CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS
This antihypertensive medication commonly causes a persistent dry cough.
What is an ACE inhibitor?
Rationale: ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin levels, which commonly produce a persistent dry, nonproductive cough. This is one of the most frequently tested adverse effects of ACE inhibitors.
This medication is used sublingually for acute angina attacks.
What is nitroglycerin?
Rationale: Nitroglycerin dilates veins and coronary arteries, decreasing cardiac workload and increasing oxygen delivery to the myocardium during episodes of angina.
This antidote reverses the effects of heparin.
What is protamine sulfate?
Rationale: Protamine sulfate binds to heparin and neutralizes its anticoagulant effects during emergencies involving bleeding.
This short-acting bronchodilator is considered the rescue inhaler for asthma.
What is albuterol?
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist that rapidly relaxes bronchial smooth muscle, making it the primary rescue medication for acute bronchospasm.
This medication should be administered before meals and at bedtime to coat ulcer sites.
What is sucralfate?
Rationale: Sucralfate forms a protective barrier over ulcerated tissue and is most effective when administered before meals and at bedtime on an empty stomach.
A nurse should assess this vital sign before administering metoprolol or propranolol.
What is the heart rate?
Rationale: Beta blockers decrease heart rate and myocardial workload. The nurse should assess the apical pulse and withhold the medication if significant bradycardia is present according to facility policy or provider parameters.
A headache after taking nitroglycerin is usually considered this type of response.
What is an expected adverse effect?
Rationale: Vasodilation caused by nitroglycerin frequently results in headaches. ATI often tests recognition that headaches indicate the medication is exerting its intended vasodilatory effect.
A patient taking warfarin should maintain consistent intake of this vitamin.
What is vitamin K?
Rationale: Vitamin K is essential for clotting factor production. Patients taking warfarin should maintain a consistent intake, as fluctuations can alter anticoagulation effectiveness.
A patient using a steroid inhaler should perform this action after each use.
What is rinse the mouth?
Rationale: Steroid inhalers can promote oral candidiasis. Rinsing and spitting after use reduces fungal growth in the mouth.
This medication speeds gastric emptying and is commonly prescribed for GERD.
What is metoclopramide (Reglan)?
Rationale: Metoclopramide increases gastric motility and accelerates gastric emptying, helping reduce reflux symptoms.
Patients with asthma should use caution when prescribed this class of antihypertensive medications because they may cause bronchoconstriction.
What are beta blockers?
Rationale: Nonselective beta blockers can block beta-2 receptors in the lungs, causing bronchoconstriction. This makes them potentially dangerous for patients with asthma.
This antidote is administered for severe digoxin toxicity.
What is Digoxin Immune Fab (Digibind)?
Rationale: Digibind binds circulating digoxin molecules and reverses severe toxicity, especially when life-threatening dysrhythmias occur.
This laboratory value is monitored to evaluate therapeutic warfarin therapy.
What is the INR?
Rationale: The International Normalized Ratio (INR) evaluates the anticoagulant effect of warfarin and helps determine if therapy is therapeutic, subtherapeutic, or excessive.
Dry mouth is a common adverse effect associated with this inhaled anticholinergic medication.
What is ipratropium (Atrovent)?
Rationale: As an anticholinergic bronchodilator, ipratropium commonly causes dry mouth, which often improves as therapy continues.
Patients taking psyllium should consume plenty of this to prevent obstruction.
What is water (fluids)?
Rationale: Psyllium absorbs water and expands to form bulk stool. Inadequate fluid intake can cause obstruction or impaction.
This medication is commonly administered with hydralazine to reduce reflex tachycardia.
What is a beta blocker?
Rationale: Hydralazine causes vasodilation, which can trigger reflex tachycardia. A beta blocker may be prescribed concurrently to reduce the heart's compensatory response
This antiarrhythmic medication requires monitoring for pulmonary toxicity and bradycardia.
What is amiodarone (Cordarone)?
Rationale: Amiodarone can cause pulmonary toxicity, thyroid abnormalities, liver dysfunction, and bradycardia. Ongoing monitoring is essential.
Patients taking statins should immediately report unexplained muscle pain because it may indicate this serious complication.
What is rhabdomyolysis?
Rationale: Muscle pain and weakness may signal muscle breakdown associated with statin therapy. Severe rhabdomyolysis can lead to kidney injury.
After a nebulizer treatment, a patient reports feeling nervous and having a racing heart. These are expected effects of this medication class.
What are sympathomimetic bronchodilators?
Rationale: These medications stimulate beta receptors. Common expected effects include nervousness, tremors, tachycardia, and feelings of anxiety.
This medication is the cornerstone treatment for tuberculosis.
What is isoniazid (INH)?
Rationale: INH remains the cornerstone medication for prevention and treatment of tuberculosis and is frequently tested in ATI and NCLEX review materials.
A patient taking lisinopril reports dizziness when standing. This common effect is known as this condition.
What is orthostatic hypotension?
Rationale: Many antihypertensive drugs cause a significant drop in blood pressure when standing. Patients should rise slowly and sit if dizziness occurs.
A patient with crackles, peripheral edema, and dyspnea due to heart failure will most likely receive this classification of medication first.
What is a loop diuretic (furosemide)?
Rationale: The presence of crackles, edema, and dyspnea suggests fluid overload from heart failure. Loop diuretics rapidly reduce excess fluid volume.
When simvastatin and warfarin are taken together, the nurse should monitor closely for this complication.
What is bleeding?
Rationale: Simvastatin may increase the effects of warfarin, raising INR levels and increasing the risk of bleeding. Patients require closer monitoring
Overuse of topical nasal decongestants can cause this rebound phenomenon.
What is rebound congestion?
Rationale: Prolonged use of topical nasal decongestants leads to worsening congestion once the medication wears off, creating a cycle of overuse.
A penicillin-allergic patient should be monitored carefully when prescribed this antimicrobial class because of possible cross-sensitivity.
What are cephalosporins?
Rationale: Although the risk is low, patients with penicillin allergies may demonstrate cross-sensitivity to cephalosporins. Nurses should monitor for allergic reactions.