Pharmacology Unit 3 Exam Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering endocrine and reproductive pharmacology, including insulin types, hormone replacements, and high-yield nursing considerations.

Estrogen Therapy

Medication used for menopause symptoms that carries a major risk for thromboembolic events (blood clots) and should not be combined with smoking or alcohol.

Thromboembolic event

A serious blood clot-related adverse reaction associated with the use of estrogen, progesterone, and birth control medications.

Raloxifene

An estrogen agonist/SERM used for osteoporosis that acts like estrogen in the bone to prevent breakdown by osteoclasts, but carries a high risk for DVT and stroke.

Norethindrone

A progesterone-only birth control pill that suppresses LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary gland to prevent ovulation.

ACHES

An acronym for serious birth control side effects: Abdominal pain, Chest pain/SOB, Headache (severe), Eye/vision changes, and Severe leg pain.

Hypogonadism

A condition where the gonads (testes in males, ovaries in females) do not produce enough sex hormones, often treated with testosterone or estrogen.

Oxandrolone

An anabolic steroid used for muscle loss after severe burns or injury; it requires monitoring for hepatotoxicity and renal strain.

Priapism

An erection lasting longer than $4$ hours; it is a serious adverse effect of Sildenafil that requires emergency room treatment to prevent permanent damage.

Sildenafil + Nitroglycerin

A dangerous drug combination of an ED medication and a vasodilator that can cause severe hypotension, a dangerous drop in blood pressure, or a coma.

Misoprostol (Cytotec)

A medication used to induce labor or treat peptic ulcer disease; it is strictly contraindicated in pregnancy for ulcer treatment due to the risk of uterine contractions and abortion.

Levothyroxine (Synthroid)

A synthetic thyroid hormone for hypothyroidism that must be taken in the morning on an empty stomach, $30$ to $60$ minutes before eating, and separated from calcium/vitamins by $4$ hours.

Graves Disease

A type of hyperthyroidism characterized by heat intolerance, weight loss, hypertension, tachycardia, and exophthalmos (bulging eyes).

Radioactive Iodine Therapy

A treatment for hyperthyroidism that kills thyroid tissue; it carries a risk of causing permanent hypothyroidism or hypocalcemia if the parathyroid glands are damaged.

Alendronate

A medication for osteoporosis that must be taken with a full glass of water while the patient remains upright for at least $30$ minutes to prevent esophagitis.

Somatropin

A growth hormone medication given via subcutaneous injection; the best way to verify patient understanding of administration is through a return demonstration.

Octreotide

A medication used for gigantism and acromegaly that mimics somatostatin to decrease the production of growth hormone.

Diabetes Insipidus (DI)

A condition related to a lack of ADH causing excessive urination, extreme thirst, and dehydration; it is a water problem rather than a blood sugar problem.

Desmopressin (DDAVP)

An ADH replacement used for Diabetes Insipidus that requires monitoring for hyponatremia, water intoxication, and daily weights.

Addison’s Disease

Adrenal insufficiency where the body lacks steroids, leading to hypotension, bradycardia, and potential coma.

Fludrocortisone

A synthetic form of aldosterone used for Addison's disease that causes the body to retain sodium and water while excreting potassium.

Cushing’s Syndrome

A condition caused by an excess of corticosteroids, presenting with moon face, truncal obesity, buffalo hump, hypertension, and hyperglycemia.

Metformin

An oral type 2 diabetes medication that must be held for $48$ hours after procedures involving contrast dye to protect the kidneys.

Semaglutide (Ozempic)

A GLP-1 agonist used for type 2 diabetes that commonly causes nausea and vomiting and carries a serious risk for pancreatitis.

Rapid-Acting Insulin

Insulin that should be administered $15$ to $30$ minutes before a meal; the nurse must ensure the patient's food is present before giving the dose.

NPH Insulin

An intermediate-acting 'cloudy' insulin that peaks around $6$ hours, necessitating a snack at that time to prevent hypoglycemia.

Lantus (Insulin Glargine)

A long-acting insulin with a duration of approximately $24$ hours; it should never be mixed in the same syringe with other insulins.

Glucagon

An emergency medication administered to patients with severe hypoglycemia who are not alert or responding.

Glyburide

A sulfonylurea used for type 2 diabetes that should be used with caution in patients with a sulfonamide (sulfa) allergy.

Clear before Cloudy

The standard nursing rule for mixing insulins in one syringe, where regular (clear) insulin is drawn up before NPH (cloudy).

Exophthalmos

The medical term for bulging eyes, which is a common sign associated with hyperthyroidism and Graves disease.