Prototype Drugs Exam 2

Pathopharm 1 (Fall 2026)

Vitamin A (retinol) — Drug Class

Fat Soluble Vitamin

Vitamin A — Therapeutic Uses

Prevents/treats Vitamin A deficiency; Prevent/treat night blindness; supports normal vision, immune function, growth, and epithelial tissue.

Vitamin A — Mechanism of Action

• Converted to active forms needed for rhodopsin production in the retina

• Regulates epithelial cell growth and differentiation

Vitamin A — Physiological Effects

• Maintains normal vision

• Maintains healthy skin/mucous membranes

• Supports immunity and growth

Vitamin A — Key Side Effects

• Nausea/vomiting

• Headache

• Dry/peeling skin

• High doses → hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity), bone pain.

Vitamin A — Contraindications

• Hypervitaminosis A = causes hair loss, peeling skin, GI upset, lethargy.

• High doses should be avoided during pregnancy

• Caution with liver disease

Vitamin A — Nursing Monitoring & Action

• Monitor for signs of toxicity

• Monitor liver function with prolonged/high-dose therapy

• Assess vision and nutritional status

Vitamin A — Patient Education

• Do not exceed recommended dose

• Avoid taking multiple supplements containing Vitamin A

• Report severe headache, vision changes, or signs of liver problems

• Food Sources: Beta-Carotene: plant based darkly color fruits/veggies: carrots, cantaloupe, spinach AND Retinoids: animal origin dairy, meat, fish & fish oil.

• Remember: Vitamin A = vision/night vision

Vitamin C — Drug Class

Water-Soluble vitamin

Vitamin C — Therapeutic Uses

• Prevent/treat Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy)

• Promotes wound healing

• Enhances iron absorption

Vitamin C — Mechanism of Action

• Required for collagen synthesis

• Acts as an antioxidant

Vitamin C — Physiological Effects

• Strengthens connective tissue

• Promotes wound healing

• Supports immune function

• Increase Iron absorption

Vitamin C — Key Side Effects

• Nausea

• Abdominal cramps

• Diarrhea

Vitamin C — Contraindications

• Caution with kidney disease/kidney stones

• Caution with iron-overload disorders

Vitamin C — Nursing Monitoring & Action

• Monitor nutritional status

• Monitor for GI upset

• Monitor renal function/risk for kidney stones with high doses

Vitamin C — Patient Education

• Can take with food if GI upset occurs

• Do not exceed recommended doses

• Vitamin C can be taken with iron to increase iron absorption

• Food sources: citrus fruits, cantaloupe, tomatoes, leafy green veggies, green peppers, potatoes, strawberries, and kiwi fruit.

Iron — Drug Class

Mineral Supplement

Iron — Therapeutic Uses

Prevention and treatment of iron-deficiency anemia

Iron — Mechanism of Action

• Provides iron needed to produce hemoglobin

• Hemoglobin allows red blood cells to carry oxygen

Iron — Physiological Effects

• Increase Hemoglobin and RBC production

• Improves oxygen-carrying capacity

• Reduces fatigue and other symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia

Iron — Key Side Effects

• Constipation

• Nausea

• Abdominal discomfort

• Dark/black stools

Iron — Contraindications

• Hemochromatosis = iron overload

• Anemia not caused by iron deficiency unless otherwise indicated

• HIGH ALERT DRUG/BLACKBOX WARNING: SERIOUS CAUSE OF POISONING IN CHILDREN!

Iron - Nursing Monitorting/Action

• Monitor Hemoglobin levels are within desired range

• Administer iron IM by the Z-track metho

Iron — Patient Education

• Encourage patient to eat a nutritious diet to obtain sufficient iron.

• Advise patient to increase fluids, activity, and dietary bulk to avoid or relieve constipation.

• Counsel patient to include iron-rich foods in their diet.

• Food Sources: liver, lean meats, egg yolks, dried beans, spinach, fruit.

Chloroquine Phosphate — Drug Class

Antimalarial

Chloroquine Phosphate — Therapeutic Uses

• Malaria treatment and prophylaxis (especially prior to foreign travel)

Chloroquine Phosphate — Mechanism of Action

•  inhibits parasite replication (DNA/RNA replication) → basically stops growth of malaria.

Chloroquine Phosphate — Physiological Effects

• Kills susceptible malaria parasites

• Reduces parasitemia and symptoms of malaria

Chloroquine Phosphate — Key Side Effects

• Retinal and visual field involvement —> retinal toxicity

• Fatigue, headache, nervousness

• Photophobia & photosensitivity

• Life threatening: allergy and ocular disease!

Chloroquine Phosphate — Contraindications

• ocular disease, hypersensitivity, alcohol 

Chloroquine Phosphate — Nursing Monitoring & Action

• Monitor patients returning from malaria-endemic areas for malarial symptoms

(N/V/D/Abd cramps, pruritis visual changes, dizziness).

• Instruct client to report any hearing changes or vision changes immediately:

blurred/reduced vision, redness/irritation.

• Retinal and visual field Involvement

Chloroquine Phosphate — Patient Education

• Take exactly as prescribed

• Take with food if GI upset occurs

• Immediately report blurred vision or other visual changes

• Report palpitations, fainting, or severe dizziness

Ivermectin — Drug Class

Anthelmintic

Ivermectin — Therapeutic Uses

• Destroys parasitic worms

Ivermectin — Mechanism of Action

• Binds to parasite glutamate-gated chloride channels

• Causes paralysis and death of parasites

Ivermectin — Physiological Effects

• Eliminates susceptible parasites

• Reduces symptoms and complications of parasitic infection

Ivermectin — Key Side effects

• drowsiness and weakness

• nausea

Ivermectin — Contraindications

• For those who are hypersensitive to the drug’s components:

asthma, hepatic impairment, pregnancy, and immunosuppression; not recommended with breastfeeding.

Ivermectin — Nursing Monitoring & Action

• Monitor for adverse reactions, which may also include: wheezing,

abdominal distention, high fever

• Administer after meals to minimize GI distress

Ivermectin — Patient Education

• Explain to the patient the importance of handwashing before

eating and after working in soil or with animals.

Metronidazole — Drug Class

Antibacterial Peptide and Amebicide

Metronidazole — Therapeutic Uses

• Treats Trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis

• Produces bactericidal, antiprotozoal, amebicidal, trichomonacidal effects. Produces antiinflammatory, immunosuppressive effects when applied topically.

Metronidazole — Mechanism of Action

• Diffuses into an organism, interacting with DNA and causing a loss of helical DNA structure and strand breakage, inhibiting protein synthesis.

Metronidazole — Physiological Effects

• Kills susceptible anaerobic bacteria and protozoa

• Resolves infection and associated inflammation/symptoms

Metronidazole — Key Side Effects

• Metallic Taste

Metronidazole — Contraindications

• First trimester pregnancy, breastfeeding, hematological (affects organs that make blood) disease

Metronidazole — Nursing Monitoring & Action

• Monitor Liver function, Renal function, platelets, Hgb/Hct

• Monitor for altered LOC (level of consciousness)

• Check for superinfections (candidiasis risk)

• Check urine function (monitor I/Os)

Metronidazole — Patient Education

• Clients should report decreased urination, urinary flow