NUR 341: PHARMACOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% ACCURATE(GRADED A+)
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER what the body does to the drug
This includes
absorption
distribution
metabolism (biotransformation)
elimination
What does the liver do to a drug - ANSWER it is the primary metabolism organ in the
body
what does the kidney do to a drug - ANSWER the kidney is primary in excretion
absorption - ANSWER the process by which a drug moves across 1+ cell membranes
from its site of administration into the blood.
Pharmodynamics - ANSWER what the drug does to the body
this includes:
the change that is caused by the drug
Drug action
mechanism of action
Pharmacokinetics includes which 4 processes? - ANSWER absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and elimination
what does pharmacokinetics determine? - ANSWER -the onset of a drugs effect(how
long it takes to start working
-intensity of a drug
,(all depend on pt related factors)
factors that influence absorption - ANSWER -drug chemistry (solubility, polarity)
-route of administration (oral vs IV)
-coating on the drug
what are some common routes of drug administration - ANSWER enteral, parenteral and
inhaled
Enteral administration - ANSWER includes oral admin
sublingual admin- under the tongue
buccal admin- inside the cheek
rectal admin
parenteral administration - ANSWER injecting a medication into body tissues.
includes:
intravenous (IV)
intramuscular (IM)
subcutaneously (subQ)- injecting the drug into the tissue later between skin and muscles.
What variables can affect oral absorption of a drug? - ANSWER composition of the drug
gut pH and motility
simultaneous use of other drugs
timing of the dose with respect to meals
advantages of oral drugs - ANSWER convenient
economical
best for self admin
Disadvantages for oral drugs - ANSWER self admin requires compliance
unsuitable for poorly absorbed drugs
unsuitable for infants or pt unable to swallow
disadvantages of IV admin - ANSWER adverse effects appear rapidly
effects may be of short duration
insoluble substances cannot be given
,risk of infection, pain, vasculitis, extravasation
not suitable for self injection
advantages of IV admin - ANSWER emergency use
useful for large volumes of drug
what are some characteristics an oral drug must have in order to absorb - ANSWER must
be soluble in water
lipid soluble to an extent
must dissolve aqueous contents of digestive tract
What is drug distribution? - ANSWER movement of drug by blood to the body
When a drug is distributed, local blood flow affects what? - ANSWER the amount of
blood reaching the organs
What are some special barriers that protect drugs from reaching the brain, fetus etc? -
ANSWER The blood brain barrier
placental barrier
what is the blood brain barrier (BBB) - ANSWER a semi permeable membrane (network
of blood vessels and tissues made of closely packed cells) that keeps harmful substances
from reaching the brain.
Anesthetics usually cross this barrier (we want them to)
most antibiotics and other meds do not
what is the placental barrier - ANSWER similar to BBB
semipermeable membrane made of placental tissues.
limits the type and amount of substances shared between the mother and baby
General look for meds that do not cross
T/F when meds are taken and absorbed into the bloodstream, they do not have any degree
of protein binding - ANSWER False
When absorbed into the bloodstream, lots of them have some degree of protein binding.
, a certain number of molecules will be bound to protein and a certain number will be free
in the bloodstream
only unbound or free molecules can be metabolized or excreted
Anything protein bound is inactive.
ONLY DRUGS NOT BOUND TO PROTEINS ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE
PHARMACOLOGIC EFFECTS
what is a major plasma binding protein? - ANSWER albumin
What are some sites of preferential drug accumulation - ANSWER (sites that prevent
from equal distribution throughout the body)
Fat- Accutane, THC
Bone and teeth- tetracycline
Kidneys- aminoglycosides antibiotics
Drug-drug interactions can be caused by.... - ANSWER plasma protein binding
a pt takes warfarin (blood thinner) and a high amount of the drug is inactive because its
bound to albumin. If they take another drug with a high affinity for albumin what
happens? - ANSWER Due to protein binding, the two drugs will compete. Some of the
Warfarin will be rebased and more free drug will be in the pt's system. This can be toxic.
