Drug Cards

Absolutely — here are high-yield, exam-focused drug cards for each medication you listed, PLUS 5–10 NCLEX-style questions per drug to test your knowledge.
I formatted these just like Davis Drug Guide–style cards but simplified for fast studying before your test.

✅ 1. Calcitriol (Rocaltrol)

Class: Fat-soluble Vitamin D analog

Indications:

  • Hypocalcemia in chronic renal failure

  • Hypoparathyroidism

  • Vitamin D–dependent rickets

Action:

  • Promotes intestinal absorption of calcium

  • Decreases PTH levels

  • Increases serum calcium

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Monitor calcium, phosphorus, PTH

  • Assess for hypercalcemia → bones, stones, groans, moans

  • Avoid giving with magnesium-containing antacids (risk of hypermagnesemia)

  • Teach patient to report muscle weakness, bone pain, N/V

Side Effects:

  • Hypercalcemia

  • Weakness, constipation

  • Metallic taste

  • Arrhythmias

✅ NCLEX Questions — Calcitriol

  1. Which lab should the nurse monitor most closely in a patient taking calcitriol?

  2. A patient taking calcitriol has confusion, abdominal pain, and constipation. What complication is suspected?

  3. Which condition is an indication for calcitriol?

  4. The nurse should question giving calcitriol with which medication class?

  5. True or False: Calcitriol lowers serum calcium levels.

  6. A patient has CKD and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Why is calcitriol prescribed?

  7. Which electrolyte imbalance increases risk of toxicity with calcitriol?

✅ 2. Ciprofloxacin HCL (Cipro)

Class: Fluoroquinolone antibiotic

Indications:

  • UTI

  • Respiratory infections

  • Bone/joint infections

  • Anthrax exposure

Action:

  • Inhibits DNA enzyme (bactericidal)

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Black Box: Tendon rupture

  • Avoid in children & older adults if possible

  • No antacids, Ca, Fe, Mg within 2 hours

  • Increase fluids to prevent crystalluria

  • Can cause photosensitivity

Side Effects:

  • Diarrhea

  • Dysrhythmias

  • Joint/tendon pain

  • Confusion (elderly)

✅ NCLEX Questions — Ciprofloxacin

  1. What serious adverse effect must the nurse monitor for with ciprofloxacin?

  2. Which teaching is correct regarding ciprofloxacin and antacids?

  3. Why should the patient increase fluid intake while on ciprofloxacin?

  4. A patient reports heel pain while taking cipro. What should the nurse do first?

  5. True or False: Patients should avoid direct sunlight while taking ciprofloxacin.

  6. Ciprofloxacin should be used cautiously in which age group?

  7. Which electrolyte supplement should not be taken with ciprofloxacin?

✅ 3. Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)

Class: Immunosuppressant

Indications:

  • Prevention of organ transplant rejection

  • Severe RA

  • Psoriasis

Action:

  • Inhibits T-cell activation

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Monitor drug levels (narrow therapeutic index)

  • Risk for nephrotoxicity & hepatotoxicity

  • Avoid grapefruit juice

  • Increased risk for infection

  • Monitor BP (risk for HTN)

Side Effects:

  • Tremor

  • Hirsutism

  • Gingival hyperplasia

  • Kidney injury

  • Hypertension

✅ NCLEX Questions — Cyclosporine

  1. Cyclosporine’s primary purpose after transplant is to prevent what?

  2. What food should the patient avoid while on cyclosporine?

  3. Which organ is most at risk for toxicity?

  4. Why are drug levels monitored closely?

  5. What infection-related teaching should be included?

  6. A patient has gingival hyperplasia. Which medication may be the cause?

  7. True or False: Cyclosporine can raise blood pressure.

✅ 4. Epoetin Alfa (Epogen)

Class: Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent

Indications:

  • Anemia in CKD

  • Anemia from chemo

  • HIV therapy–related anemia

Action:

  • Stimulates RBC production

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Monitor Hgb/Hct

  • Stop if Hgb > 11 g/dL (risk for MI, stroke)

  • Monitor BP (can cause HTN)

  • Assess for iron deficiency → iron supplements needed

  • Can increase risk of thromboembolic events

Side Effects:

  • Hypertension

  • Thrombosis

  • Headache

  • Seizures (rare)

