Lithium is used to?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Lithium is primarily used to stabilize mood and prevent manic episodes in individuals with bipolar disorder. It is a mood-stabilizing medication that helps to lessen the severity and frequency of manic episodes. Lithium is not used to lower blood glucose, slow the heart rate, or heal ulcers. It is important to follow the prescribed dosage and have regular monitoring of lithium levels in the blood to ensure its effectiveness and prevent toxicity.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Teaching a patient how to prepare an inhaler is an important step in proper medication administration. Shaking the inhaler for about 5 seconds before use helps to ensure that the medication is properly mixed and dispersed. This is especially important for metered-dose inhalers where the medication is dispersed as a fine spray. Priming the inhaler by shaking it helps ensure that the patient receives the correct dose of medication with each use.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: An intrinsic activity of < 1 is exhibited by a partial agonist. Intrinsic activity, also known as efficacy, refers to the ability of a drug to activate a receptor upon binding. A partial agonist has lower intrinsic activity compared to a full agonist. It is able to activate the receptor, but to a lesser extent, often resulting in a submaximal response even when all receptors are occupied. This characteristic of partial agonists makes them important in pharmacology for providing a more controlled and graded response compared to full agonists.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Salicylamide is a salicylate compound that is less effective than aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) in terms of anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. However, salicylamide can be used as an alternative in patients who are allergic to aspirin. It is often better tolerated by individuals with hypersensitivity to aspirin. Sodium salicylate, methyl salicylate, diflunisal, and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) do not specifically have an advantage in patients allergic to aspirin compared to salicylamide.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Aspirin works by inhibiting both cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes. COX-1 is responsible for producing prostaglandins that help maintain the stomach lining, promote blood clotting, and support kidney function. When COX-1 is inhibited by aspirin, it interferes with the protective mechanisms of the stomach lining, leading to increased risk of gastrointestinal irritation, ulcers, and bleeding. This is why aspirin is known to cause gastrointestinal upset, including symptoms like stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, and even ulcers in some cases.