COTC pharmacology Exam
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Questions with complete answers
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Pharmacology - ANSWER-the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-The study of drug movement throughout the body. The
process by which drugs are absorbed, distributed within the body, metabolized, and
excreted.
ADME - ANSWER-Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion/Elimination
Absorption (pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-process by which a drug passes into
bloodstream (FIRST STEP, unless drug is administered DIRECTLY into blood stream)
When drugs enter the body and travel from the site of administration into the body's
circulation. There are multiple routes of administration.
Distribution (Pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-- transportation of a drug from its site of
absorption to its site of action
- it's carried to the most vascular organs (liver, kidneys, and brain) Blood flow/ Protein
Binding.
Metabolism (pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-Once a drug has been absorbed and
distributed in the body, it will then be broken down by a process known as metabolism.
The breakdown of a drug molecule usually involves two steps that take place primarily
in the body's chemical processing plant: the liver.
- occurs mostly in liver
- aka detoxification or biotransformation, inactivation
- process by which a drug is converted to a less active form, more polar form, drug
being broken down to be eliminated from the body through enzymatically mediated
alteration of drug structure
Excretion (pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-The finale stage of when a meds interaction
within the body. the process by which metabolites and drugs are eliminated from the
body.
Factors that can affect the distribution and blood flow/ delivery of medications in the
body. - ANSWER-Many factors can affect the blood flow and delivery of medication,
such as decreased flow (due to dehydration), blocked vessels (due to atherosclerosis),
, constricted vessels (due to uncontrolled hypertension), or weakened pumping by the
heart muscle (due to heart failure). As an example, when administering an antibiotic to a
patient with diabetes with an infected toe, it may be difficult for the antibiotic to move
through the blood vessels all the way to the cells of the toe that is infected.
Protein binding - ANSWER-A common factor impacting distribution of medication is
plasma protein in the blood. Albumin is one of the most important proteins in the blood.
Albumin levels can be decreased by several factors such as malnutrition and liver
disease. A certain percentage of almost every drug gets bound to plasma proteins when
it initially enters the bloodstream and starts to circulate. The portion of the drug that gets
"protein-bound" is inactive while it is bound, but the portion of the drug that escapes
initial protein binding becomes immediately "free" to bind to the target tissue and exert
or block an action.
blood-brain barrier - ANSWER-a filtering mechanism of the capillaries that carry blood
to the brain and spinal cord tissue, blocking the passage of certain substances. This
blockade is built from a tightly woven mesh of capillaries that protect the brain from
potentially dangerous substances, such as poisons or viruses. Only certain medications
made of lipids (fats) or have a "carrier" can get through the blood-brain barrier.
placental barrier - ANSWER--biochemical barrier at the maternal/fetal interface that
restricts certain molecules.
- The barrier is designed to protect the fetus.
-The placenta is permeable to some medications, while others have not been
specifically studied in pregnant patients. Some drugs can cause harm to the unborn
fetus during any trimester. Therefore, it is imperative to always consult a healthcare
provider regarding the safety of medications for use during pregnancy.
Half-Life (Pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-the time required for half of an administered
dose of drug to be eliminated by the body, or the time it takes for the blood level of a
drug to be reduced by 50% (also called elimination half-life).
first pass effect - ANSWER--The initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from
the gastrointestinal tract before the drug reaches systemic circulation through the
bloodstream.
-The breakdown of orally administered drugs in the liver and intestines.
kidney pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-The most common route of excretion is the kidney.
As the kidneys filter blood, the majority of drug byproducts and waste are excreted in
the urine. The rate of excretion can be estimated by taking into consideration several
factors: age, weight, biological sex, and kidney function. Kidney function is measured by
lab values such as serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and creatinine
clearance. If a patient's kidney function is decreased, then their ability to excrete
medication is affected and drug dosages must be altered for safe administration.
1Verified With Actual and Verified
Questions with complete answers
2026 newest exam brand new!!
Pharmacology - ANSWER-the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-The study of drug movement throughout the body. The
process by which drugs are absorbed, distributed within the body, metabolized, and
excreted.
ADME - ANSWER-Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion/Elimination
Absorption (pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-process by which a drug passes into
bloodstream (FIRST STEP, unless drug is administered DIRECTLY into blood stream)
When drugs enter the body and travel from the site of administration into the body's
circulation. There are multiple routes of administration.
Distribution (Pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-- transportation of a drug from its site of
absorption to its site of action
- it's carried to the most vascular organs (liver, kidneys, and brain) Blood flow/ Protein
Binding.
Metabolism (pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-Once a drug has been absorbed and
distributed in the body, it will then be broken down by a process known as metabolism.
The breakdown of a drug molecule usually involves two steps that take place primarily
in the body's chemical processing plant: the liver.
- occurs mostly in liver
- aka detoxification or biotransformation, inactivation
- process by which a drug is converted to a less active form, more polar form, drug
being broken down to be eliminated from the body through enzymatically mediated
alteration of drug structure
Excretion (pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-The finale stage of when a meds interaction
within the body. the process by which metabolites and drugs are eliminated from the
body.
Factors that can affect the distribution and blood flow/ delivery of medications in the
body. - ANSWER-Many factors can affect the blood flow and delivery of medication,
such as decreased flow (due to dehydration), blocked vessels (due to atherosclerosis),
, constricted vessels (due to uncontrolled hypertension), or weakened pumping by the
heart muscle (due to heart failure). As an example, when administering an antibiotic to a
patient with diabetes with an infected toe, it may be difficult for the antibiotic to move
through the blood vessels all the way to the cells of the toe that is infected.
Protein binding - ANSWER-A common factor impacting distribution of medication is
plasma protein in the blood. Albumin is one of the most important proteins in the blood.
Albumin levels can be decreased by several factors such as malnutrition and liver
disease. A certain percentage of almost every drug gets bound to plasma proteins when
it initially enters the bloodstream and starts to circulate. The portion of the drug that gets
"protein-bound" is inactive while it is bound, but the portion of the drug that escapes
initial protein binding becomes immediately "free" to bind to the target tissue and exert
or block an action.
blood-brain barrier - ANSWER-a filtering mechanism of the capillaries that carry blood
to the brain and spinal cord tissue, blocking the passage of certain substances. This
blockade is built from a tightly woven mesh of capillaries that protect the brain from
potentially dangerous substances, such as poisons or viruses. Only certain medications
made of lipids (fats) or have a "carrier" can get through the blood-brain barrier.
placental barrier - ANSWER--biochemical barrier at the maternal/fetal interface that
restricts certain molecules.
- The barrier is designed to protect the fetus.
-The placenta is permeable to some medications, while others have not been
specifically studied in pregnant patients. Some drugs can cause harm to the unborn
fetus during any trimester. Therefore, it is imperative to always consult a healthcare
provider regarding the safety of medications for use during pregnancy.
Half-Life (Pharmacokinetics) - ANSWER-the time required for half of an administered
dose of drug to be eliminated by the body, or the time it takes for the blood level of a
drug to be reduced by 50% (also called elimination half-life).
first pass effect - ANSWER--The initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from
the gastrointestinal tract before the drug reaches systemic circulation through the
bloodstream.
-The breakdown of orally administered drugs in the liver and intestines.
kidney pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-The most common route of excretion is the kidney.
As the kidneys filter blood, the majority of drug byproducts and waste are excreted in
the urine. The rate of excretion can be estimated by taking into consideration several
factors: age, weight, biological sex, and kidney function. Kidney function is measured by
lab values such as serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and creatinine
clearance. If a patient's kidney function is decreased, then their ability to excrete
medication is affected and drug dosages must be altered for safe administration.