✅ NCLEX Questions — Epoetin Alfa

  1. What is the therapeutic goal of epoetin alfa?

  2. When should the nurse hold the dose?

  3. Which lab value is critical before starting therapy?

  4. Why are iron supplements often required with Epogen?

  5. What vital sign should be monitored closely?

  6. A patient’s Hgb rises to 12 g/dL. What action is appropriate?

  7. True or False: Epogen increases RBC production.

✅ 5. Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril)

Class: Thiazide diuretic

Indications:

  • Hypertension

  • Peripheral edema

  • Heart failure (mild)

Action:

  • Increases excretion of Na, water, K, Cl

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Monitor electrolytes (↓K, ↓Na, ↓Cl)

  • Risk for hypokalemia → dysrhythmias

  • Take in the morning

  • Caution with digoxin (↑ risk toxicity)

Side Effects:

  • Photosensitivity

  • Hyperglycemia

  • Hypokalemia

  • Dizziness, dehydration

✅ NCLEX Questions — Hydrochlorothiazide

  1. When should hydrochlorothiazide be taken?

  2. What electrolyte imbalance is most common?

  3. Why must digoxin be used cautiously with HCTZ?

  4. A patient on HCTZ reports muscle cramps. What imbalance is suspected?

  5. True or False: HCTZ may cause photosensitivity.

  6. What should the nurse encourage the patient to eat?

  7. Which lab should be monitored before administration?

✅ 6. Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Kayexalate)

Class: Potassium binder

Indications:

  • Hyperkalemia

Action:

  • Exchanges sodium for potassium in the bowel → excretes K+

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Monitor K+ levels

  • Can cause hypokalemia

  • Assess for constipation, bowel necrosis in high-risk patients

  • Not for emergencies (slow onset)

  • Avoid in bowel obstruction

Side Effects:

  • Diarrhea

  • Sodium overload

  • Hypokalemia

  • Intestinal necrosis (rare but serious)

✅ NCLEX Questions — Kayexalate

  1. What electrolyte imbalance does Kayexalate treat?

  2. How does Kayexalate remove potassium?

  3. What is the biggest GI risk in elderly patients?

  4. True or False: Kayexalate is appropriate for life-threatening hyperkalemia.

  5. Which finding requires immediate reporting?

  6. Why must bowel function be assessed?

  7. Which electrolyte must be monitored closely?

✅ 7. Oxybutynin Chloride (Ditropan)

Class: Anticholinergic / antispasmodic

Indications:

  • Overactive bladder

  • Urge incontinence

Action:

  • Relaxes bladder smooth muscle

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Typical anticholinergic effects: dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision

  • Avoid in narrow-angle glaucoma

  • Risk for heat intolerance

  • Monitor urinary retention

Side Effects:

  • Dry mouth

  • Constipation

  • Confusion (elderly)

  • Tachycardia

✅ NCLEX Questions — Oxybutynin

  1. What is the primary indication for oxybutynin?

  2. Which common side effect requires teaching?

  3. Why must patients avoid hot environments?

  4. Which condition is a contraindication?

  5. True or False: Oxybutynin may cause urinary retention.

  6. What class of effects does this drug produce?

✅ 8. Sevelamer HCL (Renagel)

Class: Phosphate binder

Indications:

  • Hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease

Action:

  • Binds phosphate in GI tract → lowers serum phosphorus

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Must be taken with meals

  • Monitor phosphorus, calcium, PTH

  • Can cause ↓ vitamin absorption

  • Does not contain calcium → avoids hypercalcemia

Side Effects:

  • Nausea

  • Constipation

  • Bowel obstruction

  • Metabolic acidosis

✅ NCLEX Questions — Sevelamer

  1. What condition is sevelamer used to treat?

  2. When should it be administered?

  3. Why is sevelamer preferred for CKD patients?

  4. True or False: Sevelamer can cause constipation.

  5. What labs should be monitored?

  6. Why must patients avoid taking it on an empty stomach?

✅ 9. Tamsulosin (Flomax)

Class: Alpha-1 blocker

Indications:

  • BPH

  • Urinary hesitancy

Action:

  • Relaxes prostate & bladder neck muscles → improves urine flow

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Orthostatic hypotension risk

