NR 565 PHARMACOLOGY WEEK 1 | ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
Pharmacokinetics - correct answer ✔✔The study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion in the body
"What the body does to the drug"
Factors that affect drug absorption (5) - correct answer ✔✔Rate of dissolution
Surface area
Blood flow
Lipid solubility
PH partitioning
Factors that affect drug distribution (4) - correct answer ✔✔Blood flow to tissues
Ability to exit vascular system
Blood-brain barrier
Protein-binding capacity
Pharmacodynamics - correct answer ✔✔The study of biochemical and physiologic effects of
drugs on the body and the molecular mechanisms by which those effects are produced
"What the body does to the drug"
Phamacodynamics: 3 mechanisms of action - correct answer ✔✔Receptor
Enzyme
Non-selective interactions (i.e. chemo)
Types of drug therapy (7) - correct answer ✔✔Acute
,Maintenance (HTN/bc)
Supplemental (insulin)
Palliative
Supportive (IV fluid)
Prophylactic
Empirical (broad-spectrum abx)
Idiosyncratic Effect - correct answer ✔✔Unexpected response to medication
Tolerance - correct answer ✔✔Declining response to a drug
Dependence - correct answer ✔✔Physiological/psychological need for a drug; needs drug for
normal function
Addiction - correct answer ✔✔Compulsive use of a drug despite negative/dangerous effects
Drug interactions: drug-drug - correct answer ✔✔When 2 drugs compete for metabolizing
enzymes
Drug interactions: food-drug - correct answer ✔✔Grapefruit juice or leafy greens
Drug interactions: additive - correct answer ✔✔1+1 = 2; both provide intended effect
Drug interactions: antagonistic - correct answer ✔✔1+1 = <2; less than desired effect of one or
both drugs
, Drug interactions: synergistic - correct answer ✔✔1+1 = >2; sum total effect is greater than if
given alone (i.e. lisinopril + HCTZ)
Drug interactions: incompatibility - correct answer ✔✔1+1 does not equal 2; two IV drugs given
together causing decomposition of one or both drugs
8 rights of medication administration - correct answer ✔✔Patient
Medication
Dose
Route
Time
Reason
Response
Documentation
Adverse reactions: pharmacologic - correct answer ✔✔Extension of a drug's normal effect
Adverse reactions: Allergic/hypersensitivity - correct answer ✔✔Exaggerated immune response
(i.e. mild itching to anaphylaxis)
Adverse reactions: idiosyncratic - correct answer ✔✔Peculiar to the patient
Adverse reactions: drug reaction - correct answer ✔✔Most complex, difficult to determine
Teratogenic effects - correct answer ✔✔Causes birth defects
Mutagenic effects - correct answer ✔✔Able to cause changes in genetic tissue
ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
Pharmacokinetics - correct answer ✔✔The study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion in the body
"What the body does to the drug"
Factors that affect drug absorption (5) - correct answer ✔✔Rate of dissolution
Surface area
Blood flow
Lipid solubility
PH partitioning
Factors that affect drug distribution (4) - correct answer ✔✔Blood flow to tissues
Ability to exit vascular system
Blood-brain barrier
Protein-binding capacity
Pharmacodynamics - correct answer ✔✔The study of biochemical and physiologic effects of
drugs on the body and the molecular mechanisms by which those effects are produced
"What the body does to the drug"
Phamacodynamics: 3 mechanisms of action - correct answer ✔✔Receptor
Enzyme
Non-selective interactions (i.e. chemo)
Types of drug therapy (7) - correct answer ✔✔Acute
,Maintenance (HTN/bc)
Supplemental (insulin)
Palliative
Supportive (IV fluid)
Prophylactic
Empirical (broad-spectrum abx)
Idiosyncratic Effect - correct answer ✔✔Unexpected response to medication
Tolerance - correct answer ✔✔Declining response to a drug
Dependence - correct answer ✔✔Physiological/psychological need for a drug; needs drug for
normal function
Addiction - correct answer ✔✔Compulsive use of a drug despite negative/dangerous effects
Drug interactions: drug-drug - correct answer ✔✔When 2 drugs compete for metabolizing
enzymes
Drug interactions: food-drug - correct answer ✔✔Grapefruit juice or leafy greens
Drug interactions: additive - correct answer ✔✔1+1 = 2; both provide intended effect
Drug interactions: antagonistic - correct answer ✔✔1+1 = <2; less than desired effect of one or
both drugs
, Drug interactions: synergistic - correct answer ✔✔1+1 = >2; sum total effect is greater than if
given alone (i.e. lisinopril + HCTZ)
Drug interactions: incompatibility - correct answer ✔✔1+1 does not equal 2; two IV drugs given
together causing decomposition of one or both drugs
8 rights of medication administration - correct answer ✔✔Patient
Medication
Dose
Route
Time
Reason
Response
Documentation
Adverse reactions: pharmacologic - correct answer ✔✔Extension of a drug's normal effect
Adverse reactions: Allergic/hypersensitivity - correct answer ✔✔Exaggerated immune response
(i.e. mild itching to anaphylaxis)
Adverse reactions: idiosyncratic - correct answer ✔✔Peculiar to the patient
Adverse reactions: drug reaction - correct answer ✔✔Most complex, difficult to determine
Teratogenic effects - correct answer ✔✔Causes birth defects
Mutagenic effects - correct answer ✔✔Able to cause changes in genetic tissue
