D441 Pharmacology Midterm Exam Practice 2026 |WGU
1. Which pharmacokinetic process involves the movement of a drug from its site
of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Metabolism
B. Absorption
C. Distribution
D. Excretion
Answer: B
Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its site of administration into the
blood. Distribution is the movement from blood to tissues. Metabolism is enzymatic
alteration, and excretion is removal from the body.
2. A patient has liver cirrhosis. The nurse should be most concerned about which
phase of pharmacokinetics?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism. Impaired liver function can
lead to toxic drug levels because the drug is not being broken down properly.
,3. What is the term for the time required for the amount of drug in the body to
decrease by 50%?
A. Half-life
B. Peak level
C. Duration of action
D. Steady state
Answer: A
Rationale: Half-life is defined as the time required for the concentration of a drug in the
body to be reduced by half.
4. Why are oral doses of certain drugs much higher than intravenous doses of
the same drug?
A. First-pass effect
B. Blood-brain barrier
C. Protein binding
D. Active transport
Answer: A
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized in the liver before
reaching systemic circulation, necessitating a higher oral dose to achieve therapeutic levels.
5. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a response is called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Partial Antagonist
D. Inhibitor
Answer: B
Rationale: Agonists are molecules that activate receptors. Antagonists produce their
effects by preventing receptor activation by endogenous regulatory molecules and drugs.
, 6. Which term describes the ratio of a drug’s LD50 to its ED50, indicating drug
safety?
A. Bioavailability
B. Efficacy
C. Potency
D. Therapeutic Index
Answer: D
Rationale: The therapeutic index is a measure of a drug’s safety. A large index indicates the
drug is relatively safe; a small index indicates it is relatively unsafe.
7. Which organ is primarily responsible for drug excretion?
A. Lungs
B. Skin
C. Kidneys
D. Liver
Answer: C
Rationale: While drugs can be excreted through various routes, the kidneys are the most
important organs for drug excretion.
8. A nurse is monitoring a patient for ‘SLUDGE’ symptoms. This is associated
with which type of drug?
A. Anticholinergic
B. Cholinergic
C. Adrenergic
D. Sympatholytic
Answer: B
Rationale: SLUDGE (Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, Gastric upset, Emesis)
describes the effects of cholinergic crisis or excessive parasympathetic stimulation.
1. Which pharmacokinetic process involves the movement of a drug from its site
of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Metabolism
B. Absorption
C. Distribution
D. Excretion
Answer: B
Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its site of administration into the
blood. Distribution is the movement from blood to tissues. Metabolism is enzymatic
alteration, and excretion is removal from the body.
2. A patient has liver cirrhosis. The nurse should be most concerned about which
phase of pharmacokinetics?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism. Impaired liver function can
lead to toxic drug levels because the drug is not being broken down properly.
,3. What is the term for the time required for the amount of drug in the body to
decrease by 50%?
A. Half-life
B. Peak level
C. Duration of action
D. Steady state
Answer: A
Rationale: Half-life is defined as the time required for the concentration of a drug in the
body to be reduced by half.
4. Why are oral doses of certain drugs much higher than intravenous doses of
the same drug?
A. First-pass effect
B. Blood-brain barrier
C. Protein binding
D. Active transport
Answer: A
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized in the liver before
reaching systemic circulation, necessitating a higher oral dose to achieve therapeutic levels.
5. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a response is called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Partial Antagonist
D. Inhibitor
Answer: B
Rationale: Agonists are molecules that activate receptors. Antagonists produce their
effects by preventing receptor activation by endogenous regulatory molecules and drugs.
, 6. Which term describes the ratio of a drug’s LD50 to its ED50, indicating drug
safety?
A. Bioavailability
B. Efficacy
C. Potency
D. Therapeutic Index
Answer: D
Rationale: The therapeutic index is a measure of a drug’s safety. A large index indicates the
drug is relatively safe; a small index indicates it is relatively unsafe.
7. Which organ is primarily responsible for drug excretion?
A. Lungs
B. Skin
C. Kidneys
D. Liver
Answer: C
Rationale: While drugs can be excreted through various routes, the kidneys are the most
important organs for drug excretion.
8. A nurse is monitoring a patient for ‘SLUDGE’ symptoms. This is associated
with which type of drug?
A. Anticholinergic
B. Cholinergic
C. Adrenergic
D. Sympatholytic
Answer: B
Rationale: SLUDGE (Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, Gastric upset, Emesis)
describes the effects of cholinergic crisis or excessive parasympathetic stimulation.
