Question 1

Elderly patients who are started on levothyroxine for thyroid replacement should be monitored for:

Excessive sedation
Tachycardia and angina
Weight gain
Cold intolerance

Question 2

Potentially fatal granulocytopenia has been associate with treatment of hyperthyroidism with propylthiouracil. Patients should be taught to report:

Tinnitus and decreased salivation
Fever and sore throat
Hypocalcemia and osteoporosis
Laryngeal edema and difficulty swallowing

Question 3

Metformin is a primary choice of drug to treat hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes because it:

Substitutes for insulin usually secreted by the pancreas
Decreases glycogenolysis by the liver
Increases the release of insulin from beta cells
Decreases peripheral glucose utilization