Practice Test Geeks(ADAP) Alternative Dental Assisting Program Practice Test
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Pharmacology Flashcards

7 cards from real ADAP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Pharmacology flashcards as text

  1. Which condition is a contraindication to the use of vasoconstrictors like epinephrine in local anesthetics?

    Answer: Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism

    Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism increases sensitivity to epinephrine and can lead to severe cardiovascular reactions, making it a contraindication.

  2. Which antifungal medication is commonly prescribed for oral candidiasis (thrush) in dental patients?

    Answer: Nystatin

    Nystatin is an antifungal agent that disrupts fungal cell membranes and is a first-line treatment for oral candidiasis.

  3. A patient taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) should NOT receive which drug combination in dentistry?

    Answer: Vasoconstrictors with indirect sympathomimetic activity

    MAOIs inhibit breakdown of sympathomimetic amines; indirect-acting vasoconstrictors can trigger a dangerous hypertensive crisis in these patients.

  4. Which route of drug administration bypasses first-pass metabolism in the liver?

    Answer: All of the above except oral

    Oral drugs undergo first-pass hepatic metabolism; sublingual and rectal routes absorb drugs directly into systemic circulation, bypassing the liver.

  5. Tetracycline antibiotics are generally avoided in children under 8 years of age because they can cause:

    Answer: Permanent tooth discoloration

    Tetracyclines bind to calcium in developing teeth, causing permanent intrinsic staining ranging from yellow to gray-brown.

  6. An opioid analgesic such as hydrocodone carries the risk of which serious adverse effect requiring patient education?

    Answer: Respiratory depression

    Opioids can suppress the respiratory drive, leading to life-threatening respiratory depression, especially in high doses or in combination with other CNS depressants.

  7. When a drug is described as having a half-life of 4 hours, this means:

    Answer: The plasma concentration of the drug decreases by 50% every 4 hours

    Half-life is the time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by 50%, which determines dosing intervals and time to elimination.