NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

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Study for the NAPLEX exam with a comprehensive quiz featuring multiple-choice questions and in-depth explanations. Build your pharmacological knowledge and increase your chances of passing the pharmacist licensure examination!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What is a common risk of long-term use of steroids (>3 months) at dosages of >= 5mg prednisone?

  1. Increased risk of common cold

  2. Risk of serious cardiovascular events

  3. Risk of osteoporosis

  4. No significant risks

The correct answer is: Risk of osteoporosis

Long-term use of steroids (greater than 3 months) at high doses (5mg prednisone or higher) can lead to increased risk of osteoporosis. This is due to the suppression of bone growth and increased bone resorption, which can lead to decreased bone density and strength. While increased risk of common cold (choice A) may be a possibility with steroid use, it is not as significant or common as the risk of osteoporosis. Similarly, while serious cardiovascular events (choice B) can occur with steroid use, they are not as common as the risk of osteoporosis. Choice D, stating that there are no significant risks associated with long-term steroid use, is incorrect and can be harmful as it downplays the potential risks. It is important to monitor and manage the potential risks of long-term steroid use, especially at high doses.