Pharmacology Chapters 1-13 // 90+ revision questions and answers // Test Bank.

What is pharmacology and why is it important in nursing practice? ️️ Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their effects on living systems, and it is important because it guides safe medication administration and patient care decisions. How does pharmacokinetics differ from pharmacodynamics in drug action? ️️ Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to the drug, while pharmacodynamics explains what the drug does to the body. What is the significance of the absorption phase in drug movement? ️️ Absorption determines how a drug enters the bloodstream and influences how quickly and effectively it produces an effect. Why is bioavailability important when giving oral medications? ️️ Bioavailability shows how much of a drug reaches systemic circulation unchanged, affecting its overall effectiveness. What does the term “first-pass metabolism” refer to in pharmacology? ️️ It refers to the breakdown of a drug in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, reducing its active concentration. How does drug distribution affect therapeutic outcomes? ️️ Distribution determines how a drug spreads through body tissues, influencing both effectiveness and potential toxicity. What role do plasma proteins play in drug distribution? ️️ Plasma proteins bind drugs in the blood, affecting how much active free drug is available for action. Why is drug metabolism mainly carried out in the liver? ️️ The liver contains enzymes that chemically transform drugs into more water-soluble forms for elimination. What is the main purpose of drug excretion in the body? ️️ Excretion removes drugs and their metabolites from the body, mainly through kidneys, maintaining balance and preventing toxicity. How is half-life of a drug clinically useful? ️️ Half-life helps determine dosing intervals by showing how long a drug stays active in the body. What is a drug agonist and how does it function? ️️ An agonist binds to receptors and activates them to produce a biological response. 2 What is the role of an antagonist in receptor activity? ️️ An antagonist blocks receptors and prevents a drug or natural substance from producing an effect. How does therapeutic index relate to drug safety? ️️ Therapeutic index compares effective dose to toxic dose, indicating how safe a drug is. Why is dose-response relationship important in pharmacology? ️️ It shows how different doses of a drug produce varying levels of response in the body. What is drug tolerance and how does it develop? ️️ Tolerance occurs when repeated drug use reduces effectiveness, requiring higher doses for the same effect. How does drug dependence differ from addiction? ️️ Dependence is physical adaptation to a drug, while addiction includes compulsive use despite harm. What factors influence drug absorption in the gastrointestinal tract? ️️ Factors include drug solubility, gastric pH, and presence of food in the stomach. How does lipid solubility affect drug movement across membranes? ️️ Highly lipid-soluble drugs pass more easily through cell membranes and are absorbed faster. Why are intravenous drugs considered 100% bioavailable? ️️ Because they are directly injected into the bloodstream, bypassing absorption barriers. What is the importance of drug clearance in pharmacology? ️️ Clearance measures how efficiently the body removes a drug from plasma. How does age affect drug pharmacokinetics? ️️ Age can slow metabolism and excretion, especially in infants and the elderly. What is the purpose of loading dose in drug therapy? ️️ A loading dose quickly achieves therapeutic drug levels in the bloodstream. How do enzyme inducers affect drug metabolism? ️️ They increase enzyme activity, speeding up drug breakdown and reducing effectiveness. How do enzyme inhibitors influence drug action? ️️ They slow drug metabolism, increasing drug levels and risk of toxicity. What is drug synergism in pharmacology? ️️ Synergism occurs when two drugs combined produce a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects. What is the difference between additive and antagonistic drug interactions? ️️ Additive increases total effect, while antagonistic reduces or blocks drug effects. 3 Why is route of administration important in drug therapy? ️️ It determines onset speed, drug effectiveness, and patient compliance. What is meant by “peak concentration” of a drug? ️️ It is the highest level of drug in the bloodstream after administration. What is trough level in medication monitoring? ️️ It is the lowest concentration of a drug before the next dose is given. How does renal function affect drug elimination? ️️ Impaired kidneys slow excretion, leading to drug accumulation and toxicity risk. What is the significance of steady-state concentration? ️️ It is when drug intake equals elimination, maintaining constant therapeutic levels. Why is drug compliance important in therapy outcomes? ️️ Proper compliance ensures drugs work effectively and prevents resistance or relapse. What is pharmacogenetics in modern pharmacology? ️️ It studies how genetic differences affect individual drug responses. How does inflammation affect drug absorption? ️️ Inflammation can increase blood flow and alter absorption rates unpredictably. What is the role of receptors in drug action? ️️ Receptors are target sites where drugs bind to produce a biological effect. What is a partial agonist in receptor pharmacology? ️️ It activates receptors but produces a weaker response than a full agonist. How do topical drugs differ from systemic drugs? ️️ Topical drugs act locally, while systemic drugs affect the entire body. What is drug toxicity? ️️ Toxicity occurs when drug levels exceed safe limits causing harmful effects. Why is monitoring plasma drug levels important? ️️ It ensures drug concentration remains within therapeutic range. What is the role of solubility in drug formulation? ️️ Solubility determines how easily a drug dissolves and is absorbed. How does pH affect drug absorption? ️️ pH influences ionization, affecting how well a drug passes through membranes. 4 What is a controlled-release drug formulation? ️️ It releases medication slowly over time to maintain stable drug levels. What is the importance of contraindications in drug use? ️️ They identify situations where a drug should not be used due to risk. How do adverse drug reactions differ from side effects? ️️ Side effects are expected, while adverse reactions are harmful and unintended. What is drug accumulation? ️️ It occurs when repeated doses build up in the body faster than elimination. How does protein binding affect drug action duration? ️️ High protein binding prolongs drug