Page 1 of 162
NU 578 Units 1–5 Exam – Advanced Pharmacology (University
of South Alabama) EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
NU 578 Units 1–5 Exam – Advanced Pharmacology (University of South Alabama)
Unit 1: Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
Question 1
Define pharmacokinetics.
A) The impact of drugs on the body – the nature and intensity of the response
B) The impact of the body on drugs – how much of an administered dose reaches its sites of
action
C) The study of drug interactions with receptors
D) The process of drug excretion from the body
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does to a drug, encompassing the
processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) that determine how
much of an administered dose reaches its sites of action. Pharmacodynamics, by contrast, is the
study of what the drug does to the body .
, Page 2 of 162
Question 2
What effect does grapefruit juice have on drug metabolism?
A) It induces CYP3A4 metabolism, decreasing drug levels
B) It inhibits CYP3A4 metabolism, raising drug blood levels
C) It has no effect on drug metabolism
D) It increases renal excretion of drugs
Answer: B
Rationale: Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4 metabolism in the liver and intestinal wall. The
inhibition of gut cells can last up to 3 days after consuming grapefruit juice. This raises blood
levels of certain drugs, potentially causing toxicity .
Question 3
Which compounds in grapefruit juice are responsible for its interaction with drug
metabolism?
A) Naringin and Naringenin only
B) Bergapten and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin only
C) Two furanocoumarins (bergapten and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin) and two flavonoids
(naringin and naringenin)
D) Only the flavonoids
, Page 3 of 162
Answer: C
Rationale: Four compounds have been identified as the responsible agents: two
furanocoumarins (bergapten and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin) and two flavonoids (naringin and
naringenin) .
Question 4
What is the role of P-glycoprotein (PGP) in drug pharmacokinetics?
A) It increases drug absorption from the GI tract
B) It transports drugs out of cells, acting like a "bouncer" or filter
C) It metabolizes drugs in the liver
D) It enhances drug distribution to the brain
Answer: B
Rationale: PGP is a membrane-bound protein that acts like a "bouncer/filter." It transports a
wide variety of drugs out of cells, including cells of the intestinal epithelium, placenta, blood-
brain barrier, liver, and kidney tubules. Like CYP450, PGP is subject to both induction and
inhibition by drugs, which can significantly influence drug-drug interactions .
Question 5
, Page 4 of 162
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of drug X. The drug effectively reduces blood
pressure without serious harmful effects, but causes nausea and headache. Based on this
information, which property of an ideal drug is this drug lacking?
A) Effectiveness
B) Safety
C) Selectivity
D) Potency
Answer: C
Rationale: An ideal drug is effective, safe, and selective. While this drug is effective (reduces
blood pressure) and safe (no serious harmful effects), it is not selective because it causes
unwanted side effects (nausea, headache). Selectivity means the drug acts only on the target
site .
Question 6
What is the advantage of a drug with a high therapeutic index?
A) It is more effective at lower doses
B) It has a wider margin of safety
C) It has a faster onset of action
D) It is less likely to be metabolized
Answer: B
NU 578 Units 1–5 Exam – Advanced Pharmacology (University
of South Alabama) EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
NU 578 Units 1–5 Exam – Advanced Pharmacology (University of South Alabama)
Unit 1: Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
Question 1
Define pharmacokinetics.
A) The impact of drugs on the body – the nature and intensity of the response
B) The impact of the body on drugs – how much of an administered dose reaches its sites of
action
C) The study of drug interactions with receptors
D) The process of drug excretion from the body
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does to a drug, encompassing the
processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) that determine how
much of an administered dose reaches its sites of action. Pharmacodynamics, by contrast, is the
study of what the drug does to the body .
, Page 2 of 162
Question 2
What effect does grapefruit juice have on drug metabolism?
A) It induces CYP3A4 metabolism, decreasing drug levels
B) It inhibits CYP3A4 metabolism, raising drug blood levels
C) It has no effect on drug metabolism
D) It increases renal excretion of drugs
Answer: B
Rationale: Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4 metabolism in the liver and intestinal wall. The
inhibition of gut cells can last up to 3 days after consuming grapefruit juice. This raises blood
levels of certain drugs, potentially causing toxicity .
Question 3
Which compounds in grapefruit juice are responsible for its interaction with drug
metabolism?
A) Naringin and Naringenin only
B) Bergapten and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin only
C) Two furanocoumarins (bergapten and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin) and two flavonoids
(naringin and naringenin)
D) Only the flavonoids
, Page 3 of 162
Answer: C
Rationale: Four compounds have been identified as the responsible agents: two
furanocoumarins (bergapten and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin) and two flavonoids (naringin and
naringenin) .
Question 4
What is the role of P-glycoprotein (PGP) in drug pharmacokinetics?
A) It increases drug absorption from the GI tract
B) It transports drugs out of cells, acting like a "bouncer" or filter
C) It metabolizes drugs in the liver
D) It enhances drug distribution to the brain
Answer: B
Rationale: PGP is a membrane-bound protein that acts like a "bouncer/filter." It transports a
wide variety of drugs out of cells, including cells of the intestinal epithelium, placenta, blood-
brain barrier, liver, and kidney tubules. Like CYP450, PGP is subject to both induction and
inhibition by drugs, which can significantly influence drug-drug interactions .
Question 5
, Page 4 of 162
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of drug X. The drug effectively reduces blood
pressure without serious harmful effects, but causes nausea and headache. Based on this
information, which property of an ideal drug is this drug lacking?
A) Effectiveness
B) Safety
C) Selectivity
D) Potency
Answer: C
Rationale: An ideal drug is effective, safe, and selective. While this drug is effective (reduces
blood pressure) and safe (no serious harmful effects), it is not selective because it causes
unwanted side effects (nausea, headache). Selectivity means the drug acts only on the target
site .
Question 6
What is the advantage of a drug with a high therapeutic index?
A) It is more effective at lower doses
B) It has a wider margin of safety
C) It has a faster onset of action
D) It is less likely to be metabolized
Answer: B