Define drug metabolism/biotransformation - ANSWER the enzymatic alteration of a drug
structure
process by which drugs are altered to facilitate their removal from the body
Where are drugs mostly metabolized? - ANSWER in the liver
What organs are involved in drug metabolism? - ANSWER liver (primarily)
lungs
GI mucosa
Kidneys
AND ANSWERS 100% ACCURATE(GRADED A+)
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER what the body does to the drug
This includes
absorption
distribution
metabolism (biotransformation)
elimination
What does the liver do to a drug - ANSWER it is the primary metabolism organ in the
body
what does the kidney do to a drug - ANSWER the kidney is primary in excretion
absorption - ANSWER the process by which a drug moves across 1+ cell membranes
from its site of administration into the blood.
Pharmodynamics - ANSWER what the drug does to the body
this includes:
the change that is caused by the drug
Drug action
mechanism of action
Pharmacokinetics includes which 4 processes? - ANSWER absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and elimination
what does pharmacokinetics determine? - ANSWER -the onset of a drugs effect(how
long it takes to start working
-intensity of a drug
,(all depend on pt related factors)
factors that influence absorption - ANSWER -drug chemistry (solubility, polarity)
-route of administration (oral vs IV)
-coating on the drug
what are some common routes of drug administration - ANSWER enteral, parenteral and
inhaled
Enteral administration - ANSWER includes oral admin
sublingual admin- under the tongue
buccal admin- inside the cheek
rectal admin
parenteral administration - ANSWER injecting a medication into body tissues.
includes:
intravenous (IV)
intramuscular (IM)
subcutaneously (subQ)- injecting the drug into the tissue later between skin and muscles.
What variables can affect oral absorption of a drug? - ANSWER composition of the drug
gut pH and motility
simultaneous use of other drugs
timing of the dose with respect to meals
advantages of oral drugs - ANSWER convenient
economical
best for self admin
Disadvantages for oral drugs - ANSWER self admin requires compliance
unsuitable for poorly absorbed drugs
unsuitable for infants or pt unable to swallow
disadvantages of IV admin - ANSWER adverse effects appear rapidly
effects may be of short duration
insoluble substances cannot be given
,risk of infection, pain, vasculitis, extravasation
not suitable for self injection
advantages of IV admin - ANSWER emergency use
useful for large volumes of drug
what are some characteristics an oral drug must have in order to absorb - ANSWER must
be soluble in water
lipid soluble to an extent
must dissolve aqueous contents of digestive tract
What is drug distribution? - ANSWER movement of drug by blood to the body
When a drug is distributed, local blood flow affects what? - ANSWER the amount of
blood reaching the organs
What are some special barriers that protect drugs from reaching the brain, fetus etc? -
ANSWER The blood brain barrier
placental barrier
what is the blood brain barrier (BBB) - ANSWER a semi permeable membrane (network
of blood vessels and tissues made of closely packed cells) that keeps harmful substances
from reaching the brain.
Anesthetics usually cross this barrier (we want them to)
most antibiotics and other meds do not
what is the placental barrier - ANSWER similar to BBB
semipermeable membrane made of placental tissues.
limits the type and amount of substances shared between the mother and baby
General look for meds that do not cross
T/F when meds are taken and absorbed into the bloodstream, they do not have any degree
of protein binding - ANSWER False
When absorbed into the bloodstream, lots of them have some degree of protein binding.
, a certain number of molecules will be bound to protein and a certain number will be free
in the bloodstream
only unbound or free molecules can be metabolized or excreted
Anything protein bound is inactive.
ONLY DRUGS NOT BOUND TO PROTEINS ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE
PHARMACOLOGIC EFFECTS
what is a major plasma binding protein? - ANSWER albumin
What are some sites of preferential drug accumulation - ANSWER (sites that prevent
from equal distribution throughout the body)
Fat- Accutane, THC
Bone and teeth- tetracycline
Kidneys- aminoglycosides antibiotics
Drug-drug interactions can be caused by.... - ANSWER plasma protein binding
a pt takes warfarin (blood thinner) and a high amount of the drug is inactive because its
bound to albumin. If they take another drug with a high affinity for albumin what
happens? - ANSWER Due to protein binding, the two drugs will compete. Some of the
Warfarin will be rebased and more free drug will be in the pt's system. This can be toxic.
Define drug metabolism/biotransformation - ANSWER the enzymatic alteration of a drug
structure
process by which drugs are altered to facilitate their removal from the body
Where are drugs mostly metabolized? - ANSWER in the liver
What organs are involved in drug metabolism? - ANSWER liver (primarily)
lungs
GI mucosa
Kidneys
