Pharm - Eyes, Ears, Gonads
Ophthalmic Medications
1 The nurse should clean the eye from the inner canthus to the outer canthus.
2 To administer eye ointment, the nurse exposes the lower conjunctival sac.
3 Ophthalmic ointment is applied from the inner canthus to the outer canthus.
4 After ointment administration, the patient should close their eyes and roll them gently.
5 If both eye drops and ointment are ordered, the drops should be administered first.
6 Eye drops should be instilled into the conjunctival sac.
7 Drugs that cause constriction of the pupil are called miotics.
8 Drugs that cause pupil dilation are called mydriatics.
9 Adrenergic ophthalmic agents are commonly used to produce mydriasis during eye examinations.
10 Timolol lowers intraocular pressure by reducing the production of aqueous humor.
11 Cyclopentolate hydrochloride is classified as a mydriatic agent used during eye examinations.
12 A patient experiencing halos and headache after cyclopentolate may be developing glaucoma.
13 When using adrenergic ophthalmic drops, patients should avoid driving until blurred vision resolves.
14 The nurse should verify that the medication label states ophthalmic use before administering eye drops.
15 The tip of the eye dropper should never touch the eye to prevent contamination.
16 Gentle pressure applied to the nasolacrimal duct after eye drop administration reduces systemic absorption.
Gonadal Hormones and Reproductive Drugs
17. Before starting estrogen therapy, the nurse should assess for a history of thromboembolism.
18. Estrogen therapy interacts with medications such as warfarin, thyroid hormones, and insulin.
19. Estrogen is sometimes used in older patients to treat prostate cancer.
20. Androgens are used to treat breast cancer because they suppress cancer cell growth.
21. The gonadal drug class commonly used to treat endometriosis is progestins.
22. A condition that can be both treated by and caused by progestins is breakthrough bleeding.
23. A possible endocrine change in females taking androgen therapy is masculinization changes.
24. The drug prescribed for BPH that relaxes smooth muscle in the prostate is tamsulosin.
25. Drugs that inhibit 5-alpha reductase, such as dutasteride, reduce the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.
26. A medication that may lower PSA levels even when prostate cancer is present is dutasteride.
27. Drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction are called PDE-5 inhibitors.
28. Taking sildenafil with nitrates may result in severe hypotension.
29. The primary male hormone responsible for development of male characteristics is testosterone.
30. One adverse effect of estrogen therapy is increased risk of clot formation.
31. A common adverse effect of androgen therapy in males is fluid retention.
Urinary Tract Medications
32. Bethanechol stimulates cholinergic receptors to increase bladder tone.
33. Bethanechol is primarily used to treat nonobstructive urinary retention.
34. A sign of excessive cholinergic stimulation from bethanechol is sweating and involuntary loss of stool.
35. Urinary antimicrobial agents work by producing an antiseptic effect in the urinary tract.
36. Nitrofurantoin is used primarily to treat infections of the lower tract.
37. Fosfomycin is typically given as a single dose for uncomplicated UTIs.
38. Fosfomycin powder should be mixed with 90–120 mL of water before oral administration.
39. A medication that relieves bladder pain and spasms during UTI is phenazopyridine.
40. Phenazopyridine produces an analgesic effect on the urinary tract mucosa.
41. A normal side effect of phenazopyridine is reddish-orange urine.
42. Yellow discoloration of the skin while taking phenazopyridine should be reported immediately.
Overactive Bladder & Urinary Retention
43. Tolterodine works by reducing the urge to void.
44. Anticholinergic drugs for overactive bladder commonly cause dry mouth.
45. Another common side effect of anticholinergics is constipation.
46. Oxybutynin toxicity may present with urinary retention.
47. Mirabegron can increase the risk of retention in patients with bladder outlet obstruction.
48. Decongestants that may worsen urinary retention are adrenergic decongestants.
49. Alpha-1 blockers improve urinary flow by relaxing smooth muscle around the prostate.
Bone and Additional Pharmacology Concepts
50. Alendronate should be taken 30 minutes before food or other medications.
51. Alendronate should be taken with a full glass of water.
52. After taking alendronate, the patient should remain upright for at least 30 minutes.
53. One reason alendronate must be taken before breakfast is because food decreases its absorption.
54. Osteoporosis medications such as alendronate belong to the drug class called bisphosphonates.
Additional Exam-Level Concepts
55. The hormone responsible for regulation of the female menstrual cycle is primarily estrogen.
56. In glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure occurs due to impaired drainage of aqueous humor.