Nursing Pharmacology Jeopardy

Generic drug names in this class of cholesterol-lowering agents typically end in the suffix -statin.

What are statins?

Generic drug names in this class of blood pressure medications, which block a key enzyme in the renin-angiotensin system, typically end in -pril.

What are ACE inhibitors?

Generic drug names in this class, which block beta-adrenergic receptors to slow heart rate and lower blood pressure, typically end in -olol.

What are beta blockers?

Generic drug names in this class of anxiety and sleep medications, which enhance GABA activity, typically end in -pam or -lam.

What are benzodiazepines?

Generic drug names in this class of stomach-acid reducers, which block histamine receptors in the stomach lining, typically end in -tidine.

What are H2 receptor antagonists?

This class of drugs increases urine output and is commonly used to reduce fluid overload in heart failure and hypertension.

What are diuretics?

This drug class relaxes blood vessel walls by blocking calcium entry into smooth muscle cells, lowering blood pressure.

What are calcium channel blockers?

This centuries-old cardiac glycoside, derived from the foxglove plant, increases the force of heart contractions and requires monitoring of blood levels for toxicity.

What is digoxin?

This class of drugs interferes with vitamin K-dependent clotting factors to prevent dangerous blood clots.

What are vitamin K antagonists?

This antiplatelet drug, taken daily in low doses, irreversibly blocks an enzyme platelets need to clump together.

What is aspirin?

This class of antibiotics, sharing a core beta-lactam ring, includes penicillin and its relatives.

What are penicillins?

This antibiotic class, including drugs like azithromycin, works by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis and is often prescribed for penicillin-allergic patients.

What are macrolides?

This class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, whose generic names typically end in -floxacin, carries a boxed warning for tendon rupture.

What are fluoroquinolones?

This antibiotic class, including gentamicin, can damage hearing and kidney function and requires monitoring of trough levels.

What are aminoglycosides?

This antibiotic, reserved for serious gram-positive infections like MRSA, requires monitoring for a rash known as red man syndrome if infused too quickly.

What is vancomycin?

This class of pain relievers, including morphine and oxycodone, binds to receptors in the brain and spinal cord to block pain signals.

What are opioids?

This over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer can cause serious liver damage in overdose.

What is acetaminophen?

This class of anti-inflammatory pain relievers, including ibuprofen, works by blocking the COX enzymes and carries a risk of GI bleeding.

What are NSAIDs?

This numeric or descriptive tool asks patients to rate their discomfort, typically from zero to ten, to guide analgesic dosing.

What is a pain scale?

This anesthetic and sedative agent, given intravenously and known for its milky white appearance, is used for both procedural sedation and general anesthesia.

What is propofol?

This class of drugs, which prevent or treat dangerous blood clots, requires especially careful dosing because too much can cause bleeding and too little can allow clotting.

What are anticoagulants?

This hormone, essential for managing diabetes, has a narrow margin between a therapeutic dose and a dangerously low blood sugar.

What is insulin?

This electrolyte, when given intravenously in concentrated form without proper dilution, can stop the heart and must never be pushed undiluted.

What is potassium chloride?

This class of drugs, used to induce paralysis for intubation or surgery, will stop a patient's breathing and must only be given with ventilation support ready.

What are neuromuscular blocking agents?

This chemotherapy category, which kills rapidly dividing cells, carries an especially high risk of severe harm from dosing or administration errors.

What are antineoplastic agents?

This antidote reverses the sedative effects of benzodiazepines by competing at the same brain receptors.

What is flumazenil?

This antidote treats acetaminophen overdose by replenishing a compound the liver needs to safely process the drug.

What is acetylcysteine?

This antidote reverses the anticoagulant effect of warfarin by replenishing the vitamin the drug depletes.

What is vitamin K?

This antidote, given for iron overdose, binds free iron so the body can excrete it.

What is deferoxamine?

This antidote for heparin overdose is a positively charged protein that binds and neutralizes heparin's anticoagulant activity.

What is protamine sulfate?