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Pharmacology and Therapeutics Flashcards

7 cards from real NBDE 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 and Therapeutics flashcards as text

  1. A dentist prescribes amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin). What advantage does clavulanate provide?

    Answer: It inhibits beta-lactamase enzymes produced by resistant bacteria

    Clavulanate is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that protects amoxicillin from enzymatic degradation by resistant organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus.

  2. Which opioid analgesic is MOST appropriate for moderate-to-severe dental pain in a patient with renal impairment?

    Answer: Hydromorphone

    Hydromorphone has fewer active metabolite accumulations in renal impairment compared to morphine or codeine, which accumulate toxic metabolites.

  3. Corticosteroids are sometimes used after oral surgery. Which adverse effect is MOST concerning with systemic use?

    Answer: Adrenal suppression

    Exogenous corticosteroids suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, potentially causing adrenal insufficiency upon sudden withdrawal.

  4. A patient is prescribed tetracycline for periodontal disease. What should the dentist counsel regarding administration?

    Answer: Avoid dairy, antacids, and iron supplements within 2 hours

    Divalent and trivalent cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe²⁺) chelate tetracycline in the GI tract, significantly reducing oral bioavailability.

  5. Which mechanism explains why aspirin is avoided in children with viral infections?

    Answer: Association with Reye syndrome causing hepatic and cerebral damage

    Aspirin use in children with viral illnesses (influenza, varicella) is linked to Reye syndrome, a potentially fatal hepatoencephalopathy.

  6. Which local anesthetic property MOST influences the speed of onset?

    Answer: pKa relative to tissue pH

    The closer the pKa to physiologic pH (7.4), the greater the proportion of uncharged base available to cross the nerve membrane, accelerating onset.

  7. A patient taking phenytoin for epilepsy shows gingival overgrowth. Which statement about this drug-induced effect is CORRECT?

    Answer: It is caused by reduced collagen degradation and is worsened by plaque

    Phenytoin induces gingival fibroblast proliferation and reduces collagenase activity; poor plaque control significantly worsens the overgrowth.