When taking Digoxin, low levels of what can cause

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: When taking digoxin, low levels of potassium can cause an increased risk of digoxin toxicity. This is because digoxin and potassium compete for binding sites on the sodium-potassium pump in cardiac cells. Low potassium levels can lead to enhanced binding of digoxin to these pumps, resulting in increased concentrations of digoxin within the cells and potential toxicity. Therefore, it is important to monitor potassium levels regularly while taking digoxin to prevent complications.

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: A

Rationale: Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that works by inhibiting the body's ability to clot blood. While it is an effective medication for preventing blood clots and strokes, one of its major complications is the increased risk of bleeding. This can manifest as easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or more serious internal bleeding in organs such as the stomach or brain. Cramps, fever, and nausea are not common complications of Warfarin use.

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.