Pharmacology Test #6 Study Tips

Test #6 will be all multiple choice. Much of this test will cover the endocrine system—ATI unit 11.
Remember, POWERPOINTS ONLY COVER SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS –you have to read, do your ATI
on line work, and study to learn the rest of the information. If you only study from the powerpoints,
you will miss things.

Know how hormones work, basic characteristics of hormones, common organs of the endocrine system

DIABETES is very important—make sure you know all the information on the insulin chart on page 144 .
You will need to know which insulins are longer lasting, which are faster acting, which is the only insulin
that is given IV, why are insulin injection sites rotated? Which insulin can never be mixed in the same
syringe with others? What are the signs and symptoms of hyper and hypoglycemia, how are each of
these treated, how do the oral diabetic agents work? Which drugs cause additive hypoglycemia when
given with anti diabetic agents? Which drugs cause anti diabetic agents to not work as well?

DIABETIC DRUGS TO KNOW: The insulins on page 144, Orinase, Glucotrol, Prandin, Glucophage,
Avandia, Precose, Glucagon

Hyper/ Hypo Thyroid—know the signs and symptoms of each, which of these is associated with high
TSH levels, what causes goiter?, what hypothyroid is called in adults and in children, danger of
hypothyroid in children, importance of Iodine in thryroid function, how hyperthyroid is treated,
relationship of thyroid to radiation emergency,

THYROID DRUGS TO KNOW: Synthroid, PTU, Radioactive Iodine, Lugol’s Solution

Adrenocortical Agents—know the functions of steroids in maintaining homeostatis. Know difference

between gluccocorticoids and mineralcorticoids. Addisons and Graves disease. Common uses for
steroid therapy. Adrenal crisis and adrenal insufficiency. Importance of tapering doses. Different
routes used for steroid administration (Karch p. 555), Complications of steroid therapy—elevated
glucose, GI bleeding, loss of bone minerals, immunosuppression. Know nursing diagnoses and
implications for steroid therapy.

STEROID DRUGS TO KNOW: Prednisone, Florinef. Also familiarize yourself with the steroid drugs on
Karch p. 554-555. Know which drugs are corticosteroids, which are mineralcorticoids.

Pituitary Hormones--Growth hormone—what are conditions it is given for, when to stop in children,
signs/symptoms of acromegaly, know that Somatropin sometimes causes gallbladder dysfunction. Know
ADH –what too much and too little looks like, signs and symptoms of water intoxication,

PITUITARY HORMONE DRUGS TO KNOW—Somatropin, ADH drugs (Vasopressin, DDAVP, Pitressin)

Know normal serum calcium level, signs and symptoms of too much or too little calcium. This test will
not include the drugs that affect calcium—we will re-visit those when we talk about renal drugs
There will be several questions on the autonomic nervous system – if you know the information on the
study guides you will do well. Know the definition of an anticholinergic drug, know the common side
effects of anticholinergic drugs.

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM DRUGS TO KNOW: Dopamine, Atropine. We will cover some of these
other drugs in the cardiac section.

As I mentioned in class, the rest of the questions will be review questions on the medications that you
have already learned. They will concentrate on the prototype drugs from your ATI book units 2, 3. 4. 5.
This time, of these review questions will be taken EXACTLY from the ATI on-line assessments that you
should have already completed. If you go back and review these and know the concepts asked in the
questions, you will do well on this part.