Advanced Pharmacology Verified Exam Questions and Answers Latest
update 2026/2027
Question:
1. Explain Pharmacokinetics
Answer:
The study of how drugs are moved through the body and are encompassed in mechanisms of:
Absorption Distribution Metabolism Excretion Think Kinetic (movement)
Question:
2. Pharmacodynam- study of the biochemical and physiologic effects of drugs on the body ics
Answer:
nisms?
Question:
3. Summarize the main drug actions
Answer:
Question:
4. Desired activity is achieved through what main mecha-
Think Dynamic (change) majority of drugs either (a) mimic or inhibit normal
physiological/biochemical processes or inhibit pathological processes in animals or (b) inhibit vital
processes of endo- or ectoparasites and microbial organisms
Answer:
storage)
-Cellular membrane disruption
-Chemical reaction with downstream effects
-Interaction with enzyme proteins
-Interaction with structural proteins
-Interaction with carrier proteins
Question:
1. - stimulating action
through direct receptor agonism downstream effects 2 - depressing action through direct receptor
agonism and downstream effects (ex.: inverse agonist)
Answer:
and
,Question:
3. - blocking/antagonizing
action (as with silent antagonists), the drug binds the receptor but does not activate it
Answer:
Question:
4. - stabilizing action, the
drug seems to act neither as a stimulant or as a depres- sant
Answer:
Question:
5. - exchanging/replacing
substances accumulating them to form a reserve (ex.: glycogen
Answer:
or
-Interaction with ion channels
-Ligand binding to receptors: 1)Hormone receptors 2) Neuromodulator receptors
3)Neurotransmitter receptors
Question:
5. Explain the thera- therapeutic window is the amount of a medication between the amount that gives
peutic window
Answer:
an effect (effective dose) and the amount that gives more adverse effects than desired effects
Question:
6. Duration of action
Answer:
duration of action of a drug is the length of time that particular drug is effective
Question:
7. Explain bioavailability
Answer:
drug's bioavailability can be defined as the proportion of the drug that reaches its site of action
,Question:
6. rights to med-
Answer:
Question:
8. 6 rights to medication administration
Answer:
RIGHT CLIENT RIGHT MEDICATION RIGHT DOSAGE RIGHT ROUTE RIGHT TIME RIGHT
DOCUMENTATION
Question:
9. Potency
Answer:
potency is a measure of drug activity expressed in terms of the amount required to produce an effect of
given intensity (more morphine is needed to give the same effects as fentanyl)
Question:
10. Efficacy
Answer:
Eflcacy is the relationship between receptor occupancy and the ability to initiate a response at the
molecular, cellular, tissue or system level. In other words, eflcacy refers to how well an action is took
after the drug is bound to a receptor
Question:
11. Affinity
Answer:
Aflnity is how well a drug can bind to a receptor (Fast/strong binding = higher aflnity)
Question:
12. Benzodiazepine MOA
Answer:
Act on GABA which is a major inhibitory NTM in the CNS; Effects are produced by interacting with
a protein complex with in the neuronal membrane GABA which has a high 'aflnity' for benzo's
specifically; Inhibition of polysynaptic afferent pathways resulting in skeletal muscle relaxation; It
decreases the spread of seizure activity due to an increased pre-synaptic inhibition of the CNS
, Question:
13. Benzodiazepine uses/indications
Answer:
Similar actions however different doses/concentrations/combinations produce different actions thus
have different uses Anxiety/panic disorders skeletal muscle relaxation seizures sedation for procedures
(due to relaxation and amnesic properties)
Question:
14. Benzodiazepines adverse effects
Answer:
Most derived through CNS actions; Ataxia, dizziness, drowsiness/sedation, blurred vision, hypnosis,
weakness, fatigue More severe: hypersensitivity, mental depression, hypotension, paradoxical
stimulation, rebound seizures
Question:
15. Benzo pharmacokinetics
Answer:
Widely distributed throughout the body accumulate in lipid rich areas (CNS and adipose tissue) the
more lipophilic the agent the faster it is absorbed Onset 30 min- 1 hr lasting 4-6 hours, peak at 1-2
hours IV Admin: onset 1-5 min, peak immediately, last 15-20 min metabolized by the liver and
excreted in urine
Question:
16. Beta blocker (BB) MOA
Answer:
Interrupts the nerve impulses across the neurons by antagonizing the receptors with in the cardiac cells
resulting in blockade of the beta 1 receptors';
-B1 blockade results in reduction of heart rate (chronotropic), rate of conduction
through the AV node (dromotropic), and force of contraction (inotropic) This in turn decreases the
oxygen demand on the myocytes, reduction in BP from the reduced HR and inotropic actions
Hypoglycemia can occur with beta blockade because β2-adrenoceptors normally stimulate glycogen
breakdown (glycogenolysis) in the liver and pancreatic release of the hormone glucagon, which work
together to increase plasma glucose
Question:
17. Beta blocker Therapeutic uses
Answer:
Useful in angina, HTN, cardiac dysrhythmias, MI, HF, Hyperthyroidism, migraines,
pheochromocytoma, Glaucoma In angina/MI: reduction of oxygen demand HTN: B1 blockade as well
as suppressed renin release via B1 blockade in the kidneys shows a marked decrease in PVR which
results in improved stroke volume
update 2026/2027
Question:
1. Explain Pharmacokinetics
Answer:
The study of how drugs are moved through the body and are encompassed in mechanisms of:
Absorption Distribution Metabolism Excretion Think Kinetic (movement)
Question:
2. Pharmacodynam- study of the biochemical and physiologic effects of drugs on the body ics
Answer:
nisms?