  • Take 30 minutes after same meal daily

  • Do not crush

  • Monitor BP

  • May cause ejaculatory dysfunction

Side Effects:

  • Dizziness

  • Hypotension

  • Headache

✅ NCLEX Questions — Tamsulosin

  1. What condition is tamsulosin prescribed for?

  2. When should it be taken?

  3. Which major side effect should the nurse monitor for?

  4. True or False: Tamsulosin improves urine flow.

  5. Why must the patient change positions slowly?

  6. What sexual side effect may occur?

✅ 10. Saw Palmetto (Herbal Supplement)

Class: Herbal therapy

Indications:

  • BPH symptoms

  • Urinary frequency

Action:

  • Possibly reduces 5-alpha-reductase activity

  • Improves urinary flow

Key Nursing Considerations:

  • Can interact with anticoagulants → ↑ bleeding risk

  • Not FDA-approved

  • Should be stopped before surgery

  • Monitor for GI upset

Side Effects:

  • Headache

  • GI discomfort

  • Decreased libido

✅ NCLEX Questions — Saw Palmetto

  1. What is the primary use of saw palmetto?

  2. Why should patients stop before surgery?

  3. Which drug class may interact with saw palmetto?

  4. True or False: Saw palmetto is FDA-approved.

  5. What is a common side effect?

  6. Why is it important to ask about herbal supplements?

Absolutely — here are the answers to every NCLEX-style question for all 10 drugs.
I formatted them by drug for easy studying. ✔

✅ 1. Calcitriol (Rocaltrol) — Answers

  1. Calcium levels

  2. Hypercalcemia

  3. Hypocalcemia due to CKD or hypoparathyroidism

  4. Magnesium-containing antacids

  5. False — it increases calcium levels

  6. To suppress PTH and improve calcium balance

  7. High calcium

✅ 2. Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) — Answers

  1. Tendon rupture

  2. Take antacids 2 hours before or after the dose

  3. To prevent crystalluria

  4. Stop the medication and notify the provider

  5. True

  6. Children and older adults

  7. Calcium, iron, magnesium supplements

✅ 3. Cyclosporine (Sandimmune) — Answers

  1. Prevention of organ transplant rejection

  2. Grapefruit juice

  3. Kidneys (nephrotoxicity)

  4. Narrow therapeutic index

  5. Avoid crowds, report fever, wash hands

  6. Cyclosporine

  7. True

✅ 4. Epoetin Alfa (Epogen) — Answers

  1. Increase RBC production and treat anemia

  2. When Hgb > 11 g/dL

  3. Hgb/Hct

  4. Iron is needed for RBC production

  5. Blood pressure

  6. Hold the dose and notify provider

  7. True

✅ 5. Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril) — Answers

  1. Morning

  2. Hypokalemia

  3. Risk of digoxin toxicity (low potassium → dysrhythmias)

  4. Hypokalemia

  5. True

  6. Foods high in potassium (bananas, spinach)

  7. Potassium level

✅ 6. Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Kayexalate) — Answers

  1. Hyperkalemia

  2. Exchanges sodium for potassium in the bowel

  3. Intestinal necrosis

  4. False — it is too slow for emergencies

  5. Absent bowel sounds

  6. Risk of bowel obstruction or necrosis

  7. Potassium

✅ 7. Oxybutynin (Ditropan) — Answers

  1. Overactive bladder / urge incontinence

  2. Dry mouth is common

  3. Risk for heat stroke (decreased sweating)

  4. Narrow-angle glaucoma

  5. True

  6. Anticholinergic effects

✅ 8. Sevelamer (Renagel) — Answers

  1. Hyperphosphatemia in CKD

  2. With meals

  3. Does not increase calcium levels

  4. True

  5. Phosphorus, calcium, PTH

  6. It won’t bind phosphate

✅ 9. Tamsulosin (Flomax) — Answers

  1. BPH

  2. 30 minutes after the same meal daily

  3. Orthostatic hypotension

  4. True

  5. To prevent dizziness or falls

  6. Ejaculatory dysfunction

✅ 10. Saw Palmetto — Answers

  1. BPH symptoms

  2. Risk of bleeding

  3. Anticoagulants

  4. False — not FDA-approved

  5. GI upset

  6. Supplements may interact with medications