CMA (AAMA) Pharmacology Practice Questions
Pharmacology makes up 5 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest CMA (AAMA) practice test. Here are 10 of the 20 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. Based on the AAMA Content Outline for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam. Original questions; 50 per test, weighted like the real exam. Not affiliated with the AAMA.
1. A patient takes lisinopril. To which drug class does it belong?
- A.Loop diuretic
- B.ACE inhibitor
- C.Beta blocker
- D.Calcium channel blocker
Answer: B. Drug names ending in "-pril" (lisinopril, enalapril) are ACE inhibitors, used for blood pressure and heart failure.
2. A patient taking enalapril reports a persistent dry cough. What should the medical assistant do?
- A.Advise stopping the drug
- B.Record it as a cold symptom
- C.Tell her to take a cough syrup daily
- D.Report it as a known side effect
Answer: D. A dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors. The medical assistant documents and reports it; only the provider decides whether to change the drug.
3. Metoprolol appears on a patient's medication list. Which class is it?
- A.Beta blocker
- B.Statin
- C.ACE inhibitor
- D.Antihistamine
Answer: A. The "-olol" ending marks beta blockers, which slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Pulse is often checked before they are given.
4. A patient with heart failure takes furosemide. Which side effect should the medical assistant teach the patient to report?
- A.Thicker, darker hair growth
- B.Improved night vision
- C.Muscle cramps or weakness
- D.Increased hunger
Answer: C. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that flushes out potassium along with water. Cramps and weakness can signal low potassium.
5. A patient takes apixaban after a blood clot. Which drug class is this?
- A.Antibiotic
- B.Anticonvulsant
- C.Anticoagulant
- D.Antiplatelet
Answer: C. Apixaban is an anticoagulant that blocks clotting factor Xa. Patients are taught to report unusual bleeding or bruising.
6. A medication's package insert lists "severe liver disease" under contraindications. What does this mean?
- A.Do not give it in that case
- B.It is a common side effect
- C.It treats liver disease
- D.It works best for that disease
Answer: A. A contraindication is a condition in which a drug should not be used because the risk is too high. An indication is a reason to use the drug.
7. A patient's chart lists an allergy to penicillin. Which ordered drug should the medical assistant question before giving?
- A.Doxycycline
- B.Azithromycin
- C.Ciprofloxacin
- D.Amoxicillin
Answer: D. Amoxicillin is a penicillin, so it is avoided in a penicillin-allergic patient unless the provider confirms otherwise. The others belong to different classes.
8. At what temperature range are most refrigerated vaccines stored?
- A.Below minus 15 degrees C
- B.2 to 8 degrees C
- C.0 to 2 degrees C
- D.8 to 15 degrees C
Answer: B. Refrigerated vaccines are kept between 2 and 8 C (36 to 46 F), checked and logged. Freezing can destroy many of them.
9. Where in a vaccine refrigerator should vaccines be stored?
- A.In the vegetable drawers
- B.On the middle shelves
- C.In the door bins
- D.Against the back wall
Answer: B. CDC storage guidance places vaccines in their original boxes on middle shelves, away from walls, vents, the door and the floor drawers, where temperatures swing most.
10. Which agency publishes the recommended childhood and adult immunization schedules used in the office?
- A.CLIA
- B.The DEA
- C.OSHA
- D.The CDC
Answer: D. The CDC publishes the immunization schedules each year from the recommendations of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. OSHA covers workplace safety.
Practice all 20 pharmacology questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free CMA (AAMA) training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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