Question:
3. Summarize the main drug actions
Answer:
Question:
4. Desired activity is achieved through what main mecha-
Think Dynamic (change) majority of drugs either (a) mimic or inhibit normal
physiological/biochemical processes or inhibit pathological processes in animals or (b) inhibit vital
processes of endo- or ectoparasites and microbial organisms
Answer:
storage)
-Cellular membrane disruption
-Chemical reaction with downstream effects
-Interaction with enzyme proteins
-Interaction with structural proteins
-Interaction with carrier proteins
Question:
1. - stimulating action
through direct receptor agonism downstream effects 2 - depressing action through direct receptor
agonism and downstream effects (ex.: inverse agonist)
Answer:
and
,Question:
3. - blocking/antagonizing
action (as with silent antagonists), the drug binds the receptor but does not activate it
Answer:
Question:
4. - stabilizing action, the
drug seems to act neither as a stimulant or as a depres- sant
Answer:
Question:
5. - exchanging/replacing
substances accumulating them to form a reserve (ex.: glycogen
Answer:
or
-Interaction with ion channels
-Ligand binding to receptors: 1)Hormone receptors 2) Neuromodulator receptors
3)Neurotransmitter receptors
Question:
5. Explain the thera- therapeutic window is the amount of a medication between the amount that gives
peutic window
Answer:
an effect (effective dose) and the amount that gives more adverse effects than desired effects
Question:
6. Duration of action
Answer:
duration of action of a drug is the length of time that particular drug is effective
Question:
7. Explain bioavailability
Answer:
drug's bioavailability can be defined as the proportion of the drug that reaches its site of action
,Question:
6. rights to med-
Answer:
Question:
8. 6 rights to medication administration
Answer:
RIGHT CLIENT RIGHT MEDICATION RIGHT DOSAGE RIGHT ROUTE RIGHT TIME RIGHT
DOCUMENTATION
Question:
9. Potency
Answer:
potency is a measure of drug activity expressed in terms of the amount required to produce an effect of
given intensity (more morphine is needed to give the same effects as fentanyl)
Question:
10. Efficacy
Answer:
Eflcacy is the relationship between receptor occupancy and the ability to initiate a response at the
molecular, cellular, tissue or system level. In other words, eflcacy refers to how well an action is took
after the drug is bound to a receptor
Question:
11. Affinity
Answer:
Aflnity is how well a drug can bind to a receptor (Fast/strong binding = higher aflnity)
Question:
12. Benzodiazepine MOA
Answer:
Act on GABA which is a major inhibitory NTM in the CNS; Effects are produced by interacting with
a protein complex with in the neuronal membrane GABA which has a high 'aflnity' for benzo's
specifically; Inhibition of polysynaptic afferent pathways resulting in skeletal muscle relaxation; It
decreases the spread of seizure activity due to an increased pre-synaptic inhibition of the CNS
, Question:
13. Benzodiazepine uses/indications
Answer:
Similar actions however different doses/concentrations/combinations produce different actions thus
have different uses Anxiety/panic disorders skeletal muscle relaxation seizures sedation for procedures
(due to relaxation and amnesic properties)
Question:
14. Benzodiazepines adverse effects
Answer:
Most derived through CNS actions; Ataxia, dizziness, drowsiness/sedation, blurred vision, hypnosis,
weakness, fatigue More severe: hypersensitivity, mental depression, hypotension, paradoxical
stimulation, rebound seizures
Question:
15. Benzo pharmacokinetics
Answer:
Widely distributed throughout the body accumulate in lipid rich areas (CNS and adipose tissue) the
more lipophilic the agent the faster it is absorbed Onset 30 min- 1 hr lasting 4-6 hours, peak at 1-2
hours IV Admin: onset 1-5 min, peak immediately, last 15-20 min metabolized by the liver and
excreted in urine
Question:
16. Beta blocker (BB) MOA
Answer:
Interrupts the nerve impulses across the neurons by antagonizing the receptors with in the cardiac cells
resulting in blockade of the beta 1 receptors';
-B1 blockade results in reduction of heart rate (chronotropic), rate of conduction
through the AV node (dromotropic), and force of contraction (inotropic) This in turn decreases the
oxygen demand on the myocytes, reduction in BP from the reduced HR and inotropic actions
Hypoglycemia can occur with beta blockade because β2-adrenoceptors normally stimulate glycogen
breakdown (glycogenolysis) in the liver and pancreatic release of the hormone glucagon, which work
together to increase plasma glucose
Question:
17. Beta blocker Therapeutic uses
Answer:
Useful in angina, HTN, cardiac dysrhythmias, MI, HF, Hyperthyroidism, migraines,
pheochromocytoma, Glaucoma In angina/MI: reduction of oxygen demand HTN: B1 blockade as well
as suppressed renin release via B1 blockade in the kidneys shows a marked decrease in PVR which
results in improved stroke volume
