PHARMACOLOGY NURS 251
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM (MODULES 1-
10) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which phase of pharmacokinetics involves the movement of a drug from its site of
administration into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the systemic
circulation from its site of administration.
2. The ‘first-pass effect’ primarily occurs in which organ?
A. Kidneys
B. Small Intestine
C. Lungs
D. Liver
,Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug by the
liver after oral absorption before it reaches systemic circulation.
3. If a drug has a half-life of 4 hours, what percentage of the drug will remain in the body
after 8 hours?
A. 50%
B. 12.5%
C. 25%
D. 75%
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (one half-life), 50% remains. After another 4 hours
(two half-lives), 25% remains.
4. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal biological response is known as
a(n):
A. Agonist
B. Partial Agonist
C. Antagonist
D. Inverse Agonist
Answer: A
, Conceptual Explanation: An agonist is a molecule that mimics the action of a naturally
occurring substance by binding to a receptor and triggering a response.
5. Drugs categorized under Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act have:
A. No accepted medical use
B. Low potential for abuse
C. High potential for abuse and lead to severe dependence
D. The lowest potential for abuse among scheduled drugs
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse which may lead
to severe psychological or physical dependence, but have currently accepted medical uses.
6. Which FDA pregnancy category indicates that studies have shown a positive evidence of
fetal risk, but benefits may outweigh risks in life-threatening situations?
A. Category A
B. Category D
C. Category B
D. Category X
Answer: B
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM (MODULES 1-
10) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which phase of pharmacokinetics involves the movement of a drug from its site of
administration into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the systemic
circulation from its site of administration.
2. The ‘first-pass effect’ primarily occurs in which organ?
A. Kidneys
B. Small Intestine
C. Lungs
D. Liver
,Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug by the
liver after oral absorption before it reaches systemic circulation.
3. If a drug has a half-life of 4 hours, what percentage of the drug will remain in the body
after 8 hours?
A. 50%
B. 12.5%
C. 25%
D. 75%
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (one half-life), 50% remains. After another 4 hours
(two half-lives), 25% remains.
4. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal biological response is known as
a(n):
A. Agonist
B. Partial Agonist
C. Antagonist
D. Inverse Agonist
Answer: A
, Conceptual Explanation: An agonist is a molecule that mimics the action of a naturally
occurring substance by binding to a receptor and triggering a response.
5. Drugs categorized under Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act have:
A. No accepted medical use
B. Low potential for abuse
C. High potential for abuse and lead to severe dependence
D. The lowest potential for abuse among scheduled drugs
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse which may lead
to severe psychological or physical dependence, but have currently accepted medical uses.
6. Which FDA pregnancy category indicates that studies have shown a positive evidence of
fetal risk, but benefits may outweigh risks in life-threatening situations?
A. Category A
B. Category D
C. Category B
D. Category X
Answer: B
