. 3. Selective toxicity is: a. the ability of a drug to seek out a specific bacterial species or microorganism. b. the ability of a drug to cause only specific adverse effects. c. the ability of a drug to cause fetal damage. d. the ability of a drug to attack only those systems found in foreign or abnormal cells. 4. When trying to determine why the desired therapeutic effect is not being seen with an oral drug, the nurse or midwife should consider: a. the blood flow to muscle beds. b. food altering the makeup of gastric juices. c. the weight of the person. d. the temperature of the peripheral environment. 5. Much of the biotransformation that occurs when a drug is taken occurs as part of: a. the protein-binding effect of the drug. b. the functioning of the renal system. c. the first-pass effect through the liver. d. the distribution of the drug to the reactive tissues. 6. The half-life of a drug: a. is determined by a balance of all pharmacokinetic processes. b. is a constant factor for all drugs taken by a person. c. is influenced by the fat distribution of the person. d. can be calculated with the use of a body surface nomogram.

c. a cumulation effect. d. a sensitivity reaction.

MULTIPLE RESPONSE Select all that apply.

1. When reviewing a drug to be given, the nurse or midwife notes that the drug is excreted in the urine. What points should be included in the nurse’s assessment of the person? a. the person’s liver function tests. b. the person’s bladder tone. c. the person’s renal function tests. d. the person’s fluid intake. e. other drugs being taken that could affect the kidney. f. the person’s intake and output for the day. 2. When considering the pharmacokinetics of a drug, what points would the healthcare professional need to consider? a. how the drug will be absorbed. b. the way the drug affects the body. c. receptor-site activation and suppression. d. how the drug will be excreted. e. how the drug will be metabolised. f. the half-life of the drug. 3. Drug–drug interactions are important considerations in clinical practice. When evaluating a person for potential drug–drug interactions, what would the nurse or midwife expect to address? a. bizarre drug effects on the body. b. the need to adjust drug dose or timing of administration. c. the need for more drugs to balance the effects of the drugs being given. d. a new therapeutic effect not encountered with either drug alone. e. increased adverse effects. f. the use of herbal or alternative therapies.