Basic Pharmacology FOR Nurses Eighteenth
Edition Exam Prep KEY Questions and
Answers Verified Solutions Latest Update
2026/2027
Question:
Factors That Affect Drug Therapy: Dependence
Answer:
- Drug dependence, which is also known as addiction or
habituation, occurs when a person is unable to control his or her desire for ingestion of drugs.
- The dependence may be physiologic, in which the person develops
withdrawal symptoms if the drug is withdrawn for a certain period, or psychological, in which the
patient is emotionally attached to the drug.
- Drug dependence occurs most commonly with the use of the
scheduled or controlled medications (e.g., opiates, benzodiazepines).
- Less than 1% of patients using opioids for acute pain relief become
addicted
Question:
Factors That Affect Drug Therapy: Cumulative Effect
Answer:
- A drug may accumulate in the body if the next dose is
administered before the previously administered dose has been metabolized or excreted.
- Excessive drug accumulation may result in drug toxicity.
Question:
Carcinogenicity
Answer:
The ability of a drug to induce living cells to mutate and become cancerous
, Question:
Factors That Influence Absorption: Age
Answer:
- Medicines given intramuscularly are usually erratically
absorbed in neonates and older adults.
- Differences in muscle mass, blood flow to muscles, and muscle
inactivity in patients who are bedridden make absorption unpredictable.
Question:
Factors That Influence Absorption: Age (Topical Administration Infants)
Answer:
- Absorption is usually effective for infants because their
outer layer of skin (the stratum corneum) is not fully developed.
- Because the skin is more fully hydrated at this age, water-soluble
drugs are absorbed more readily.
- Infants who wear plastic-coated diapers are also more susceptible
to skin absorption because the plastic acts as an occlusive dressing that increases the hydration of
the skin.
- Inflammation (e.g., diaper rash) also increases the amount of drug
that is absorbed.
Question:
Factors That Influence Absorption: Age (Transdermal Administration Geriatric)
Answer:
- Transdermal administration in geriatric patients is often
difficult to predict.
- Although dermal thickness decreases with aging and may enhance
absorption, factors that may diminish absorption can be seen, including drying, wrinkling, and a
decrease in the number of hair follicles.
- With aging, decreased cardiac output and diminishing tissue
perfusion may also affect transdermal drug absorption.
Question:
Factors That Influence Absorption: Age (Oral Administration Infants)
Edition Exam Prep KEY Questions and
Answers Verified Solutions Latest Update
2026/2027
Question:
Factors That Affect Drug Therapy: Dependence
Answer:
- Drug dependence, which is also known as addiction or
habituation, occurs when a person is unable to control his or her desire for ingestion of drugs.
- The dependence may be physiologic, in which the person develops
withdrawal symptoms if the drug is withdrawn for a certain period, or psychological, in which the
patient is emotionally attached to the drug.
- Drug dependence occurs most commonly with the use of the
scheduled or controlled medications (e.g., opiates, benzodiazepines).
- Less than 1% of patients using opioids for acute pain relief become
addicted
Question:
Factors That Affect Drug Therapy: Cumulative Effect
Answer:
- A drug may accumulate in the body if the next dose is
administered before the previously administered dose has been metabolized or excreted.
- Excessive drug accumulation may result in drug toxicity.
Question:
Carcinogenicity
Answer:
The ability of a drug to induce living cells to mutate and become cancerous
, Question:
Factors That Influence Absorption: Age
Answer:
- Medicines given intramuscularly are usually erratically
absorbed in neonates and older adults.
- Differences in muscle mass, blood flow to muscles, and muscle
inactivity in patients who are bedridden make absorption unpredictable.
Question:
Factors That Influence Absorption: Age (Topical Administration Infants)
Answer:
- Absorption is usually effective for infants because their
outer layer of skin (the stratum corneum) is not fully developed.
- Because the skin is more fully hydrated at this age, water-soluble
drugs are absorbed more readily.
- Infants who wear plastic-coated diapers are also more susceptible
to skin absorption because the plastic acts as an occlusive dressing that increases the hydration of
the skin.
- Inflammation (e.g., diaper rash) also increases the amount of drug
that is absorbed.
Question:
Factors That Influence Absorption: Age (Transdermal Administration Geriatric)
Answer:
- Transdermal administration in geriatric patients is often
difficult to predict.
- Although dermal thickness decreases with aging and may enhance
absorption, factors that may diminish absorption can be seen, including drying, wrinkling, and a
decrease in the number of hair follicles.
- With aging, decreased cardiac output and diminishing tissue
perfusion may also affect transdermal drug absorption.
Question:
Factors That Influence Absorption: Age (Oral Administration Infants)