COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY
UPDATED SCRIPT 2026 PRACTICE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● intended action. Answer: Desired effect (main effect) of a drug on
specific body cells or tissues; same as therapeutic response.
● loading dose. Answer: The first dose of a drug that is larger than all
subsequent doses of the same drug; used when it takes more drug to
reach steady state than it does to maintain it.
● mechanism of action. Answer: Exactly how, at the cellular level, a
drug changes the activity of a cell.
● metabolism. Answer: Physiologic body actions by enzymes that
change the chemical shape and content of a drug, most commonly
preparing the drug for inactivation and elimination.
● minimum effective concentration (MEC). Answer: The smallest
amount of drug necessary in the blood or target tissue to result in a
measurable intended action.
● over-the-counter (OTC). Answer: Drugs that are approved for
purchase without a prescription.
UPDATED SCRIPT 2026 PRACTICE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● intended action. Answer: Desired effect (main effect) of a drug on
specific body cells or tissues; same as therapeutic response.
● loading dose. Answer: The first dose of a drug that is larger than all
subsequent doses of the same drug; used when it takes more drug to
reach steady state than it does to maintain it.
● mechanism of action. Answer: Exactly how, at the cellular level, a
drug changes the activity of a cell.
● metabolism. Answer: Physiologic body actions by enzymes that
change the chemical shape and content of a drug, most commonly
preparing the drug for inactivation and elimination.
● minimum effective concentration (MEC). Answer: The smallest
amount of drug necessary in the blood or target tissue to result in a
measurable intended action.
● over-the-counter (OTC). Answer: Drugs that are approved for
purchase without a prescription.
